Bowdoin College

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a 19th century Military and Political leader of great valiance and courage. His actions at the Battle of Gettysburg exemplify his duty to country, bravery and courage, and his traits as a Citizen Soldier. Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine, in September of 1828, and was the oldest of his four siblings. Educated at Bowdoin College in Brunswick he met many people who would later influence his life, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe who would go on to write Uncle Tom’s Cabin. He married Fanny Adams in 1955 and had five children, only two of which survived. In 1861 Joshsua Chamberlain was appointed Professor of Modern Languages as Bowdoin, where he was fluent in 9 languages other than English including Latin and Arabic. Joshua came from a family with military history, and strongly supported the Union and it’s cause in the Civil War. During his classes he spoke freely of his beliefs, urging students to follow their hearts in regards to the war. In support of the war effort, he wrote a…

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an american poet and educator who was born in Portland, Maine, on February 27, 1807. He studied at Bowdoin College. He stayed some time in London but after a while of living there he became a professor at Bowdoin and then later on in his life, a professor at Harvard College. He is viewed by some as a great poem but others criticize him for some of his work. He lived his last days translating works from foreign languages and writing poems. Henry died in 1882. The…

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is American poet who wrote throughout 1873 to 1880, primarily influenced by the Romantic era. Born to the daughter of a Revolutionary War hero and an established lawyer, Longfellow was expected to attend college and follow his father’s footsteps. However he was more fascinated by the coastal culture of his town in Maine, fascinated by the stories of the sailors who detailed their exotic travels. Accordingly, Longfellow pursued his intrigue,…

"The Minister’s Black Veil" – Study Questions 1. What does Mr. Hooper do that makes the congregation uncomfortable? (Notice Hawthorne's descriptive writing!) Mr. Hooper begins to wear a Black Veil over his face at all times. The congregation sees this, and automatically perceives the black veil as a negative entity. Mr. Hooper never takes off the veil, and thus the story spreads. 2. What are some of the reactions of the members of the congregation on the first Sunday? The reactions of the…

Poem is a piece of writing which express feelings, emotions and ideas using descriptive figurative languages. However, poems are not dependable as a secondary source and if it is written about 100 years later than when the event actually happened. Likewise, the poem cannot be trustworthy if it contains different facts from the primary source written by the person who experienced that moment and who was actually there. Furthermore, as poems use figurative languages that exaggerate things, it is…

When you are talking to someone would you like to see their face? Well, good Parson Hooper in “The Minister’s Black Veil” does not look you in they eye while talking. He wears a black veil that covers his face. The wearing of a black veil by Parson Hooper all started being a substitute Minister. This veil makes Parson Hooper famous throughout all of New England, having people from all over to see the veiled Hooper. The wearing of the veil causes many issues in his life. The church does not like…

The Veil Upon his Face In the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mr. Hooper, a minister, arrived to church one day with a sudden change of appearance by having a veil cast upon his face. This veil brought tension between him and the people of his community because they did not understand why he wore it. Mr. Hooper’s decision in wearing the black veil affected his relationship with his community in a negative way because the veil distanced him from the community. In…

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an acclaimed poet in the 1800s and the first non-British writer to have a honorary bust placed in Poet’s corner, Westminster Abbey, in 1884 (Belanger 1). He was very popular during his time and still is today. Many events in Longfellow’s life influenced what he wrote about and his style. Longfellow’s travels, schooling, and obstacles in life wholly created Longfellow’s simple and sentimental style of writing that was so admired. To begin, Longfellow was a…

“The Landlord’s Tale. Paul Revere’s Ride” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Tone and Foreshadowing Belfry- a bell tower or a steeple housing bells, especially one that is a part of a church Muster- assemble (troops), especially for inspection or preparation for battle Grenadiers- solder armed with grenades Sombre- dark and gloomy Sentinel- a soldier or guard Impetuous- acting/done quickly and without thought or care Fleet- fast and nimble in movement Spectral- of or like a ghost Alders- a type of…

Have you ever committed a sin and hidden it from everyone? If so, you must have realized that hidden sin changes how other people view you and how you view them. In “The Ministers Black Veil”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, has this powerful theme tying the story together. Mr. Hooper, the protagonist in the novel, is the minister of a small town. When first introduced, the character is a wearing a black veil in front of his face, causing a great commotion among the townspeople, who feel intimidated and…