James Russell Lowell
United States
It's Lowell at his most vibrant — a clever, verse-form exploration of American literature that also serves as a self-po…
Where to start
Three hand-picked entry pointsAbout James Russell Lowell
James Russell Lowell was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1819, and he spent the majority of his life in Elmwood, the colonial mansion where he was born—a place that became significant in American literary history. He attended Harvard, where he was briefly suspended for neglecting his studies, but he graduated in 1838 and went on to earn a law degree that he never really put to use.…
Works
, General,
) The most recent critical estimate.
A BALLAD
A BRETON LEGEND
A CHIPPEWA LEGEND
A CONTRAST
A FABLE
A FABLE FOR CRITICS
A Fable for Critics. With Outline Portraits. 30 cents, _net_.
A FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO A FRIEND
A FOREBODING
A FRAGMENT
A GLANCE AT A FEW OF OUR LITERARY PROGENIES
A GLANCE BEHIND THE CURTAIN
A god goes with it: The god-like quality of real charity, of
A MISCONCEPTION
A MOOD
A MYSTICAL COMMENT ON TITIAN'S 'SACRED AND PROFANE LOVE'
A NEW YEAR'S GREETING
A PARABLE
A PASTORAL
A PRAYER
A PRELIMINARY NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
A REQUIEM
A SECOND LETTER FROM B. SAWIN, ESQ.
A THIRD LETTER FROM B. SAWIN, ESQ.
A VALENTINE
A WINTER-EVENING HYMN TO MY FIRE
A. DeWolfe Howe: _American Bookmen_.
ABOVE AND BELOW
ABSENCE
AFTER THE BURIAL
AGASSIZ
AGRO DOLCE
AL FRESCO
ALADDIN
ALL-SAINTS
ALLEGRA
Along whose course, etc.: Along the course leading to the
AMBROSE
AN APRIL BIRTHDAY--AT SEA
An echo of _Macbeth_, V, 5:
AN EMBER PICTURE
AN EPISTLE TO GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS
AN INCIDENT IN A RAILROAD CAR
AN INCIDENT OF THE FIRE AT HAMBURG
AN INDIAN-SUMMER REVERIE
AN INTERVIEW WITH MILES STANDISH
AN INVITATION
AN ORIENTAL APOLOGUE
AND NOTES
AND OTHER POEMS
ANTI-APIS
ARCADIA REDIVIVA
ARE DEDICATED.
Ashes and dust: Explain the metaphor. Compare with "sackcloth
AT AN EXTRUMPERY CAUCUS IN STATE STREET, REPORTED BY MR. H. BIGLOW
Auroral flushes: Like the first faint glimmerings of light in the
AUSPEX
AUTUMN
AUTUMN, 1863
B., MARKISS O' BIG BOOSY.
Baael's stone obscene: Human sacrifices were offered on the
Bayard Taylor's Lars: a Pastoral of Norway; and Other Poems.
BEAVER BROOK
Benedicite: An invocation of blessing. Imperative form of the
BIBLIOLATRES
BIGLOW
BIGLOW PAPERS, THE.
BIRDOFREDOM SAWIN.
BIRDOFREDUM SAWIN.
Blinding anguish: An allusion to the death of his little
Bliss it: A rather violent use of the word, not recognized by
Bobolink: If Lowell had a favorite bird, it was the bobolink,
BON VOYAGE
BOTH
Build out its piers: The beams of light are like the piers or
BY A WONDERFUL QUIZ
BY HOMER WILBUR, A.M.
C., an invertebrate animal.
Cap and bells: The conventional dress of the court fool, or
CAPITALS.
CATHEDRAL, THE.
CHANGED PERSPECTIVE
CHARLES E. MERRILL CO.
