The Wreck of the Hesperus

E29170

The Wreck of the Hesperus is a narrative poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that tells the tragic story of a shipwreck caused by a captain’s pride and a violent storm.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf narrative poem
poem
author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
authorNationality American
causeOfShipwreck captain's pride
storm
centralEvent shipwreck
countryOfOrigin United States
features fisherman who finds the girl
ship's crew
skipper
violent storm
firstPublicationDate 1842
form rhymed stanzas
genre ballad-like poem
narrative poetry
sea poetry
hasAdaptation dramatic recitations
various musical settings
hasImagery icy waves
ship dashed on reef
storm at sea
hasMoral heed warnings of danger
warning against arrogance at sea
includedInCollection Ballads and Other Poems
inspiredBy New England maritime disasters
isStudiedIn American literature courses
isTaughtAtLevel secondary school
university
language English
literaryMovement American Romanticism
mainCharacter captain's daughter
ship captain
meter ballad meter
narrativePerspective third-person narration
originalLanguage English
periodOfComposition 19th century
rhymeScheme regular rhyme scheme
setting Atlantic Ocean
New England coast
theme divine judgment
hubris
human vs nature
parental responsibility
pride
tragedy
tone moralizing
tragic

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
notableWork

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