O - - O - - O - - O - - O - - O - by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This is the opening line of Longfellow's epic poem *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* (1847), written in dactylic hexameter — the same meter that Homer used in his works.
The poem
This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks, "The measure lends itself easily to the lingering melancholy which marks a greater part of the poem." "In reading there should be a gentle labor of the former half of the line and gentle acceleration of the latter half."--_Scudder_. [Illustration: NOVA SCOTIA AND VICINITY.]
This is the opening line of Longfellow's epic poem *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* (1847), written in dactylic hexameter — the same meter that Homer used in his works. The line paints a picture of the ancient forests of Acadia (Nova Scotia), creating an atmosphere filled with profound, mournful beauty. The entire poem narrates the tale of Evangeline, an Acadian woman who is separated from her beloved Gabriel during the British-led expulsion of the Acadians in 1755.
Line-by-line
This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Tone & mood
Solemn and incantatory. The line feels like the start of a ritual or a lament—slow, dignified, and heavy with a sense of loss that remains unspoken. There’s a sense of grandeur here, but it’s the grandeur of something that can never be reclaimed.
Symbols & metaphors
- The forest primeval — The ancient, untouched forest represents a world that existed before colonization and displacement disrupted it. It is Eden before the fall — a place of original wholeness that the rest of the poem laments.
- Pines and hemlocks — These particular evergreen trees, dark and resilient, symbolize both mourning and endurance. They continue to stand tall even after the human community they once sheltered has been destroyed and dispersed.
- Dactylic hexameter rhythm — The meter itself symbolizes the structure of Homer's *Iliad* and *Odyssey*, intentionally connecting to the tradition of epic poetry that tells the stories of displaced peoples and their long, arduous journeys back home.
Historical context
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow released *Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie* in 1847, establishing it as one of the first significant American epic poems. The work draws inspiration from the real historical event known as the Great Expulsion (Le Grand Dérangement) of 1755, during which British colonial forces forcibly removed around 10,000 French-speaking Acadian settlers from what is now Nova Scotia, Canada. Longfellow opted for dactylic hexameter—the same meter used by Homer and Virgil—to lend the narrative the grandeur and seriousness of ancient epics. The poem quickly became a sensation, playing a crucial role in shaping American understanding of the Acadian tragedy. As a Harvard professor and the most widely read American poet of the nineteenth century, Longfellow solidified his reputation with *Evangeline* as a poet capable of tackling significant historical and emotional themes.
FAQ
"Primeval" refers to something that has existed since the very start — ancient, original, and untouched. This term quickly conveys that this forest has stood long before any human events and will continue to endure long after. It establishes the poem's main contrast between the enduring nature of the environment and the vulnerability of human societies.
Dactylic hexameter is the meter found in Homer's *Iliad* and *Odyssey* as well as Virgil's *Aeneid*—the monumental epics of the ancient world. By choosing this meter, Longfellow suggested that the tale of displaced Acadian farmers deserves the same dignity and grandeur as the fall of Troy. It was a bold and intentional choice that transformed an overlooked historical tragedy into something mythic.
It tells the story of Evangeline Bellefontaine, a young Acadian woman who gets separated from her fiancé Gabriel on their wedding day when British soldiers forcibly deport the Acadians from Nova Scotia in 1755. The rest of the poem follows her lifelong quest to find him across the American continent.
The historical context is undeniable — in 1755, the British forcibly expelled thousands of Acadian settlers, marking one of the first major instances of ethnic cleansing in North America. While Evangeline is a fictional character, Longfellow drew inspiration from a true story he encountered about a couple torn apart during the expulsion. His poem shed light on a tragedy that had mostly gone unnoticed in English-language culture.
Hemlocks are big, dark evergreen trees found in eastern North America. Together with pines, they are a key feature of Nova Scotia's old-growth forests. These trees evoke feelings of shade, darkness, and mourning, aligning perfectly with the poem's somber tone. Longfellow wasn't just being botanically precise; he selected trees that carry a sense of sadness.
Horace Scudder, an editor who worked on Longfellow's texts, explains how to read the dactylic hexameter line aloud. The first half of each line (the dactyls) should have a slightly heavy and deliberate feel — almost like you're pushing through something. The second half should lighten up and quicken a bit toward the end. This creates a wave-like rhythm that reflects the poem's mood of longing and movement forward.
This is a classic epic technique known as *in medias res*—in this case, formally invoking the setting before the story begins. Longfellow sets the emotional tone and context of the world before we meet any characters. The forest acts like a stage, its ancient and mournful presence suggesting that everything that follows is already lost, a part of history.