CHLOE
Climbs to a soul, etc.: In his intimate sympathy with nature,
Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Other Poems;
Collegisse juvat: The full sentence, in the first ode of
COLUMBUS
COLUMBUS NYE,
Compare _Al Fresco_, lines 34-39:
Compare _Sir Launfal_, I. 26. The whole passage, II. 76-87, is a
Compare the familiar line in Gray's _Elegy_:
Corbel: A bracket-like support projecting from a wall from
CREDIDIMUS JOVEM REGNARE
Credo: Latin, I believe: the first word in the Latin version of
Creeds: Here used in the broad sense of convictions,
CRITICAL APPRECIATIONS
Cyclops: The Cyclopes were brutish giants with one eye who lived
D., friends of, can hear of him.
DAPHNIS
DARA
DAS EWIG-WEIBLICHE
Dear ones: Underwood says in his biography of Lowell: "In the
DEATH OF QUEEN MERCEDES
DEDHAM, MAY 21, 1877
Describe the hall of the castle as Sir Launfal saw it on Christmas
Desolate horror: The adjective suggests the outcast, isolated
DIED JUNE 11, 1875
DIED SEPTEMBER 4, 1874
Dodona grove: The grove of oaks at Dodona was the seat of a
draws all his characters quite _à la_ Fuseli,--
Druid wood: The Druids were the aged priests of the Celts, who
E.E.
E.G. DE R.
EARLIER POEMS.
Earth gets its price, etc.: Notice the special meaning given to
EDUCATION.
Elder than the Day: Elder than the first Day. "And God called
ELEANOR MAKES MACAROONS
ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF DR. CHANNING
ELMWOOD.
ESTRANGEMENT
EURYDICE
EXTREME UNCTION
EZEKIEL BIGLOW.
FABLE FOR CRITICS, A.
FACT OR FANCY?
Fagots for a witch: The introduction of this witch element into a
FANCY'S CASUISTRY
FEBRUARY, 1848
FESTINA LENTE
FIRST DRANK CLOUD-BROTHER
FIRST VENTURE.
FISCHART.
FITZ ADAM'S STORY
FOR A BELL AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY
FOR A MEMORIAL WINDOW TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH, SET UP IN ST. MARGARET'S,
FOR AN AUTOGRAPH
FOR SCHOOL USE.
FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1876
FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES
Forest-crypt: The crypt of a church is the basement, filled
FRAGMENTS OF AN UNFINISHED POEM
FREEDOM
G.P. PUTNAM, BROADWAY.
GAY, ESQ., EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-SLAVERY STANDARD
GLOSSARY TO THE BIGLOW PAPERS
GUDRIDA'S PROPHECY
Haggai, 3. Expect, 4. Ruhamah, 5. Desire.
Half-virtues: Is Lowell disparaging the virtues of peace and
Hangbird: The oriole, so called from its hanging nest; one of
Harp: Prof. William Vaughn Moody questions whether "the use of
Healed with snow: Explain the appropriateness of the metaphor.
HEARTSEASE AND RUE.
HEBE
Hebe: Hebe was cup-bearer to the gods at their feasts on Olympus.
Holmes's Grandmother's Story of Bunker Hill Battle, etc.[34]
Holy Grail: According to medieval legend, the Sangreal was the
Holy Supper: The Last Supper of Christ and his disciples, upon
HOMER WILBUR, A.M.
HOMER WILBUR.
HOSEA BIGLOW.
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
HOW A STUDENT IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL FELL ASLEEP IN DRESDEN OVER HERR
HOW I CONSULTED THE ORACLE OF THE GOLDFISHES
HUNGER AND COLD
Idle mail: Useless, ineffectual protection. This figure carries
IMPRESSIONS OF HOMER
IN ABSENCE
IN ACKNOWLEDGING A TOAST TO THE SMITH PROFESSOR
IN AN ALBUM
IN CORDIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS EMINENT SERVICE IN HEIGHTENING AND
In regard to _a_, he shows some inconsistency, sometimes giving a
In that new childhood of the Earth: This poem was written a few
IN THE BRANCACCI CHAPEL
IN THE HALF-WAY HOUSE
IN THE TWILIGHT
INTENDED TO GO WITH A POSSET DISH TO MY DEAR LITTLE GODDAUGHTER, 1882
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
INVITA MINERVA
It must not be forgotten that this old Sir Launfal is only in the
J.W.A.
