Other editions of book The Song of Hiawatha

Initially conceived by Longfellow after reading the works of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, "The Song of Hiawatha" is an epic poem based on the legends of the Ojibway Indians of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The beautiful descriptions of this part of the United States are intertwined with the story of the Native American Hiawatha. From his youth to his marriage, from his daily existence of gathering food to his participation in the traditions of his people, Longfellow weaves a tale of impressive scope in this lyric work. Ultimately, this poem tells the story of the American Indian, including his habitual life, fight for survival, and gradual disappearance at the arrival of white men.

The Song of Hiawatha is based on the legends and stories of many North American Indian tribes, but especially those of the Ojibway Indians of northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. They were collected by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the reknowned historian, pioneer explorer, and geologist. He was superintendent of Indian affairs for Michigan from 1836 to 1841. Schoolcraft married Jane, O-bah-bahm-wawa-ge-zhe-go-qua (The Woman of the Sound Which the Stars Make Rushing Through the Sky), Johnston. Jane was a daughter of John Johnston, an early Irish fur trader, and O-shau-gus-coday-way-qua (The Woman of the Green Prairie), who was a daughter of Waub-o-jeeg (The White Fisher), who was Chief of the Ojibway tribe at La Pointe, Wisconsin.

Published in 1855, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem “The Song of Hiawatha” has received high critical acclaim from many people of his time. The poem is composed of 22 chapters, which deal with the prophecy that a peace bringer will come, continuing with Hiawatha’s birth and his final resolution. The first two chapters of the poem tell the story about a man called Gitche Manito and his prophecy that a peace bringer will come and bring relief and joy to all the people of the tribe. Then, the legend of Mudjekeewis is told. He is the one who became the Father of Four Winds after defeating the Great Bear from the mountains in a fierce battle. Mudjekeewis goes on two have four suns, each representing a wind. In chapter three – named Unremembered Ages - a woman falls from the Moon. Her name is Nokomis, and soon after she gives birth to Wenonah. The child grows into a beautiful woman who falls in love with the West Wind. Her mother, Nokomis, warns her of the dangers of beings seduces by a wind, but she ignores her mother’s advice. Wenonah then becomes pregnant and she gives birth to the hero Hiawatha. The story of Hiawatha unfolds in the following chapters, from battles with fierce enemies such as the evil magician named Pearl Feather to him falling in love for the beautiful Minnehaha. The poem ends with Hiawatha welcoming a pale face visitor named the Priest of Prayer. This Black Robe chief brings a message about Jesus Christ, a message that is welcomed. Hiawatha then gets on his birch canoe and sails to the west after telling his people to follow the words of the Pale Face. While not entirely accurate historically, Longfellow’s poem, The Song of Hiawatha, has become one of the most important works of the genre in American literature and a must read for any poetry lovers.

The Song of Hiawatha was written in 1855 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It combines Native American legends and the American Romantic style of literature into a stunning epic poem that has captured readers for generations. In this version, we present only the poem with nothing to distract and we have used fonts from an original printing to give it the feel a true classic. Will you be the next reader to be captured by The Song of Hiawatha?

The Song of Hiawatha is an 1855 epic poem in trochaic tetrameter by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that features Native American characters. The epic relates the adventures of an Ojibwe warrior named Hiawatha and the tragedy of his love for Minnehaha. Events in the story are set in the Pictured Rocks area on the south shore of Lake Superior. Longfellow's poem, though based on native oral traditions surrounding the figure of Manabozho, represents not a work of transmission but an original work of American Romantic literature.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.