VERSE AND PROSE. by James Russell Lowell: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This is a prose biographical sketch of James Russell Lowell, not a poem.
The poem
A year in Europe, 1851-1852, with his wife, whose health was then precarious, stimulated his scholarly interests, and gave substance to his study of Dante and Italian literature. In October, 1853, his wife died; she had borne him three children: the first-born, Blanche, died in infancy; the second, Walter, also died young; the third, a daughter, Mrs. Burnett, survived her parents. In 1855 he was chosen successor to Longfellow as Smith Professor of the French and Spanish Languages and Literature, and Professor of Belles Lettres in Harvard College. He spent two years in Europe in further preparation for the duties of his office, and in 1857 was again established in Cambridge, and installed in his academic chair. He married, also, at this time Miss Frances Dunlap, of Portland, Maine. Lowell was now in his thirty-ninth year. As a scholar, in his professional work, he had acquired a versatile knowledge of the Romance languages, and was an adept in old French and Provencal poetry; he had given a course of twelve lectures on English poetry before the Lowell Institute in Boston, which had made a strong impression on the community, and his work on the series of _British Poets_ in connection with Professor Child, especially his biographical sketch of Keats, had been recognized as of a high order. In poetry he had published the volumes already mentioned. In general literature he had printed in magazines the papers which he afterward collected into his volume, _Fireside Travels_. Not long after he entered on his college duties, _The Atlantic Monthly_ was started, and the editorship given to him. He held the office for a year or two only; but he continued to write for the magazine, and in 1862 he was associated with Mr. Charles Eliot Norton in the conduct of _The North American Review_, and continued in this charge for ten years. Much of his prose was contributed to this periodical. Any one reading the titles of the papers which comprise the volumes of his prose writings will readily see how much literature, and especially poetic literature, occupied his attention. Shakespeare, Dryden, Lessing, Rousseau, Dante, Spenser, Wordsworth, Milton, Keats, Carlyle, Percival, Thoreau, Swinburne, Chaucer, Emerson, Pope, Gray,--these are the principal subjects of his prose, and the range of topics indicates the catholicity of his taste. In these papers, when studying poetry, he was very alive to the personality of the poets, and it was the strong interest in humanity which led Lowell, when he was most diligent in the pursuit of literature, to apply himself also to history and politics. Several of his essays bear witness to this, such as _Witchcraft, New England Two Centuries Ago, A Great Public Character_ (Josiah Quincy), _Abraham Lincoln_, and his great _Political Essays_. But the most remarkable of his writings of this order was the second series of _The Biglow Papers_, published during the war for the Union. In these, with the wit and fun of the earlier series, there was mingled a deeper strain of feeling and a larger tone of patriotism. The limitations of his style in these satires forbade the fullest expression of his thought and emotion; but afterward in a succession of poems, occasioned by the honors paid to student soldiers in Cambridge, the death of Agassiz, and the celebration of national anniversaries during the years 1875 and 1876, he sang in loftier, more ardent strains. The most famous of these poems was his noble Commemoration Ode. V.
This is a prose biographical sketch of James Russell Lowell, not a poem. It follows his career from the death of his wife in 1853, highlighting his professorships, editorships, and significant writings, including the Commemoration Ode. It resembles a chapter from a literary biography, detailing the important events and works that influenced Lowell as a scholar, editor, and poet. You could see it as a report card on a man's life in letters.
Line-by-line
A year in Europe, 1851-1852, with his wife, whose health was then precarious…
Lowell was now in his thirty-ninth year. As a scholar, in his professional work…
Not long after he entered on his college duties, _The Atlantic Monthly_ was started…
In these papers, when studying poetry, he was very alive to the personality of the poets…
But the most remarkable of his writings of this order was the second series of _The Biglow Papers_…
Tone & mood
The tone is respectful yet reserved — similar to the thoughtful admiration a Victorian literary biographer expresses when aiming to be credible. There’s a sense of warmth, particularly regarding Lowell's personal losses, but the primary tone is analytical and reflective. The writer is making a case for Lowell's significance, presenting evidence systematically instead of overly praising.