JAMES RUSSELL
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
JANUARY, 1859
JASMIN.
JONATHAN TO JOHN
JULY 21, 1865
KETTELOPOTOMACHIA
KOSSUTH
L'ENVOI
LAST POEMS.
LECTORI BENEVOLO S.
LETTER FROM BOSTON
LETTER FROM THE REVEREND HOMER WILBUR, M.A., ENCLOSING THE EPISTLE
LIBER I
LIFE OF LOWELL
Lifeless creed: Compare Tennyson's:
Like an outpost of winter: The cold, gloomy castle stands in
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
LONGING
LONGIXUS.
LOVE
LOVE AND THOUGHT
MAHMOOD THE IMAGE-BREAKER
MANY LITERARY, LEARNED, AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES,
MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT
MAY
MELIBOEUS-HIPPONAX
MIDNIGHT
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
MONNA LISA
MONTAIGNE.
MORAL
MR. HOSEA BIGLOW TO THE EDITOR OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
MR. JAMES T. FIELDS
MY DEAR SIR,--
MY LOVE
MY PORTRAIT GALLERY
NEW-YEAR'S EVE, 1850
NIGHTWATCHES
North Countree: The north of England, the home of the border
Not only around our infancy, etc.: The allusion is to
Notice the abruptness with which the leper is here introduced,
NOTICES OF AN INDEPENDENT PRESS
NOVEMBER 3, 1864.
NOVEMBER 3, 1884
O.S., To.
OCTOBER, 1861
ODE
ODE RECITED AT THE HARVARD COMMEMORATION.
ODE TO HAPPINESS
Old Testament Stories in Scripture Language.
OMNIB. PER TOT. ORB. TERRAR. CATALOG. ACADEM, EDD.
ON A BUST OF GENERAL GRANT
ON A PORTRAIT OF DANTE BY GIOTTO
ON AN AUTUMN SKETCH OF H.G. WILD
ON BEING ASKED FOR AN AUTOGRAPH IN VENICE
ON BURNING SOME OLD LETTERS
ON HEARING A SONATA OF BEETHOVEN'S PLAYED IN THE NEXT ROOM
ON HER GIVING ME A DRAWING OF LITTLE STREET ARABS
ON HIS BIRTHDAY, 27TH FEBRUARY, 1867
ON HIS SEVENTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY
ON PLANTING A TREE AT INVERARAY
ON READING WORDSWORTH'S SONNETS IN DEFENCE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
ON RECEIVING A COPY OF MR. AUSTIN DOBSON'S 'OLD WORLD IDYLLS'
ON THE CAPTURE OF FUGITIVE SLAVES NEAR WASHINGTON
ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND'S CHILD
ON THE DEATH OF CHARLES TURNER TORREY
ON THE GIFT OF A MEERSCHAUM PIPE
On the rushes: In ancient halls and castles the floors were
OR, BETTER--
ORIENTAL APOLOGUE, AN.
P.S.
P.U.N.C.H. et J.U.D. Gott. et Osnab. et Heidelb. 1860, et Acad.
PALINODE--DECEMBER
PAOLO TO FRANCESCA
PART FIRST
PART SECOND
Pavilions tall: The trees, as in line 125, the broad green tents.
Peddling: Engaging in small, trifling interests. Lowell's
PESSIMOPTIMISM
PICTURES FROM APPLEDORE
POEM READ AT CAMBRIDGE ON THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF WASHINGTON'S
POEMS
POEMS OF THE WAR.
