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The Windmill by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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A windmill shares its story, proudly describing its strength, its hunger for grain, and its constant struggle with the wind.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Core theme
Courage
The PoemFull text

The Windmill

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Behold! a giant am I! Aloft here in my tower, With my granite jaws I devour The maize, and the wheat, and the rye, And grind them into flour. I look down over the farms; In the fields of grain I see The harvest that is to be, And I fling to the air my arms, For I know it is all for me. I hear the sound of flails Far off, from the threshing-floors In barns, with their open doors, And the wind, the wind in my sails, Louder and louder roars. I stand here in my place, With my foot on the rock below, And whichever way it may blow I meet it face to face, As a brave man meets his foe. And while we wrestle and strive My master, the miller, stands And feeds me with his hands; For he knows who makes him thrive, Who makes him lord of lands. On Sundays I take my rest; Church-going bells begin Their low, melodious din; I cross my arms on my breast, And all is peace within.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A windmill shares its story, proudly describing its strength, its hunger for grain, and its constant struggle with the wind. By the end of the week, the giant that grinds and fights all week folds its arms and finds peace on Sunday. It’s a lighthearted depiction of diligent labor and the simple joy of rest.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. Behold! a giant am I! / Aloft here in my tower,

    Editor's note

    The windmill proudly announces itself with theatrical flair. By calling itself a "giant," it establishes the main idea: this machine acts like a living, boastful character. Its "granite jaws" grinding grain evoke the image of a hungry beast, not just a structure, which is precisely the effect Longfellow aims to create.

  2. I look down over the farms; / In the fields of grain I see

    Editor's note

    Height transforms into power here. The mill looks over the landscape and views the unharvested grain as its future feast. The line "I fling to the air my arms" paints a vivid picture of the sails spinning — the mill is so excited about what's ahead that it extends its arms wide in anticipation.

  3. I hear the sound of flails / Far off, from the threshing-floors

    Editor's note

    The windmill's senses extend across the countryside. It picks up the sound of flails loosening grain in far-off barns. The wind filling its sails becomes "louder and louder," creating a feeling of growing energy and eagerness — the mill is gearing up for the tasks ahead.

  4. I stand here in my place, / With my foot on the rock below,

    Editor's note

    This is the poem's core message. The windmill stands firmly on solid rock, confronting the wind "face to face, / As a brave man meets his foe." Longfellow moves from boasting to a more admirable trait: unwavering courage. The mill doesn't shy away from the storm; it faces it head-on.

  5. And while we wrestle and strive / My master, the miller, stands

    Editor's note

    The bond between the mill and the miller is gentle and reciprocal. The mill carries out the heavy lifting, while the miller personally feeds it grain. The windmill recognizes that it plays a crucial role in the miller's success — "who makes him lord of lands" — but holds no bitterness. It’s truly a partnership.

  6. On Sundays I take my rest; / Church-going bells begin

    Editor's note

    The final stanza feels like a gentle breath after five stanzas filled with energy and strength. The mill folds its arms — its sails come to a halt — and the church bells take over from the howling wind. The line "All is peace within" resonates with genuine warmth, implying that even the strongest laborers deserve, and require, a moment of rest.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone of the poem is lively and confident throughout — the windmill takes pride in its own strength and boasts about it. However, there's a layer of warmth beneath the bravado, particularly in the stanza about the miller, and the final stanza shifts into a state of true calm and contentment. It never comes off as arrogant since the mill is clearly dedicated to serving others. Overall, the vibe is cheerful, grounded, and subtly moral.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The windmill's arms / sails
The spinning sails represent active labor and engagement with the world. When the mill "flings" them into the air, it expresses joy and readiness. When they cross at rest on Sunday, the same arms convey a gesture of peace and prayer.
The rock foundation
The mill's foot firmly planted on rock represents unwavering determination. This resonates with a familiar biblical theme — choosing to build on rock instead of sand — emphasizing that the windmill's strength lies in its deep roots rather than sheer force alone.
The wind
The wind is both the mill's foe and its source of life. Without it, the mill can't function; with it, the mill must contend. It symbolizes the challenges every worker encounters, which shouldn't be shunned but confronted directly.
Sunday rest
The Sabbath closing isn't just a detail about the days of the week; it sets the tone for the entire poem, portraying the week as a journey with a moral rhythm: work diligently, rest deeply, and discover tranquility within that cycle. The church bells and crossed arms link the mill's pause to a spiritual significance.
Grain (maize, wheat, rye)
The specific crops aren’t just for show — they symbolize the real, tangible results of hard work. The mill doesn’t churn out ideas; it produces flour that nourishes people. This connection keeps the poem rooted in reality, even as the mill takes on the voice of a legendary giant.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
free verse
Rhyme
ABBA A ABBA A ABBA A ABBA A ABBA A ABBA A