Symbols & metaphors
- Europe — Travel to Europe symbolizes intellectual growth in 19th-century American literary biography. For Lowell, it reflects both academic readiness and personal sorrow—his wife's health worsened during their time there, and the trip signifies the start of a more serious, less youthful phase in his career.
- The Commemoration Ode — The Ode is the highlight of Lowell's career in this sketch — the point where his talents (wit, scholarship, patriotism, and personal sorrow) come together in one significant public statement. The biographer places it at the end intentionally, viewing it as the culmination of his entire life’s journey.
- The roll-call of literary names — The extensive list of writers Lowell discussed — Shakespeare, Dante, Keats, Milton, Emerson, and others — represents cultural inheritance. It shows that Lowell viewed himself, and was recognized by others, as a guardian of the Western literary tradition during a time when American literature was still working to establish its legitimacy.
Historical context
James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) was a key figure in 19th-century American literature, serving as a poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. This biographical overview seems to be drawn from a late-Victorian literary review, created after Lowell had firmly established his reputation. It covers a period from around 1851 to 1876, marking his evolution from romantic poet to public intellectual. The Civil War plays a significant role here: Lowell's second *Biglow Papers* and the Commemoration Ode (1865) were his direct reactions to the conflict, solidifying his status as a national poet in the civic verse tradition. His role as a Harvard professor, a position he took over from Longfellow, placed him at the heart of American academic life during a time when the university was becoming the leading institution for literary culture in the United States.
FAQ
It is prose biography, not verse. The title 'Verse and Prose' seems to be a section heading from a broader biographical or critical work about Lowell, and this passage belongs to the prose part of that discussion. It outlines Lowell's life and career instead of being a poem written by him.
Her name was Maria White Lowell, a poet who greatly influenced his early work. She passed away in October 1853 after struggling with health issues for years. Out of their three children, two died young—Blanche in infancy and Walter as a child—leaving only their daughter, who would later be known as Mrs. Burnett, to outlive both parents.
The Commemoration Ode was composed for a Harvard ceremony in 1865 to honor students who lost their lives in the Civil War. Many regard it as his best poem because it successfully combines a public, ceremonial tone with a heartfelt reflection on sacrifice, democracy, and loss. It transcends the satirical humor found in the *Biglow Papers* and evolves into a more profound and emotionally resonant work.
The *Biglow Papers* consist of two collections of satirical poems featuring a fictional New England farmer named Hosea Biglow. The first series, published in 1848, criticized the Mexican-American War, while the second series, written between 1862 and 1866, focused on the Civil War. Through dialect humor and pointed political commentary, these works resonated with a wide audience, ultimately establishing Lowell as a well-known public satirist.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was the Smith Professor of Modern Languages at Harvard until he resigned in 1854. James Russell Lowell was selected as his successor due to his expertise in the Romance languages, his respected editorial work, and his recognition as a poet. To prepare for the position, Lowell spent two years in Europe before assuming the chair in 1857.
*The Atlantic Monthly* began in 1857 as a literary and cultural magazine in Boston. Its first editor, James Russell Lowell, had a significant impact on American literary taste. Although he only served as editor for a year or two, he remained a contributor for many years after that.
The passage suggests that Lowell's life and poetry are deeply intertwined. His personal losses, including his wife and children, his political beliefs in abolitionism and support for the Union, and his extensive study of European literature all directly influenced his writing. The biographer highlights the Commemoration Ode as the moment when all these elements converged.
Here, 'catholicity' refers to breadth and openness — it has nothing to do with religion. The biographer notes that Lowell's critical interests spanned centuries and national traditions without bias, encompassing medieval figures like Dante and Chaucer as well as near-contemporaries such as Carlyle and Emerson. This was a compliment within Victorian literary culture, where being narrowly specialized could often be viewed as a drawback.