Book details
The Song of Hiawatha
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Metadata
- Gutenberg ID
- 19
- Title
- The Song of Hiawatha
- Language
- en
- Book source
- Project Gutenberg
- Description max 80 words
-
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem blends Finnish meter with Ojibway legends collected by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. Told through Hiawatha's life, it explores themes of friendship, loss, healing, and the arrival of European settlers, offering a lyrical yet culturally grounded narrative of Native American mythology.
- Summary up to 500 words
-
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's *The Song of Hiawatha* chronicles the life of Hiawatha, a prophet and teacher among the Ojibway people, blending mythic storytelling with observations on the encroachment of civilization. The narrative begins with Hiawatha's childhood and his legendary fishing exploits on the Gitche Gumee (Lake Superior), where he demonstrates courage against the sturgeon Nahma. After slaying the magician Megissogwon, who brings disease to the tribe, Hiawatha teaches the people the art of picture-writing, interpreting symbols on birch bark to record songs, history, and the mysteries of nature. Following the tragic drowning of his friend and musician Chibiabos, Hiawatha undergoes a period of deep mourning. He is eventually healed by medicine men and summons Chibiabos from the spirit world, appointing him ruler of the dead to guide souls to the land of the hereafter. Throughout the poem, Hiawatha acts as a bridge between the natural and spiritual worlds, teaching healing arts and interpreting the signs of the Great Spirit. The work concludes with Hiawatha welcoming the 'Black-Robe chief,' representing European missionaries, and sharing the message of the Virgin Mary and the Saviour. After this encounter, Hiawatha departs on a final journey into the sunset, sailing toward the Northwest-Wind and the Kingdom of Ponemah. The poem maintains a tone that is both melancholic and hopeful, balancing the sorrow of loss with the enduring wisdom of indigenous traditions against the arrival of new worlds.
- LLM editorial rating
- 4.2/5
- Download URL
- https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19.epub.noimages
- Local file path
-
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People
Authors
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Classification
Categories
- Poetry
- Indians of North America
- Iroquois Indians