The Village Blacksmith: The Reality of a Poem
Item 13294 info
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ca. 1842 / Maine Historical Society
So what was Longfellow saying? Was he celebrating a political awakening of the common man? Or was he lamenting the loss of such a dependable and responsible role model? Was he making a political or patriotic statement? Was he aware of the rapid change in the economic system? The decision is up to you.