Philip Freneau was one of the most discussed poets of the late eighteenth century. On one hand he was celebrated as the “Poet of the American Revolution” (Eberwein 191) or the “Father of American Poetry” (Stauffer 52), a journalist of influence, a patriot and skilful writer, on the other hand he was forgotten for a long time. How did Philip Freneau see himself? What were his targets and how did he try to reach them?
This paper examines Freneau’s look on his role as an author on his poetry and plans. What kind of influences affected or promoted his career? Regarding his own poems “To an Author”, “The City Poet” and “To a New England Poet” his description of an author’s life – and therefore his life – will become apparent.
Furthermore, a closer look on his contemporaries, the Connecticut Wits, especially Dwight, Barlow and Bryant will display how independent and original Freneau’s writing was, and what kind of relationships he had towards these American authors.
At the same time his relationship towards British poets is interesting: He thought he rejected most of their writing; but was he really not influenced by them at all? Could it be that he sometimes even copied parts of their work?
After having a short look on other intertextual influences like Greek mythology, verses from the Bible and Classic forms, this paper will look back on his life in a retrospective way and analyse his attitude towards himself. Did Freneau manage to reach his goals or did he lose sight of them?
Table of Contents
0 Introduction
1 Freneau’s Self-Assessment
2 Freneau’s Readers
3 “Advice to Authors” and “To an Author”
4 Freneau’s Contemporary American Competitors
4.1 Timothy Dwight
4.2 Joel Barlow
4.3 William Cullan Bryant
4.4 Anne Bradstreet
5 Freneau’s Attitude Towards British Poets
6 Intertexuality
6.1 Reference to the Bible
7 The Last Poems: A Reflection on His Life
8 Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper explores the self-perception of Philip Freneau as an author, examining how his targets, political engagements, and relationships with both contemporaries and literary tradition shaped his career and poetic output. It investigates the tension between his desire to be a democratic, romantic poet and the reality of his struggle for recognition in a society that often favored more utilitarian or conventional writing.
- Freneau’s self-assessment as an author and his poetic ambitions.
- The influence of and reactions to his American contemporaries, such as the Connecticut Wits.
- Freneau’s complex relationship with British literary tradition and his struggle for financial independence.
- The impact of intertextuality, specifically classical mythology and biblical references, on his work.
- The evolution of his poetry from romantic "Fancy" to political satire and his ultimate disillusionment.
Excerpts from the Book
1 Freneau’s Self-Assessment
Unfortunately, huge explanations of Freneau himself, how he sees himself as a writer do not exist. Moreover, “biographers have had to infer Freneau’s thoughts, feelings, and activities during long periods almost solely from his published writing” (Vitzthum 3) and consider him „historically rather than aesthetically important“ (3). To Freneau it was important “to instruct his readers in democratic, humanitarian attitudes” (Eberwein 190). For he was raised on a farm in Monmouth with a view over the sea, “he developed a lifelong affection for rural life and for the ocean” (190).
The 17th century, time of the Puritans in America, was, according to Pearce (cf. 198), a time that had the dogma, not to have a dogma. Nevertheless, Pearce states, there had to be “a dogma, a democratic dogma” (198) for democratic readers. Philip Freneau agreed on that. He, as a euphoric revolutionist, “hoped to create a poetry informed by such a dogma” (198). To him, this intention seemed easy and logical: He thought of writing about things as he saw them. The eighteenth century and its theory of the “Fancy” supported Freneau’s idea. “Fancy” meant fantasy and creativity, talent and romantic poetry and was mainly influenced by the poet’s idea “to transform the world he knows into the better one which all men should, and inevitably would, come to know” (198).
Summary of Chapters
0 Introduction: This chapter introduces Philip Freneau as a complex figure of the American Revolution and sets the research questions regarding his self-perception and literary influences.
1 Freneau’s Self-Assessment: This section discusses the difficulty of reconstructing Freneau's inner thoughts and his desire to blend democratic values with romantic "Fancy".
2 Freneau’s Readers: This chapter analyzes Freneau's struggle to find an audience for his poetry and the dilemmas he faced in a society that valued utility over literary sophistication.
3 “Advice to Authors” and “To an Author”: This chapter examines Freneau's frustrations with the literary profession, focusing on his poems that address the criticism and obscurity he endured.
4 Freneau’s Contemporary American Competitors: This chapter compares Freneau’s background and status with the Connecticut Wits and other contemporaries, highlighting their differing social and literary paths.
4.1 Timothy Dwight: This section details the professional and ideological differences between Freneau and Timothy Dwight.
4.2 Joel Barlow: This section addresses the friction between Freneau and Joel Barlow regarding poetic themes and accusations of plagiarism.
4.3 William Cullan Bryant: This section explores how Bryant’s poetry served as an ideal for Freneau’s own deistic nature poetry.
4.4 Anne Bradstreet: This section identifies thematic similarities between the works of Freneau and Anne Bradstreet, particularly concerning nature and mortality.
5 Freneau’s Attitude Towards British Poets: This chapter explores Freneau's conflicted feelings toward English literary tradition, which he felt obligated to adopt despite his nationalist desire for independence.
6 Intertexuality: This chapter discusses the range of classical influences on Freneau’s work and his attempts to integrate American flora and fauna into inherited forms.
6.1 Reference to the Bible: This section examines the specific use of biblical allusions and motifs in Freneau's poetry.
7 The Last Poems: A Reflection on His Life: This chapter analyzes Freneau's later works and his growing bitterness over his lack of recognition and political disillusionment.
8 Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes Freneau's achievements and failings, positioning him as a transitional figure struggling between traditional form and his own evolving identity.
Keywords
Philip Freneau, American Poetry, American Revolution, Connecticut Wits, Romanticism, Fancy, Satire, Literary Failure, Democracy, Deism, Intertextuality, Nature Poetry, Eighteenth Century, National Identity, Poetic Ambition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines Philip Freneau’s self-perception as a writer and how he sought to achieve his literary goals amidst the political and social challenges of the late 18th century.
What are the core themes addressed in this study?
The study centers on Freneau’s struggle for recognition, his relationship with the "Connecticut Wits," his conflicting feelings toward British literary tradition, and his political poetry.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how Philip Freneau viewed his role as an author, what influences shaped his work, and whether he succeeded in achieving his target of creating a democratic, original American poetry.
Which methodology is used to analyze Freneau’s work?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, evaluating Freneau’s poems against his own life circumstances, his interactions with contemporaries, and his relationship with classic and British literary models.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main part of the paper covers Freneau's self-assessment, his competition with contemporaries like Dwight and Barlow, his intertextual references, and his ultimate shift from romanticism to political disillusionment.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include Philip Freneau, American Poetry, Revolution, Romanticism, Fancy, Satire, Deism, and the Connecticut Wits.
How does the author describe the tension between Freneau’s intentions and the final result of his career?
The author argues that while Freneau aspired to be a significant poet of philosophy and nature, he was often thwarted by financial dependence and an inability to find an audience that appreciated his specific brand of democratic, fanciful poetry.
What specific role does the chapter on "The City Poet" play in the overall argument?
It serves to highlight the bitterness and disillusionment Freneau experienced in his later years, illustrating his sense of being disregarded and misunderstood by the American public.
- Quote paper
- Mareike Hachemer (Author), 2007, About Philip Freneau - Targets and Self-Assessment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78218
