Vol.11, No 1, 2013 pp. 67 - 73
UDC
811.111:316.7
THE TRANSFORMATION OF A MINOR EVENT INTO A MAJOR POEM: LONGFELLOW'S "PAUL REVERE'S RIDE"
Stefan Pajović
Faculty of Philosophy Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
E-mail:
stefan@capsred.com
The essay delves into the process of creating an American icon of Paul Revere by examining how was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, nation's beloved poet, able to use historic facts while writing his much lauded poem "Paul Revere's Ride". The starting point is the examination of sheer facts: Revere's biography and the ride itself. Next we turn to the poem, its setting, and Longfellow's intention in writing it, as well as the events that followed its publication. This includes separating facts from fiction, i.e. drawing a clear line between literary invention and reality, in order to gain a unique insight into the process of mythmaking. Having scrutinized this dichotomy, the focus shifts toward the poet's intentions and reasons for such an alternation of the truth, and to what effect. Finally, the essay explores the poem's longevity in present-day America.
Key words: Paul Revere, poetry, myth, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American Revolution
PRETVARANJE NEVAŽNOG ISTORIJSKOG DOGAĐAJA U POZNATU PESMU: LONGFELOUOVO "JAHANJE POLA RIVIRA"
Rad se bavi tokom nastankom kulta američkog heroja Pola Rivira ispitujući kako je Henri Vodsvort Longfelou, omiljeni narodni pesnik, uspeo da iskoriti istorijske činjenice dok je pisao svoju poznatu pesmu „Jahanje Pola Rivira." Počinje se od golih činjenica: Rivirove biografije i samog jahanja. Nakon toga, rad se bavi samom pesmom, periodom kada je napisana i događajima koji su usledili.Ovo uključuje povlačenje jasne linije razgraničenja između realnosti i fikcije kako bi se bolje odgonetnuo tok nastanka mita, uključujući pesnikove razloge i namere koji stoje iza prekrajanja istorije i posledica istog. Na posletku, rad se bavi današnjom popularnošću pesme u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama.
Ključne reči: Pol Rivir, poezija, mit, Henri Vodsvort Longfelou, Američka revolucija
