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THE BRIDEGROOM. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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This short poem is Longfellow's reinterpretation of a well-known excerpt from the biblical Song of Solomon, told through the eyes of a lover who desires an everlasting connection with their beloved.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Meter
blank verse
Themes
death, faith, identity
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The PoemFull text

THE BRIDEGROOM.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sweetly the minstrels sing the Song of Songs! My heart runs forward with it, and I say: Oh set me as a seal upon thine heart, And set me as a seal upon thine arm; For love is strong as life, and strong as death, And cruel as the grave is jealousy!

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This short poem is Longfellow's reinterpretation of a well-known excerpt from the biblical Song of Solomon, told through the eyes of a lover who desires an everlasting connection with their beloved. The speaker requests to be "set as a seal"—a symbol of commitment and devotion—on the beloved's heart and arm. The poem concludes by asserting that love holds the same intensity as life and death, and that jealousy can be as harsh as the grave.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Sweetly the minstrels sing the Song of Songs! / My heart runs forward with it, and I say:

    Editor's note

    Longfellow begins by directly referencing his source — the biblical *Song of Songs* (also known as *Song of Solomon*). The speaker listens to minstrels performing it and is so touched that their heart "runs forward," indicating a strong urge to express the words themselves. This sets up a frame device: the poem is shifting toward a personal declaration rather than a simple recitation.

  2. Oh set me as a seal upon thine heart, / And set me as a seal upon thine arm;

    Editor's note

    These lines echo Song of Solomon 8:6 almost exactly. In ancient times, a seal was a personal mark used to identify property, letters, and legal documents. When one asks to be placed as a seal on the beloved's heart (inner life) and arm (outward action), it signifies: *let me be part of everything you feel and everything you do*. This reflects a sense of complete and lasting belonging.

  3. For love is strong as life, and strong as death, / And cruel as the grave is jealousy!

    Editor's note

    The original biblical text states, "love is strong as death" — Longfellow broadens this to "strong as life, and strong as death," positioning love as a force that encompasses the full spectrum of human experience. The final line about jealousy serves as a caution hidden within a love poem: the same passion that makes love beautiful can also lead to possessiveness and destruction. The exclamation mark adds a jolt of sharp, almost surprised energy.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is passionate and personal—it's a voice coming from the heart, not just the mind. The opening lines carry a sense of reverence, almost like a prayer, but soon turn more intimate and pressing. The last line changes the mood a bit: the mention of jealousy brings in a darker, more uneasy feeling, leaving the poem with a blend of awe and caution rather than just romantic sweetness.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The seal
In the ancient Near East, a seal served as a distinctive mark of identity and ownership, pressed into wax or clay to verify documents and assert property rights. It symbolizes a lasting, unbreakable sense of belonging. Being someone's seal means being an essential part of their identity.
The heart and the arm
These two body parts symbolize the whole person: the heart reflects the inner, private self—emotions, desires, and soul—while the arm embodies the outward, active self—actions, strength, and public life. Together, they express the speaker's desire to be involved in every aspect of the beloved's life.
The grave
The grave serves as a measure of extremity. Just as death represents the most absolute force in nature, jealousy — when it grips someone — can be just as consuming and final. It's not a comforting symbol; rather, it reminds us that love's intensity has a darker side.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
blank verse

§07Historical context

Historical context

Longfellow crafted this poem as a lyrical reflection on the *Song of Solomon*, a highly regarded love poem found in the Hebrew Bible. The *Song of Songs* captivated Victorian readers not only for its spiritual allegory—depicting the Church as the bride and God as the bridegroom—but also for its candid, sensual celebration of human love. Writing in mid-19th-century America, Longfellow was well-versed in biblical literature and European Romanticism, often using ancient texts to delve into universal feelings. The title "The Bridegroom" positions the speaker as the male voice of the Song—the lover in pursuit of his beloved—yet the poem’s concise, lyrical style removes any narrative, focusing instead on the emotional essence: a yearning for complete union coupled with the anxiety over love's potential for destruction.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

It's inspired by Song of Solomon 8:6–7 from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The passage states: *"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave."* Longfellow remains faithful to the original text but enriches it by adding "strong as life," broadening the concept of love to encompass all of existence.

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