Initially conceived after reading the works of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, who was known for his early studies of Native American culture, “The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is an epic poem based on the legends of the Ojibwa Indians of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Written in 1855 in trochaic tetrameter, the tale is set in the picturesque Pictured Rocks area along the south shore of Lake Superior. The lyrical descriptions of this beautiful and unique part of the United States are intertwined with the story of the Native American warrior Hiawatha and his love for the Dakota woman, Minnehaha. From Hiawatha’s youth to his marriage, from his daily existence of gathering food to his participation in the traditions of his people, Longfellow weaves a tale of impressive scope in this epic work. Longfellow combines the mythological and cultural traditions of the Native American people with a timeless and universally human tale of love and loss. Ultimately, this poem tells the story of the American Indian, including the rhythm of their daily life, their fight for survival, and the gradual disappearance of their culture and way of life with the arrival of white men and Christianity. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
