Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie

“Maidenhood” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1842)

The speaker in this short poem addresses a young woman and tries to encourage her, saying that even though life has many pitfalls, she must patiently endure whatever sorrow comes her way. Like Evangeline, the young woman is presented as bright and filled with light (“Thou whose locks outshine the sun”) and the speaker’s advice, “And that smile, like sunshine, / dart into many a sunless heart, / For a smile of God thou art” also puts in mind Evangeline, with her many years of service to others as a Sister of Mercy.

“The Rainy Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1842)

Like Evangeline’s mentors, but without the spiritual dimension, the speaker of this short lyric poem consoles a dispirited young person by telling him or her that every life must experience some sorrow, but “Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.”

“The Village Blacksmith” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1840)

The description of the blacksmith puts in mind the descriptions of Basil the blacksmith in Evangeline. The poem is simple in thought and structure. It consists of eight six-line stanzas and emphasizes the blacksmith’s strength and the hard work he performs each day, which inspire the speaker.

“Santa Filomena” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1857)