Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Poet or Punster?

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a renowned poet, translator, and professor during the 19th century. His popular works include “The Song of Hiawatha,” “Paul Revere’s Ride,” and “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Despite his serious literary pursuits, Longfellow was also known for his keen sense of humor and love of wordplay.

Born on February 27, 1807, in Portland, Maine, Longfellow was the son of a lawyer and a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, made famous in his poem “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Longfellow initially pursued a career in law, but his love of literature led him to become a professor of modern languages at Bowdoin College in 1829.

In addition to his teaching career, Longfellow also made a name for himself as a translator of works such as Dante’s “The Divine Comedy” and Goethe’s “Faust.” But it was his poetry that truly cemented his place in American literature.

Longfellow’s poetry often focused on American history and culture, as seen in his poem “Paul Revere’s Ride,” which recounts the famous night when Revere rode through the countryside warning that “the British are coming!” But Longfellow wasn’t all serious business. He also had a penchant for puns and clever wordplay.

In his poem “The Haunted House,” Longfellow writes:

“Dowse the glim, and don’t read further, lest ye hear a blood-curdling murder!”

In this line, Longfellow uses the pun “glim,” which means a candle, to create a spooky atmosphere. He also puns on the word “dowse,” which means to extinguish, but also sounds like “douse,” as in dousing a fire.

Longfellow was also known to play with words in his personal correspondence. In a letter to a friend, he once wrote:

“I am as happy as a clam, and as busy as a bee, and as bright as a button.”

This playful use of idioms and similes shows Longfellow’s love of language and sense of humor.

In summary, while Henry Wadsworth Longfellow may be best known for his serious poetry, he was also a pun-loving, wordplay enthusiast who valued humor in his literary pursuits.