culture. education. literary studies.
This Christmas carol draws on the imagery and symbols that have for centuries been associated with the celebration of Christmas: holly is symbolic of Jesus, whereas ivy represents his mother Mary. The sharp, prickly leaves of holly stand as a reminder of the crown of thorns Jesus was forced to wear; the red berries represent his blood, shed for humanity.
With Christmas approaching, for this post I've selected โA Christmas Carolโ (better known as โIn the Bleak Midwinterโ), first published in 1872. Set to music by Gustav Holst in 1906, this poem / church hymn has since become part of the classic repertoire of Christmas carols.
Alice Cary was a 19th century American poet. Born in 1820, she grew up in rural Ohio, on a family farm run by her father William. Although living far from any schools and lacking formal education, Alice was an avid reader with a thirst for knowledge. She and her sister Phoebe started writing poetry in …
In many countries around the world, 2nd November is marked as the Day of the Dead. It is a day on which people remember their loved ones who have passed away; they might visit their graves or attend special religious services. On that theme, for this weekโs poetry post I have chosen a poem by …
Continue reading "“Haunted Houses” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow"
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