POSTSCRIPT, 1887
PRELIMINARY MOTE
PRELIMINARY NOTE
PRELUDE TO PART FIRST
PRELUDE TO PART SECOND
PRISON OF CERVANTES
PROMETHEUS
Prophecies: Prophecy is not only prediction, but also any
PROPOSED FOR A SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT IN BOSTON
PROSE AND POETRY.
PUBLIC LIFE.
PUBLISHERS' NOTE
QUINTILIANUS.
R.G. SHAW
READ AT THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIGHT AT CONCORD BRIDGE
RECUERDO DE MADRID
RHOECUS
Richest mail: The knight's coat of mail was usually of polished
ROSALINE
Roundhead and Cavalier: In a general way, it is said that New
S.B. _Criticus_, WILBUR. _Zoilus_, FABRIC. _Pygmæus_, CARLSEN.
S.B. _Militaris_, WILBUR. _Carnifex_, JABLONSK. _Profanus_, DESFONT.
Sate: The use of this archaic form adds to the antique flavor
SAYINGS
SCHERZO
SCIENCE AND POETRY
Scott's Lady of the Lake. Edited by W.J. ROLFE. With
SCOTTISH BORDER
SEAWEED
SECOND SERIES
SELF-STUDY
SEPARATE WORKS AND COMPILATIONS.
SERENADE
SHE CAME AND WENT
SHOWING HOW HE BUILT HIS HOUSE AND HIS WIFE MOVED INTO IT
SHOWING WHAT IS MEANT BY A FLOW OF SPIRITS
SI DESCENDERO IN INFERNUM, ADES
Signal of palms: A group of palm trees seen afar off over the
Simond's hill: In the essay _Cambridge Thirty Years Ago_ Lowell
Six old willows: These much-loved trees afforded Lowell a
SIXTY-EIGHTH BIRTHDAY
So he tossed ... in scorn: This is the turning-point of the
So in _Sunthin' in the Pastoral Line_, when robin-redbreast sees
SONG
SONNETS
SOT TO A NUSRY RHYME
Squadron-strophes: The term _strophe_ originally was applied to
ST. MICHAEL THE WEIGHER
STANZAS ON FREEDOM
STUDIES FOR TWO HEADS
SUB PONDERE CRESCIT
SUGGESTED BY THE GRAVES OF TWO ENGLISH SOLDIERS ON CONCORD BATTLE-GROUND
SUMMER
SUMMER STORM
Summer's long siege at last is o'er: The return to this figure
SUN-WORSHIP
Supple-tempered will: One of the most pronounced traits of
Swett from the meetin' house steeple up to th' old perrish, an' took
Swound: The antiquated form of _swoon_.
Sybaris: An ancient Greek colony in southern Italy whose
TELEPATHY
TEMPORA MUTANTUR
The all-sustaining Beauty: The all-pervading spirit of God that
THE ARGYMUNT
THE BEGGAR
THE BIRCH-TREE
THE BOSS
THE BRAKES
THE BRIDGE
THE BROKEN TRYST
THE CAPTIVE
THE CATHEDRAL
THE CHANGELING
THE COMMEMORATION ODE
THE COURTIN'
The cowslip startles: Surprises the eye with its bright patches
The crows flapped, etc.: Suggestive of the quiet, heavy flight
THE DANCING BEAR
THE DARKENED MIND
THE DEAD HOUSE
THE DISCOVERY
THE EYE'S TREASURY
THE FALCON
THE FATHERLAND
THE FINDING OF THE LYRE
The first American: In a prose article, Lowell calls him "The
THE FIRST SNOW-FALL
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
THE FOOT-PATH
THE FORLORN
THE FOUNTAIN
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
THE GHOST-SEER
THE HERITAGE
THE LANDLORD
THE LESSON
The little brook: In a letter written in December, 1848, Lowell
THE MAPLE
THE MINER
THE MONIMENT
THE MOON
The Musing organist: There is a peculiar felicity in this musical
THE NIGHTINGALE IN THE STUDY
THE NOBLER LOVER
THE NOMADES
THE OAK
THE OPTIMIST
THE ORIGIN OF DIDACTIC POETRY
The original edition has "unscarred mail."
