Question

What did Henry Wadsworth Longfellow do years after Paul Revere's ride?

Answer 1

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote "Paul Revere's Ride" in 1860, a poem that dramatically embellished the tale of Revere's ride and contributed significantly to his legacy as an American folk hero, despite Revere not completing his ride.

Step-by-step explanation:

Years after Paul Revere's midnight ride, which occurred on April 19, 1775, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized Revere in his 1860 poem, "Paul Revere's Ride." This poem was published nearly 85 years after the actual event, and although Paul Revere was captured by the British and did not complete the entirety of his intended journey, Longfellow's poem greatly embellished Revere’s role during that night. It is thanks to Longfellow that Paul Revere became a household name and an American folk hero, symbolizing the patriotic spirit of the American Revolution.

Longfellow's poem took creative liberties, by portraying Revere as the lone rider who successfully warned the colonial militia of the approaching British forces. However, in reality, multiple riders, including William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott, participated in alerting the countryside. Nonetheless, Longfellow’s poem had a significant cultural impact, shaping the popular memory of the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to it.

Answer 2

Paul Revere did not gain immediate fame for his April 1775 "Midnight Ride." In fact, it wasn't until Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1861 poem, which greatly embellished Revere's role, that he became the folk hero we think of today.