Paul Revere's Ride Essay Questions

What are the contrasts between the first and second parts of the poem?

The first part of the poem is watchful, suspenseful. It is like a held breath, a calm before the storm. The friend is suspended in the darkness of the night, listening carefully for signs of British movement. All is quiet and still, and he feels an eerie loneliness steal over him. In contrast, when Revere sees the lanterns signal that the British are coming by sea, he is a whirlwind of energy and action. The poem takes off in the way Revere's horse takes off, setting history in motion.

How was the poem read in its own time?

The poem certainly seems like it's a Revolutionary War poem; after all, it is about Boston, Paul Revere, the midnight ride, Lexington and Concord, and war. However, due to Longfellow's own abolitionist sentiments, his mindset when writing it, the moment at which he published it, and the subtle message contained within, it became very clear to readers that it was intended to be a call to arms for the Union. It was to provoke and inspire, to encourage patriotism and perseverance as the Union prepared to go to war against the slaveholding South.

What was the importance of Revere's ride to the Revolutionary War?

Thanks to Longfellow's poem, Revere has an outsized reputation in regards to the Revolutionary War. He did not make it all the way to Concord and was apprehended by the British. However, he did undertake a midnight ride and he did warn Adams and Hancock. He was a prominent Patriot and had been active in many pre-Revolutionary acts of subterfuge and resistance. He demonstrated what a virtuous and stouthearted citizen could do in terms of resisting tyranny.