Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

(1807—1872)亨利 . 华兹沃斯 . 朗费罗

By 赵田娇 刘芳玲

born in Portland, Maine.

studied at Bowdoin CollegeMarried in 1831

Married in 1831

traveled and study in Europe

his wife died in 1835

Married the Boston heiress

Taught as a professor at Harvard and achieved a significant result in literary field

Works• 1) Voices of the Night (1839) « 夜吟 » his first collection of poems • 2) Ballads and Other Poems (1841) «歌谣及其他»

• 3) Evangeline « 伊凡吉林 » • 4) Hiawatha, based on American Indian

legends. « 海华沙之歌 »

• 5) Tales of a Wayside Inn « 路畔酒舍的故事 »• 6) His translation of Divine Comedy 《神曲》 of Dante

• Ballads and Other Poem contains: (1 The Village Blacksmith 《乡村铁

匠》 (2 A Psalm of Life 《人生礼赞》 (3 The Skeleton in Aromor 《铠甲骷

髅》

The poem is the firstthe first English poem translated into Chinese. Its simple and forceful language, sincere emotion and smooth rhythm have won appreciation from Chinese readers.

• Longfellow’s first wife died when he was traveling around Europe for studying. As a result, he suffered from hypochondria ( 忧郁症 ) .

• The poem was written in 1838 when Longfellow was struck with great dismay and his courtship of a young woman was unrequired. However, despite all the frustrations, Longfellow tried to expressed an impassioned and optimistic feeling to the life by the poem.

A Psalm of Life

• The relationship of life and death is a constant theme for poets. Longfellow expresses his pertinent interpretation to that by warning us that though life is hard and everybody must die, time flies and life is short, yet, human beings ought to be bold “to act,” to face the reality straightly so as to make otherwise meaningless life significant.

• The poem consists of 9 stanzas in trochaic tetrameters. It is rhymed “abab.”

A Psalm of LifeBy Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful Tell me not, in mournful numbers,numbers, "Life is but an empty "Life is but an empty dream! "dream! " for the soul is dead that for the soul is dead that slumbers,slumbers, And things are not what And things are not what they seem.they seem.

　　　　　　　　

Life is real! Life is Life is real! Life is earnest!earnest! And the grave is not its And the grave is not its goal;goal; "Dust thou art, to dust "Dust thou art, to dust returnest, "returnest, " Was not spoken of the Was not spoken of the soul.soul.

请别用哀伤的诗句对我讲；请别用哀伤的诗句对我讲；　 人生呵，无非是虚梦一场！　 人生呵，无非是虚梦一场！　 因为沉睡的灵魂如死一般，　 因为沉睡的灵魂如死一般， 事物的表里并不一样。事物的表里并不一样。

人生是实在的！人生是热烈的！人生是实在的！人生是热烈的！ 人生的目标决不是坟墓；人生的目标决不是坟墓； 你是尘土，应归于尘土。你是尘土，应归于尘土。 此话指的并不是我们的精神。此话指的并不是我们的精神。

　　Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,Is our destined end or way;Is our destined end or way;But to act, that each to-morrowBut to act, that each to-morrowFind us farther than to-day.Find us farther than to-day.

　　　　Art is long , and Time is fleeting,Art is long , and Time is fleeting,And our hearts, though stout And our hearts, though stout and brave,and brave,Still, like muffled drums, are Still, like muffled drums, are beatingbeating Funeral marches to the grave.Funeral marches to the grave.

我们的归宿并不是快乐，我们的归宿并不是快乐，也不是悲伤，也不是悲伤，实干实干 ,, 才是我们的道路，才是我们的道路，每天不断前进，蒸蒸日上。每天不断前进，蒸蒸日上。

光阴易逝，而艺海无涯，光阴易逝，而艺海无涯，我们的心哪我们的心哪————虽然勇敢坚强，虽然勇敢坚强，却像被布蒙住的铜鼓，却像被布蒙住的铜鼓，常把殡葬的哀乐擂响。常把殡葬的哀乐擂响。

　　　　 In the world's broad field of battle,In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life,In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle!Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!Be a hero in the strife!

