Poems by John G. Whittier

by John Greenleaf Whittier

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Genres: Poetry

438 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1857

About the author

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was an influential American Quaker poet and ardent advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. He is usually listed as one of the Fireside Poets. Whittier was strongly influenced by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

Reviews

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am hardly the best judge of poetry. I don't read nearly enough of it for my reviews to be taken as truth. But I did enjoy this collection, for the most part. My reading experience was enhanced by the fact that the book I read from was over 100 years old (I do not know an exact publishing date, since all my searching on google turned up nothing, but H.M. Caldwell Co. printed books with very similar covers in 1901, so that's my best guess). I don't know what journey it took to end up on my bookshelf,

John Greenleaf Whittier was a Quacker who wrote in the mid-19th century, and he was a staunch abolitionist. Which means that this collection was made up largely of:

- Religious poems, which I wasn't super keen on but I read regardless.
- Anti-slavery poetry, which I enjoyed quite a bit more.
- And poems about Native Americans, which were... in many ways very uncomfortable. I recognize that for poems being written in the 1840s or so, they were probably very progressive. They don't land quite right nearly 200 years later though. Still, I enjoyed them for what they were.

His poetry about nature I found to be quite lovely. But his rhyme scheme was sometimes awkward, and it seemed to me like his meter was off sometimes. I didn't find his poetry to be as lovely as other poetry I've left, sometimes sounding quite awkward.

But again, I'm hardly a poetry expert.

[A.R. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this collection is like collecting shells on a Cape Cod beach. Scattered among the old fashioned poetry with references to people and causes long lost to history, are ballads and legends with tales of an even older New England. These I picked up and examined like the treasures they are. The Wreck of Rivermouth is one, with the line; “The beach-birds dance and the gray gulls wheel.” The Changling was a spooky poem of witchcraft. The Double-headed Snake of Newbury is a horror story: “Stories, like dragons, are hard to kill. / If the snake does not, the tale runs still.” Whittier’s memories of his past are the best poetry. Snow Bound and Maud Muller are two of his more well known poems. Maud Muller has the line:“The saddest are these, ‘It might have been.’” And then there is, “Blessings on thee, little man/ Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!”

[Jensen Kirkendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whittier is interesting for some historical reasons as an abolitionist and Quaker. He was a part of popular 19th century poets called the "Fireside Poets." Their style is not that interesting for most modern tastes, but Whittier shows a passion for nature and history and the Native American land. His poetry is also interesting to see the history of abolition. The poems themselves are okay. His better known poems are better known for a reason. "Maud Muller" was my favorite.

[Callum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy a nice, old english poem every now and again but the novelty wears off somewhat after 400 pages.

[Delanie Dooms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whittier was a famous American poet of the 19th century. Unlike some other members of the Fireside Poets (a term meant to indicate the first group of American poets to rival in popularity those of British origin), his legacy seems to be minute to the modern audience, if known at all. Nevertheless, I found it interesting to peruse some of his poems, although the one I most like is not included in this collection (that being: Snow-Bound: A Winter Idyl). These poems are sometimes completely denuded of the context surrounding their writing so much that, if one does not have an annotated edition, it is probable that one will not understand what he is saying, or why; luckily, this edition has slight annotation, allowing for vital context in understanding a writer who responded often to his contemporary politics.

The Witch's Daughter --

This is a poem about the daughter of a woman condemned and hanged as a witch. She is orstracized from her community for the sins of her mother (who was a God-fearing Christian), and hence she becomes very lonely and hated. However, a older man in the village who had known her before her mother was condemned still loves her, and he decides that he should make sure that she is no longer hated. So, he confesses his love, and all ends happily. This poem is terrible. It is written at times beautifully, but the overall problem's solution--that of ostracization from community due to injustice--seems to suggest that things cannot be changed without a saving-force, in this case a man, coming to rescue the damsel from her plight.

If I were to venture to characterize Whittier's poetic style, I might say that--alongside other Fireside Poets--he kept to European forms of poetic expression, or, in other words, used defined structures to write about the world. This makes all his poems pretty much okay but I think Longfellow did it better.

I have not read everything in this edition.

[Nikki]

I've read many, though not all, of the poems in this book. Whittier was a Quaker and abolitionist, and wrote much about New England.