Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendall Holmes and John Greenleaf Whittier belong to the group known as the fireside poets. Your book states that "the fireside poets wrote for a family audience, usually on subjects of general appeal: nature, home and family, religious and moral lessons, and patroitsm." Choose one of those writers and discuss the individual characteristics of his poetry.
*this is the question i have to to answer but I am so clueless can anyone help?!*
The best things to do with assignments like this are to choose one of the authors and then research all you can about him, including his biography.
Go to http://www.google.com and enter one of these author's names. You won't find all the results helpful, but there'll be enough.
Also, go to http://www.ipl.org and, on the left side, find Special Collections and then Literary Criticism. I believe all these authors are listed in there. Read some of the articles about their writing.
=)
To answer the question about the individual characteristics of the poetry of one of the Fireside Poets, you can start by choosing one of the poets mentioned: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes, or John Greenleaf Whittier. Once you have selected a poet, you can research their biography and their works to understand their individual characteristics.
To begin your research, you can visit a search engine like Google and enter the name of the poet you have chosen. Look for reputable sources such as biographies, scholarly articles, or literary analyses of their work. Explore multiple sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the poet's writing style, themes, and influences.
Another resource you can use is the IPL (Internet Public Library) at www.ipl.org. On the left side of the website, you will find a section called "Special Collections." Click on "Literary Criticism," and you will likely find articles and essays dedicated to analyzing the works of the Fireside Poets, including the poet you have selected.
As you gather information, look for common themes or topics present in the poet's work. Pay attention to their use of language, poetic form, and imagery. Consider their contribution to the group known as the Fireside Poets and how their poetry aligns with the characteristics mentioned in your book, such as writing for a family audience on subjects of general appeal.
By conducting thorough research and consulting reliable sources, you will be able to discuss the individual characteristics of the poetry of your chosen Fireside Poet.