　　　　　

Trust no Future, howe'er Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its Let the dead Past bury its dead!dead! Act, -act in the living Act, -act in the living Present!Present! Heart within, and God o'er Heart within, and God o'er head!head!

在这人生的宿营地，在这人生的宿营地，　 在这辽阔的世界战场，　 在这辽阔的世界战场， 别做无言的牲畜任人驱赶，别做无言的牲畜任人驱赶，　 做一名英雄汉立马横枪！　 做一名英雄汉立马横枪！

别相信未来，哪怕未来多么欢乐！别相信未来，哪怕未来多么欢乐！ 让死去的往昔将死亡一切埋葬！让死去的往昔将死亡一切埋葬！　 上帝在上，我们胸怀勇气， 　 上帝在上，我们胸怀勇气， 行动吧行动吧——趁现在活着的好时光！趁现在活着的好时光！

　 　 Lives of great men all remind usLives of great men all remind us　　　　 We can make our lives sublime,We can make our lives sublime,　　　　 And , departing , leave behind usAnd , departing , leave behind us　　　　 Footprints on the sands of time;Footprints on the sands of time;

　　　　

Footprints, that perhaps another,Footprints, that perhaps another,　　　　 Sailing o'er life's solemn Sailing o'er life's solemn main,main,　　　　 A forlorn and shipwrecked A forlorn and shipwrecked brother ,brother ,　　　　 Seeing, shall take heart Seeing, shall take heart again.again.

伟人的生平使我们想起，伟人的生平使我们想起，我们能使自己的一生变得高尚！我们能使自己的一生变得高尚！

当我们辞别人间，当我们辞别人间，能把足迹留在时间的流沙上；能把足迹留在时间的流沙上；

也许有个遭了船灾的苦难弟兄，也许有个遭了船灾的苦难弟兄，他曾在庄严的人生大海中飘航，他曾在庄严的人生大海中飘航，见到我们的脚印，见到我们的脚印，又会满怀信心。又会满怀信心。

　　　　　　 Let us , then, be up and Let us , then, be up and

doing,doing,　　　　 With a heart for any face;With a heart for any face;　　　　 Still achieving, still Still achieving, still

pursuing,pursuing,　　　　 Learn to labor and to wait. Learn to labor and to wait.

让我们起来干吧，让我们起来干吧，下定决心，不管遭遇怎样；下定决心，不管遭遇怎样；不断胜利，不断追求，不断胜利，不断追求，要学会苦干和耐心等待要学会苦干和耐心等待

Theme The poem reminds us that life is not a dream, but The poem reminds us that life is not a dream, but

very real, and urges us to live it to the full and not sit very real, and urges us to live it to the full and not sit around waiting for death. around waiting for death.

It says that the purpose of life is not to have fun It says that the purpose of life is not to have fun or indeed to suffer but to do something. or indeed to suffer but to do something.

It also reminds us that although mankind has It also reminds us that although mankind has lived a long time ,our own individual time on earth is lived a long time ,our own individual time on earth is limited and will pass very quickly, with each limited and will pass very quickly, with each heartbeat a further step towards the grave. So try, heartbeat a further step towards the grave. So try, like great men of the past, to make something of like great men of the past, to make something of yourself in your short time on earth and leave behind yourself in your short time on earth and leave behind something by which to be remembered . something by which to be remembered .

1st-2nd verses : life is real.

3rd-6th verses : to act

7th-8th verses : encourage us to pursue.

9th verse : conclusion

This poem is formed by 9 verses which four sentences form. Each verses are well structured.

Success:He received honorary degrees from

famous colleges and universities, including Cambridge and Oxford.

He was given a private audience by Queen Victoria.

The poet's 70th birthday in 1877 was celebrated around the country.

• After death, Longfellow became the only American to be honored with a bust in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey.

International success

• He was the first American poet to gain a favorable international reputation.

Americans owe a great debt to Longfellow because he was among the first of American writers to use native themes. He wrote about the American scene and landscape, the American Indian ('Song of Hiawatha'), and American history and tradition ('The Courtship of Miles Standish', 'Evangeline').

To the most beloved American poet of the 19th century