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS
THE PETITION
THE PIONEER
THE PIOUS EDITOR'S CREED
THE POETS' TRIBUTES TO LOWELL
THE PREGNANT COMMENT
THE PRESENT CRISIS
THE PROTEST
The pseudo-science of astrology, seeking to tell commonplace
THE RECALL
THE SAME CONCLUDED
THE SAME CONTINUED
THE SEARCH
THE SECRET
THE SHEPHERD OF KING ADMETUS
The single crow, etc.: Note the full significance of this detail
THE SIRENS
THE SOWER
THE STREET
The tide of the ocean in its flow and ebb is under the influence
THE TOKEN
The village blacksmith: See Longfellow's famous poem, _The
THE VISION OF SIR LAUNFAL
THE VOYAGE TO VINLAND
THE WIND-HARP
Theme: The theme, subject, or underlying thought of the poem is
This line read originally: "There is no price set," etc. The next
THORWALD'S LAY
THREE MEMORIAL POEMS
THRENODIA
TO A FRIEND
TO A LADY PLAYING ON THE CITHERN
TO A PINE-TREE
TO A.C.L.
TO FANNY ALEXANDER
TO J.R. GIDDINGS
TO JOHN GORHAM PALFREY
TO LAMARTINE
TO M.L.
TO M.O.S.
TO M.W., ON HER BIRTHDAY
TO MR. BUCKENAM
TO PERDITA, SINGING
TO THE DANDELION
To the dish thus seasoned add a drawl _ad libitum_.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY
TO THE FUTURE
TO THE MEMORY OF HOOD
TO THE MUSE
TO THE PAST
To the sound _ou_ he prefixes an _e_ (hard to exemplify otherwise
TO THE SPIRIT OF KEATS
TO W.L. GARRISON
TO----
TRIAL
Uncinctured front: The forehead no longer encircled with a
UNDER A FIGURE SYMBOLIZING THE CHURCH
UNDER THE OCTOBER MAPLES
UNDER THE WILLOWS
Undine: In mythology and romance, Undine is a water-spirit who
UNHAPPY LOT OF MR. KNOTT, THE.
Upon receiving the news that the war was ended, Lowell wrote to
VERSE AND PROSE.
VILLA FRANCA
VISION OF SIR LAUNFAL, THE.
Visionary tints: The term Indian summer is given to almost any
Was cried: The "bans" were cried, the announcement of the
We Sinais climb, etc.: Mount Sinai was the mountain in Arabia on
WENDELL PHILLIPS
Wept with the passion, etc.: An article in the _Atlantic
WHAT MR. ROBINSON THINKS
WHAT RABBI JEHOSHA SAID
When Moses sent men to "spy out" the Promised Land, they reported
WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN THAT THE MOST ARDENT SPIRITS ARE MORE
WHO HAD SENT ME A SEVEN-POUND TROUT
Who now shall sneer? In a letter to Mr. J.B. Thayer, who had
Winter-palace of ice: An allusion, apparently, to the
WITH A COPY OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETE
WITH A PAIR OF GLOVES LOST IN A WAGER
WITH A PRESSED FLOWER
WITH A SEASHELL
WITH AN ARMCHAIR
With this passage read the last two stanzas of _Mr. Hosea Biglow
WITHOUT AND WITHIN
Without avail: Was Sir Launfal's long quest entirely without
WRITTEN FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE COCHITUATE
WRITTEN IN A CHILD'S ALBUM
WRITTEN IN AID OF A CHIME OF BELLS FOR CHRIST CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE
Y., letter of.
Yule-log: The great log, sometimes the root of a tree, burned in
YUSSOUF