Poetry
In what ways are the calls to arms in each poem different?
from "To his Excellency, George Washington"
One century scarce perform'd its destined round,
When Gallic powers Columbia's fury found;
And so may you, whoever dares disgrace
The land of freedom's heaven-defended race!
Fix'd are the eyes of nations on the scales,
For in their hopes Columbia's arm prevails.
Anon Britannia droops the pensive head,
While round increase the rising hills of dead.
Ah! Cruel blindness to Columbia's state!
Lament thy thirst of boundless power too late.
Proceed, great chief, with virtue on thy side,
Thy ev'ry action let the Goddess guide.
A crown, a mansion, and a throne that shine,
With gold unfading, WASHINGTON! Be thine.
from "Liberty Tree"
But hear, O ye swains, 'tis a tale most profane,
How all the tyrannical powers,
Kings, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain
To cut down this guardian of ours;
From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms
Through the land let the sound of it flee,
Let the far and the near, all unite with a cheer,
In defence of our Liberty Tree.
In what ways are the calls to arms in each poem different?
A. Paine focuses on all enemies, while Wheatley focuses on only Britain.
B. Wheatley calls for help from a goddess, while Paine summons real men.
C. Paine calls for fighting in defense, while wheatley calls for offensive.
D. Wheatley calls for help from one person, while Paine calls upon all young men.
Which lines from the poems support your answer?
A. And so may you, whoever dares disgrace/ The land of freedom's heaven-defended race! and "Kings, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain"
B. "Proceed, great chief, with virtue on thy side," and "Let the far and the near, all unite with a cheer,/ In defense of our Liberty tree."
C. "Ah! Cruel blindness to Columbia's state!" and "How all the tyrannical powers,/ Kings, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain"
D. "Fix'd are the eyes of nations on the scales,/ For in their hopes Columbia's arm prevails." and "Through the land let the sound of it flee,"