Lesson Plans Lesson Plans

Longfellow Studies: Integration of Longfellow's Poetry into American Studies

Dana Anderson and Mary Moore, Freeport High School, Cumberland County

2005

9-12

  • English Language Arts -- Reading
  • Social Studies -- History

1-5 days

  • 1775-1850
  • 1851-1920
  • Arts
  • The People/Peopling of Maine

We explored Longfellow's ability to express universality of human emotions/experiences while also looking at the patterns he articulated in history that are applicable well beyond his era. We attempted to link a number of Longfellow's poems with different eras in U.S. History and accompanying literature, so that the poems complemented the various units. With each poem, we want to explore the question: What is American identity?

  • Students and teachers will examine Longfellow's ability to express universality of human emotions/experiences as well as looking at the patterns he articulates in history that are applicable well beyond his era. With each poem, students will explore a common set of central guiding questions.

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A resource developed through the "Longfellow & the Forging of American Identity" program funded by NEH