'' A PSALM OF LIFE ''

About Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine in February of 1807. As a young man
he was sent to private school, and alongside his peers was fellow writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Longfellow was a proficient student of languages and after school, traveled, at his own expense,
throughout Europe where he refined his language skills. After this trip, he was married and
began to write language textbooks. He published a collection of essays that earned him a
professorship at Harvard University. Longfellow’s wife died in 1836 from a miscarriage and he
turned to his writing as a means of comfort. Soon after this loss he published the novel,
Hyperion. Longfellow would marry again, seven years later. He and his new with, Frances
Appleton, had six children. Over the next decade and a half, Longfellow produced his best work.
These included ‘Voices of the Night’, ‘Hymn to the Night’, and later, ‘A Psalm of Life’. His
popularity was growing throughout Europe and America. In the last years of his life, he enjoyed
real fame. This success was dampened by loss as his second wife died in a house fire.
Longfellow died in March of 1882 after developing severe stomach pains. He lived to see himself
become one of America’s most successful writers.

Summary

‘A Psalm of Life‘ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes the purpose of life, and how one
should handle the sorrow and struggles along the way. The poem begins with the speaker
contradicting a listener who wants to explain life to him as a matter of number and figures. The
rest of the poem is dedicated to the speaker trying to prove this unknown person wrong. He
describes the way in which he believes that no matter what death brings, the soul will never be
destroyed. Because of this, it is important to do all one can in life to make one’s situation, and
that of others, better. The speaker comes to the conclusion that he, and the listener, must be
prepared at any time for death, strife, or any trouble thrown at them. They must face life, and
make the best of every day.

Theme

A Psalm of Life: This poem is known for its optimism and the theme-right attitude of life. The
poet gives out the message that pleasure or sorrow is not the goal of life. The purpose of life is
to carry out all duties and responsibilities for the progress and good of all. We should realize life
is shorter and quicker. Life is like a battle field and we should not let ourselves be driven like
cattle. We should fight bravely as heroes. The poet points out that the past and future are of no
significance. We should concentrate in making the best out of the present. We may also follow

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footsteps of great men who had laid their footsteps on sands of time.