§07Historical context

Historical context

Longfellow wrote this poem in the mid-1800s, a time when windmills were still common sights in rural New England and Europe, even as steam-powered mills started to take their place. This poem fits into the tradition of *prosopopoeia* — giving a voice to inanimate objects — which has roots in classical literature. Longfellow had a keen interest in the dignity of everyday work, a theme present in much of his writing, including *The Village Blacksmith*, published in 1840 and clearly related to this poem. The windmill's rest on Sundays also reflects the strong Protestant work ethic of nineteenth-century America, where the Sabbath served as both a religious duty and a cultural norm. The poem's straightforward, lively meter and rhyme made it a favorite for schoolchildren to recite, and it appeared in many anthologies during the latter half of the 1800s.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

What is the poem's main message?

The poem honors the value of honest, hard work and the dignity it brings. The windmill stands proud not for its strength, but for its genuine role in feeding people. It confronts challenges, like the wind, with bravery instead of grumbling. The Sunday rest at the end implies that a fulfilling life strikes a balance between labor and tranquility.

Why does Longfellow make the windmill speak in first person?

Giving the windmill a voice turns it into a character instead of just a backdrop. This choice allows Longfellow to delve into themes of work, courage, and rest from a personal perspective. It also makes the poem more engaging and immediate — you can sense the mill's pride and exhaustion firsthand, rather than being informed about them from afar.

What does 'As a brave man meets his foe' mean?

The windmill always turns to face the wind, regardless of the direction it comes from — that’s just how windmills operate; their caps rotate to catch the breeze. Longfellow uses this mechanical fact as a metaphor for courage: a brave person doesn’t shy away from challenges but turns to confront them head-on.

What is the relationship between the windmill and the miller?

They are partners who rely on one another. The miller pours grain into the mill with his own hands, and the mill grinds it into flour that brings him success. The windmill recognizes this without any bitterness — it represents a relationship of mutual respect between a worker and the tools that enable their work.

What does the final stanza mean when it says 'I cross my arms on my breast'?

When a windmill is still, its sails cross each other — so this is literally true. However, Longfellow also uses this as a human gesture of calm and satisfaction, similar to someone reclining with arms folded in contentment. This image links the mill's mechanical stillness to a sense of inner peace.

Is this poem similar to 'The Village Blacksmith' by Longfellow?

Absolutely. Both poems highlight a working figure—a blacksmith and a windmill—that toils diligently, benefits the community, and takes pride in that work. They both conclude with a sense of quiet contemplation. The Village Blacksmith leans towards sentimentality and personal emotion, while The Windmill adopts a playful tone, as the speaker is the machine itself instead of an outside observer.

What is the meter and rhyme scheme of the poem?

Each stanza consists of five lines following an AABBA rhyme scheme, similar to a limerick; however, Longfellow approaches it with sincerity instead of humor. The alternating longer and shorter lines create a rhythm that flows smoothly, reflecting the movement of the windmill's sails.

Who is the intended audience for this poem?

Longfellow aimed his writing at a wide audience, and this poem was especially popular in schools for recitations. Its vivid imagery, compelling rhythm, and moral lessons make it great for kids, but adults can also connect with its themes of hard work, bravery, and rest. This poem has depth, revealing different meanings based on how deeply you engage with it.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "The Windmill." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/the-windmill-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/.

APA

Longfellow, H. W. (n.d.). The windmill. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/the-windmill-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In "The Windmill," Longfellow employs dramatic monologue and personification to animate an agricultural machine while staging a meditation on power, interdependence, and the dignity of labor. The poem argues that true strength is …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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