AUGUST by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This short poem features August speaking for itself, sharing the origin of its name and what it represents.
The poem
The Emperor Octavian, called the August, I being his favorite, bestowed his name Upon me, and I hold it still in trust, In memory of him and of his fame. I am the Virgin, and my vestal flame Burns less intensely than the Lion's rage; Sheaves are my only garlands, and I claim The golden Harvests as my heritage.
This short poem features August speaking for itself, sharing the origin of its name and what it represents. August reveals that it was named after the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar and that it embodies the harvest — think golden fields of grain instead of the intense heat of July. It's like a month introducing itself at a gathering and sharing its family background.
Line-by-line
The Emperor Octavian, called the August, / I being his favorite, bestowed his name
I am the Virgin, and my vestal flame / Burns less intensely than the Lion's rage;
Tone & mood
Stately and composed. The month carries itself with the quiet confidence of someone who understands their identity and origins. There's a hint of pride in the references to imperial figures, yet it never crosses into arrogance — by the end, the tone shifts to something more pastoral and serene. Longfellow maintains a formal register that's fitting for a Roman emperor while still feeling warm enough to resonate with a harvest field.
Symbols & metaphors
- The Emperor Octavian / Augustus — Augustus Caesar represents the legacy of imperial rule and historical significance. By referencing him, August links the natural calendar to the development of human civilization and authority.
- The Lion's rage — Leo, the zodiac sign of July, represents the height of summer's heat. By comparison, it makes August seem more measured and composed — the fire is starting to fade.
- Sheaves and golden Harvests — Bundled grain symbolizes abundance and the rewards of hard work. The harvest represents August's 'heritage'—what the month proudly offers—connecting it to the results of diligent effort instead of mere spectacle or coercion.
- The Virgin (Virgo) — The zodiac sign Virgo starts in late August and is associated with purity and calmness. The term 'vestal flame' refers to the sacred fire in Rome that was meticulously maintained, further emphasizing that August embodies a sense of control, dignity, and civility instead of chaos.
- Vestal flame — In ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins maintained a sacred flame in the Temple of Vesta. This flame embodies a softer, more lasting warmth — the gentle heat of late summer instead of the fierce blaze of midsummer.
Historical context
Longfellow published this poem in *The Poet's Calendar*, a series of twelve short poems—one for each month—featured in his 1882 collection *In the Harbor*, which came out the year he passed away. Each poem gives a month its own voice and character, drawing inspiration from mythology, astronomy, and nature. Longfellow was part of a long-standing tradition of calendar poetry that dates back to ancient Rome, notably seen in Edmund Spenser's *Mutabilitie Cantos*. By 1882, Longfellow was the most popular poet among English speakers, and these later calendar poems highlight his talent for making classical references feel relatable. By allowing August to speak in the first person—proud of its Roman name but modest about its role in the harvest—he emphasizes his enduring interest in connecting the ancient world with everyday American experiences.
FAQ
The month of August takes on the role of the speaker. Longfellow personifies it, allowing it to express its own name and character. This technique is known as *prosopopoeia* — giving an abstract concept a voice as if it were a person.
Octavian was the name he was born with before becoming Rome's first emperor. Once he gained power, the Roman Senate honored him with the title *Augustus*, which translates from Latin to 'majestic' or 'venerable.' Around 8 BCE, the month of August was renamed to honor him, taking the place of the older Roman name *Sextilis*.
The poem consists of an octave — eight lines — following the rhyme scheme ABABABABAB... specifically, ABABAB CC. If we break it down: *August / trust*, *name / fame / flame / claim*, *rage / heritage*. Longfellow employs an interlocking pattern, which is characteristic of ottava rima, a classical Italian stanza form that Ariosto and later Byron utilized.
The Vestal Virgins were priestesses in ancient Rome responsible for maintaining a sacred, eternal flame in the Temple of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. This flame needed to stay lit at all times; allowing it to extinguish was considered a grave religious violation. In this context, it symbolizes the warmth of August as something steady and controlled, rather than chaotic.
Leo is the zodiac sign that governs most of July and the early weeks of August. The Lion symbolizes the height of summer's heat — the hottest and most intense part of the year. August brings a warmth that feels more dignified and mild compared to July's fierce blaze.
A sheaf is a bundle of grain stalks that have been cut and tied together after harvesting. In classical and Renaissance art, depictions of harvest or abundance frequently show figures adorned with grain instead of flowers. August is emphasizing that its symbol of honor is not a decorative wreath but rather the practical, golden yield from the fields — it gains its glory through abundance, not beauty.
Yes. *August* is one of twelve poems in Longfellow's sequence *The Poet's Calendar*, with each poem representing a different month. The complete sequence was published in *In the Harbor* (1882), which is his last collection. Reading all twelve poems together reveals how Longfellow portrays the year as an emotional and mythological journey.
At its core, the poem reflects on identity and inheritance—exploring the origins of a name and the significance of carrying it. August takes pride in its grand name but sees itself defined not by authority or intensity but by the harvest: patient, golden, and beneficial. Longfellow appears to imply that true value lies in what you create, rather than in the name you carry.