3.2 Analysis of major works and poetic styles

Phillis Wheatley and Jupiter Hammon pioneered African American poetry, blending religious themes with reflections on slavery and freedom. Their works showcase mastery of classical forms and literary devices, while grappling with complex issues of identity and race in colonial America.

Analyzing their major works reveals distinct styles. Wheatley's diverse range and sophisticated language contrasts with Hammon's focus on religious themes and simpler expression. Both poets use Christian imagery and neoclassical techniques to explore freedom, morality, and the African American experience.

Major Themes in Wheatley and Hammon

Religion, Freedom, and Mythology

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  Briton Hammon, A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings (1760) – Open Anthology of Earlier ... View original

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  Poem #2: An Hymn to the Evening by Phillis Wheatley View original

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  Briton Hammon, A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings (1760) – Open Anthology of Earlier ... View original

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  Poem #2: An Hymn to the Evening by Phillis Wheatley View original

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  Briton Hammon, A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings (1760) – Open Anthology of Earlier ... View original

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  Poem #2: An Hymn to the Evening by Phillis Wheatley View original

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• Wheatley's poetry incorporates themes of religion, freedom, and classical mythology
• Reflects her unique position as an educated enslaved woman in colonial America
• Hammon's works explore Christian piety, moral instruction, and the condition of enslaved people
• Draws from his experiences as a lifelong enslaved person and devout Christian
• Both poets employ neoclassical literary devices (allusion, personification, apostrophe)
  • Demonstrates their mastery of contemporary poetic conventions
• Motif of light and darkness appears in both poets' works
  • Often symbolizes knowledge, faith, or freedom in contrast to ignorance or bondage

Poetic Forms and Techniques

• Wheatley uses elegies and occasional poetry
  • Showcases her ability to adapt classical forms to address contemporary subjects and patrons
• Hammon's poetry features didactic elements and biblical allusions
  • Emphasizes his role as a spiritual leader within the enslaved community
• Analysis of meter, rhyme schemes, and figurative language reveals:
  • Sophistication of their craft
  • Engagement with European literary traditions
• Both poets use iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets
  • Reflects the influence of English poetry on their work

Wheatley vs Hammon: Poetic Styles

Range and Subject Matter

• Wheatley demonstrates a diverse range of forms and subjects
  • Includes elegies, odes, and occasional poems
• Hammon's work primarily focuses on religious and moral themes
• Wheatley's mastery of poetic forms generally considered more sophisticated
• Wheatley's tone varies from celebratory to contemplative
• Hammon maintains a consistently didactic and exhortatory tone

Literary Devices and Structure

• Wheatley employs classical allusions and mythological references
• Hammon relies on biblical imagery and quotations
• Both use apostrophe as a rhetorical device
  • Wheatley addresses abstract concepts or historical figures
  • Hammon tends to address fellow enslaved people or God directly
• Wheatley's poems often follow classical models with clear stanzaic divisions
• Hammon's work sometimes employs a more fluid, sermon-like structure
• Wheatley's vocabulary and syntax typically more complex and varied
  • Showcases her extensive education
• Hammon's language generally simpler and more direct

Religious Influence on Wheatley and Hammon

Christian Theology and Philosophy

• Christian theology plays a central role in both poets' works
  • Wheatley incorporates elements of Puritan thought
  • Hammon draws heavily on evangelical Protestant ideas
• Wheatley's poetry reflects Enlightenment philosophical concepts
  • Integrates reason and natural rights with Christian beliefs
• Doctrine of salvation recurs in Hammon's poetry
  • Emphasizes importance of faith and moral behavior for earthly comfort and eternal life
• Both explore the concept of divine providence
  • Often interpret experiences of enslavement through a religious lens

Religious Movements and Debates

• Wheatley engages with contemporary debates on the nature of the soul
• Challenges prevailing racist ideologies by asserting equality of all humans before God
• Hammon's poetry reflects influence of the First Great Awakening
  • Emphasizes personal conversion experiences and emotional religious expression
• Wheatley's work shows engagement with Stoic philosophy
  • Evident in treatment of themes such as virtue, fortitude, and acceptance of circumstances

Race, Identity, and Freedom in Poetry

Confronting Racial Prejudice

• Wheatley's "On Being Brought from Africa to America" directly confronts racial prejudice
  • Affirms spiritual equality of all Christians, regardless of race
• Hammon's "Address to the Negroes in the State of New York" advocates for gradual emancipation
  • Reflects his complex stance on slavery and freedom
• Wheatley celebrates African heritage in "To S.M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Works"
  • Challenges contemporary notions of racial inferiority
  • Asserts artistic potential of people of African descent

Identity and Authority

• Both poets construct layered identities in their work
  • Navigate roles as enslaved individuals, Christians, and educated writers within white society
• Wheatley uses first-person perspective in poems like "To the University of Cambridge, in New England"
  • Asserts her intellectual and spiritual authority despite enslaved status
• Hammon's poetry frequently addresses fellow enslaved people
  • Fosters sense of community and shared identity based on religious faith rather than racial categories
• Concept of freedom in their poetry often transcends physical bondage
  • Focuses on spiritual liberation through Christian faith and moral virtue