Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” was written at a perilous time in American history, when Civil War threatened.
10 Great Resources for Teaching the Civil War
Not all Civil War teaching resources are created equal. Both primary and secondary sources enabled me to write a Civil War novel, and they can help you to teach it. Here are the best resources you’ll want when planning & teaching!
Relearning Civil War History to Write a Novel
To write the historical novel “Brookhaven,” I had to relearn the subject I thought I knew all about — the history of the Civil War.
Herman Melville, a Poet of the Civil War
Herman Melville turned from fiction to poetry, and his first collection aimed at memorializing and making sense of the Civil War.
Hidden, or Ignored, by History: “Afro-Creole Poetry” by Clint Bruce
With the poetry collection “Afro-Creole Poetry,” Clint Bruce opens a forgotten, or ignored, chapter in American history and poetry.
J.D. McClatchy Tells the Story of the Civil War — in Poetry
“Poets of the Civil War” by J.D. McClatchy is a small volume that manages to capture the magnitude of the American Civil War.
Reconsidering History: Natasha Trethewey and “Native Guard”
In “Native Guard,” poet Natasha Trethewey considers what history often forgets, in this case a Black regiment that fought for the Union.
Poets and Poems: Maurice Manning and “Railsplitter”
In “Railsplitting,” poet Maurice Manning crawls inside the head of Abraham Lincoln, recalling and imagining his life, struggles, and legacy.
Using Poetry to Reflect Upon the Civil War – Part 3: Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman celebrated the beginning of the Civil War, like many Americans on both sides. But as it dragged on, he — and his poetry — changed.
Poetry and Remembering the Civil War – Part 2: Robert Lowell
For generations, we’ve used the Civil War as a lens for viewing controversies. In his poem “For the Union Dead,” Robert Lowell considers the war — and a parking garage.
Poetry and Remembering the Civil War – Part 1: Allen Tate
The Civil War has long been used as a lens for interpreting, understanding, and advocating contemporary issues. So has the poetry about the Civil War.