Analysis of A Psalm of Life by H.W Longfellow

The title of A Psalm of Life is an appropriate one. A psalm is an invocation to mankind to follow the path of the righteousness. Here, the speaker advises people to be heroes in their lives. He asks them to lie in the present, without thinking about the past or the future.

A poem teaching a moral lesson is called a didactic poem. A Psalm of Life is a didactic poem. The poet’s task in the poem is to instruct and guide, to inspire and modify. The poem teaches basic human values and lays out a foundation for a prosperous, ethical life.

STYLE:

Form and structure:
The poem consists of nine stanzas of four lines each. The poem has regular rhyming pattern. Each stanza follows the rhyme scheme abab. In every stanza, the first line rhymes with the third line and the second line with the fourth.

Allusion:
Allusion is a reference to other works or cultures in prose and poetry. H.W Longfellow has used allusions to convey his message in the poem.

‘Tell me not, in mournful numbers.’
In the above line, numbers refer to the verses in the Bible.

‘Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest’
The above line too has a Biblical reference.

FIGURES OF SPEECH:
Similes: It is a figure of speech in which a likeness between two different things is stated using the words ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Examples of similes in A Psalm of Life are,

1. Still, like muffled drums, are beating
2. Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

METAPHORS:
Metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two different things are implied but not clearly stated. Examples of metaphor in the poem are,

1. Life is but an empty dream.
2. Soul id dead that slumbers…
3. Art is long and Time is fleeting

ALLITERATION:
Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds at the beginning of words to facilitate narration. Examples of alliteration in the poem are,

1. Grave is not its goal
2. Find us further
3. Dumb driven cattle
4. Learn to labour
5. Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest.

PARALLELISM:
Parallelism is used when the speaker says
1. Life is real! Life is earnest!
2. Still achieving still pursuing.

H.W Longfellow points out that one has a duty to make this world a better place to live in. A Psalm of Life is a whole collection of moral principles to be followed by all the people. The principles listed by the poem are enumerated as follows,-

*Life has a serious mission.
*Life does not end with death.
*We have a destiny irrespective of our joys and sorrows.
*Time is too short for our long mission.
*Become great by emulating great men.
*Learn to labor and wait for results.
*Act now, in the living present.
*Be a hero in the struggle of life.

Dear Readers- If this summary/analysis has helped you, kindly take a little effort to like or +1 this post or both. Make  sure you like Beamingnotes Facebook page and subscribe to our newsletter so that we can keep in touch. We’ll keep informing you about stuffs that are really interesting, worth knowing and adds importance to you.

Check out the Detailed Video Playlist of this Poem containing the Summary, Analysis and Much More:

Keyword: A psalm of life analysis, a psalm of life line by line analysis, a psalm of life interpretation

Whether you’re aiming to learn some new marketable skills or just want to explore a topic, online learning platforms are a great solution for learning on your own schedule. You can also complete courses quickly and save money choosing virtual classes over in-person ones. In fact, individuals learn 40% faster on digital platforms compared to in-person learning.

Some online learning platforms provide certifications, while others are designed to simply grow your skills in your personal and professional life. Including Masterclass and Coursera, here are our recommendations for the best online learning platforms you can sign up for today.

The 7 Best Online Learning Platforms of 2022

About the author

21 comments

  1. OMG this has helped me tons for my project..
    It really is a beautiful poem though. Today, everyone viewing this page is seeing one of Longfellow’s footprints and, if you’re like me, being inspired by it. In this way, Longfellow fulfills his own prediction. Beautiful.

  2. just a tip, there is a typo in the metaphors section #2. it is supposed to be The should IS dead that slumbers. It says id instead of is.

  3. its lovely poem
    and beamingnotes has given a very lucid explanation of the poem.
    it will help both the students and teachers alike in appreciating Longfellow.

    I wish http://www.beaningnotes.com grows further and further… thanks dear Team members of this website.

  4. This site is really awesome
    It helped me to complete my hw very easily.

  5. I want to biblical allusions in poem a psalm of life….
    Kindly,please help me….

Comments are closed.

Other related Posts

You may also like