Question

What is the summary and analysis of the poet American liberty by Philip freneau

Answer 1

The poem 'American Liberty' by Philip Freneau explores the theme of freedom during the American Revolution in a context of slavery. Phillis Wheatley's poetry similarly addresses this contradiction, emphasizing the incongruity between the ideals of liberty and the existence of slavery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The summary and analysis of Philip Freneau's poem "American Liberty" addresses the theme of freedom and its contradictions in a society that practices slavery. Freneau's poetry, along with Phillis Wheatley's work, delves into the complexities of freedom during the American Revolution. Wheatley, in particular, highlights the irony of colonists demanding liberty while enslaving others. Her emphasis on words such as Freedom, Tyranny, and Liberty serves to underscore the contradiction between the ideals of the American Revolution and the reality of slavery. Similarly, Freneau's writing contributes to the dialogue around the fragile notion of freedom in a society that denies it to a significant portion of its population. His works, and those of his contemporaries, circulate in publications like the New York Journal and are analyzed for their persuasive elements against government factions, reflective of the political tensions of the time.

Answer 2

Let America rejoice, thy standard rear,
Let the loud trumpet animate to war:
Thy guardian Genius, haste thee on thy way,
To strike whole hosts with terror and dismay.
Happy some land, which all for freedom gave,
Happier the men whom their own virtues save;
Thrice happy we who long attacks have stood,
And swam to Liberty thro’ seas of blood;
The time shall come when strangers rule no more,
Nor cruel mandates vex from Britain’s shore:
When Commerce shall extend her short’ned wing.
And her free freights from every climate bring;
When mighty towns shall flourish free and great.
Vast their dominion, opulent their state:
When one vast cultivated region teems,
From ocean’s edge to Mississippi’s streams;
While each enjoys his vineyard’s peaceful shade,
And even the meanest has no cause to dread;
Such is the life our foes with envy see,
Such is the godlike glory to be free.