2020 Jan-March The Song of Hiawatha

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

The Song of Hiawatha is an 1855 epic poem in trochaic tetrameter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which features Native American characters. The epic relates the fictional adventures of an Ojibwe warrior named Hiawatha and the tragedy of his love for Minnehaha, a Dakota woman. (184 pages)

https://www.hwlongfellow.org/poems_po...

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

This is a wonderful poem. Longfellow's language flows beautifully and it is a very moving story.

[Kathy]

I'll be joining in sometime during the three-month period.

[Blueberry]

I'm in.

[shannon]

I am reading it now. I like the flow of it.

[Dogfriend]

Just started reading. I love it!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

This poem was a pleasure to read. It is a very moving story as well.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Ive read bits and pieces and bounced around. It is really a lovely read. The Spirit is heart clutching.

[Karen]

Well here's how much I know about The Song of Hiawatha. I clicked on the link provided above and it opens to the last chapter of the poem. I read it - beautiful - and thought I was done with the poem. Seemed kind of short, and no mention of Minnehaha but I figured maybe she was symbolic or something. Then I saw the sidebar. 22 more chapters. Was my face red...

I've since read the Introduction and the first three chapters and put a hold on an illustrated library copy. I'm not a fan of poetry by and large, but what I've read of this is beautiful. Looking forward to continuing (even though I know how it ends!). :)

[shannon]

Does anyone think that The Pearl Feather is kind of a scary kind of guy?

[shannon]

I liked the chapter of The Evening Star.

[Blueberry]

FYI: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_S...

There are also several sites online if you would like to listen to the poem instead of reading. I am doing both.

[Karen]

Great suggestion. I read it aloud to myself but would always rather someone read to me! Looking forward to my illustrated library copy. It is a facsimile of the original illustrations by Frederic Remington.

[shannon]

I think I might listen to it.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I like doing both Blueberry!

Thanks for the links.

[Kathy]

I just finished "Hiawatha's Fasting." Lovely story about how maize came to the people.

[Karen]

shannon wrote: "Does anyone think that The Pearl Feather is kind of a scary kind of guy?"

Yes - I just finished that chapter. Hiawatha deals with a number of scary guys! I liked the Pearl Feather chapter. Now I know where the little red headed woodpeckers at my feeder got their red heads!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

'Blessing the Cornfields'
Found a crooked ear in husking
I like how the young got a kick out of the different types of cob whether the shape or the color. Seemed to make them happy while working and the older men gathered away just guffawed.

[Kathy]

I'd always heard "By the shore of Gitche Gumee" but finally have read the whole poem and I loved it. It's a very romanticised version of Native American life (which was controversial when it was published, my Intro tells me), but I enjoyed the native stories and all of the places. I live in Wisconsin and have been to Lake Superior more times than I can count, to Pictured Rocks and the sand dunes. So the story was a sort of travelogue to me.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

That makes it more special, I find, when we know the places they talk about in books. I grew up near Lake Erie, which is just the opposite to Lake Superior.
I have a vintage book of the works of Longfellow and have read all his poetry. And have consistently enjoyed all his works.

[Kathy]

A vintage book! - how nice. I plan to read more Longfellow. Maybe Evangeline since I've been to the Maritimes and learned about the Acadians, and also to Louisiana, where many Acadians ended up.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I have been to Acadia, where Evangeline took place. The descendants of Acadians have a special flag for their houses.

[Kathy]

That sounds so interesting, Rosemarie. After all the Acadians went through, their descendents deserve that flag.

[Blueberry]

shannon wrote: "I liked the chapter of The Evening Star."

I do too. I'm enjoying the whole read. Very beautiful.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Blueberry wrote: "shannon wrote: "I liked the chapter of The Evening Star."

I do too. I'm enjoying the whole read. Very beautiful."

I been bad and just picking out here and there to read.
I will have to remember to read this one though!

[Karen]

I've finished the poem. I read it slowly and out loud. I read the facsimile copy of the 1890 edition which is generously illustrated by Frederic Reminigton - of the Remington Arms family - and I think that really added to the reading of the poem for me. It also has an unattributed Introductory Note and the poem is followed by a Vocabulary and Notes section which is also interesting.

There is all kinds of chatter about the poem from the use of an "improper" eight syllable trochaic verse, to the incorrect mash-up of the setting, to the romanticizing of Indian life, to Longfellow's dependence on a less than reliable primary source but I just enjoyed the experience. I can't believe I've never read it.

I can't pick a favorite chapter/canto. They all set different tones. I liked sections 15 through 20. They were written on a more personal level, expressing more of Hiawatha's emotions.

Thanks for bringing this poem to my attention!

[Mikiko]

I'm slowing getting through this on my e-reader and I'm enjoying every bit of it so far. Just the names themselves are wonderful.

[Blueberry]

Finished it! It was a wonderfully relaxing read at bedtime.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I have read many poems by Longfellow and have enjoyed every one. I love the way he writes.