“Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow first appeared in the January 1861 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. It was later retitled “The Landlord’s Tale” and included in Longfellow’s 1863 collection Tales of a Wayside Inn. The poem is celebrated for its rhythmic cadence, evocative imagery, and dramatic narrative, which captures the urgency and historical significance of Paul Revere’s midnight ride to warn American colonists of the impending British attack. Though historically inaccurate in some details, the poem has become an enduring American legend, symbolizing patriotism, courage, and the fight for freedom.

Text: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.”

Then he said “Good night!” and with muffled oar
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore,
Just as the moon rose over the bay,
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay
The Somerset, British man-of-war:
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar
Across the moon, like a prison-bar,
And a huge black hulk, that was magnified
By its own reflection in the tide.

Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street
Wanders and watches with eager ears,
Till in the silence around him he hears
The muster of men at the barrack door,
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet,
And the measured tread of the grenadiers
Marching down to their boats on the shore.

Then he climbed to the tower of the church,
Up the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread,
To the belfry-chamber overhead,
And startled the pigeons from their perch
On the sombre rafters, that round him made
Masses and moving shapes of shade,—
By the trembling ladder, steep and tall,
To the highest window in the wall,
Where he paused to listen and look down
A moment on the roofs of the town,
And the moonlight flowing over all.

Beneath, in the churchyard, lay the dead,
In their night-encampment on the hill,
Wrapped in silence so deep and still
That he could hear, like a sentinel’s tread,
The watchful night-wind, as it went
Creeping along from tent to tent,
And seeming to whisper, “All is well!”
A moment only he feels the spell
Of the place and the hour, and the secret dread
Of the lonely belfry and the dead;
For suddenly all his thoughts are bent
On a shadowy something far away,
Where the river widens to meet the bay,—
A line of black, that bends and floats
On the rising tide, like a bridge of boats.

Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride,
On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere.
Now he patted his horse’s side,
Now gazed on the landscape far and near,
Then impetuous stamped the earth,
And turned and tightened his saddle-girth;
But mostly he watched with eager search
The belfry-tower of the old North Church,
As it rose above the graves on the hill,
Lonely and spectral and sombre and still.
And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height,
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,
But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight
A second lamp in the belfry burns!

A hurry of hoofs in a village-street,
A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark,
And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a spark
Struck out by a steed that flies fearless and fleet:
That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the light,
The fate of a nation was riding that night;
And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight,
Kindled the land into flame with its heat.

He has left the village and mounted the steep,
And beneath him, tranquil and broad and deep,
Is the Mystic, meeting the ocean tides;
And under the alders, that skirt its edge,
Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge,
Is heard the tramp of his steed as he rides.

It was twelve by the village clock
When he crossed the bridge into Medford town.
He heard the crowing of the cock,
And the barking of the farmer’s dog,
And felt the damp of the river-fog,
That rises when the sun goes down.

It was one by the village clock,
When he galloped into Lexington.
He saw the gilded weathercock
Swim in the moonlight as he passed,
And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare,
Gaze at him with a spectral glare,
As if they already stood aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon.

It was two by the village clock,
When he came to the bridge in Concord town.
He heard the bleating of the flock,
And the twitter of birds among the trees,
And felt the breath of the morning breeze
Blowing over the meadows brown.
And one was safe and asleep in his bed
Who at the bridge would be first to fall,
Who that day would be lying dead,
Pierced by a British musket-ball.

You know the rest. In the books you have read,
How the British Regulars fired and fled,—
How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farmyard-wall,
Chasing the red-coats down the lane,
Then crossing the fields to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn of the road,
And only pausing to fire and load.

So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm,—
A cry of defiance, and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo forevermore!
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

Annotations: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Stanza	Summary	Historical Context	Literary Devices
1	Introduction to the poem, setting the scene for Paul Revere’s ride	April 18, 1775, start of the American Revolution	Imagery, metaphor (“midnight ride”)
2-3	Paul Revere’s instructions to his friend, planning the signal	British invasion, Revere’s role as messenger	Alliteration (“muffled oar”), personification (“prison-bar”)
4-5	Friend’s journey to the church tower, spotting the British	Tension builds, anticipation of the signal	Onomatopoeia (“muster of men”), imagery (“phantom ship”)
6-7	Paul Revere’s preparations, watching for the signal	Impatience, focus on the mission	Repetition (“watching”), symbolism (lanterns)
8-9	The signal is given, Revere rides off	Turning point, the famous ride begins	Imagery (“glimmer…gleam of light”), metaphor (“fate of a nation”)
10-12	Revere’s ride, crossing into Medford and Lexington	The ride continues, building momentum	Alliteration (“soft on the sand…loud on the ledge”), imagery (“Mystic…ocean tides”)
13-15	Arrival in Concord, approaching the bridge	Final destination, anticipation of battle	Imagery (“gilded weathercock…spectral glare”), foreshadowing (“bloody work”)
16	Conclusion, reflecting on the significance of the ride	Historical significance, impact on American history	Repetition (“hurrying hoof-beats…midnight message”), symbolism (Revere’s ride as a symbol of freedom)

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“A hurry of hoofs in a village-street”	Repetition of initial consonant sounds, creating rhythm and musicality.
Allusion	“The midnight ride of Paul Revere”	Reference to a historical event, enhancing the poem’s significance and context.
Anaphora	“It was twelve by the village clock… It was one by the village clock…”	Repetition of a phrase at the beginning of successive lines for emphasis and rhythm.
Assonance	“The muster of men at the barrack door”	Repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within phrases.
Consonance	“Till in the silence around him he hears”	Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words for a harmonious effect.
Hyperbole	“The fate of a nation was riding that night”	Exaggeration for dramatic effect, emphasizing the importance of Revere’s ride.
Imagery	“A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark”	Descriptive language that creates vivid sensory experiences for the reader.
Irony	“A cry of defiance, and not of fear”	A contrast between expectation and reality, highlighting Revere’s courage.
Metaphor	“A phantom ship, with each mast and spar”	A direct comparison without using “like” or “as,” describing the ship as ghostly to enhance its eeriness.
Onomatopoeia	“The tramp of feet”	Words that imitate sounds, bringing the scene to life through auditory imagery.
Oxymoron	“Lonely and spectral and sombre and still”	Contradictory terms combined to reveal a deeper truth or create an effect.
Personification	“The watchful night-wind, as it went”	Attributing human qualities to non-human entities, creating a vivid and relatable description.
Repetition	“Listen, my children, and you shall hear”	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis and to reinforce the poem’s rhythm.
Rhyme	“Hear… Revere”	Correspondence of sounds between different words, contributing to the poem’s musicality.
Simile	“Across the moon, like a prison-bar”	A comparison using “like” or “as,” making descriptions more vivid by relating them to familiar objects.
Symbolism	“The lanterns in the belfry-arch”	Objects, characters, or figures that represent broader concepts, adding depth to the narrative.
Synecdoche	“A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door”	A part representing the whole or vice versa, enriching the meaning of the text.
Tactile Imagery	“Felt the damp of the river-fog”	Descriptive language that appeals to the sense of touch, enhancing the reader’s sensory experience.
Visual Imagery	“The moonlight flowing over all”	Descriptive language that appeals to the sense of sight, creating vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
Voice	“In the hour of darkness and peril and need, The people will waken and listen to hear”	The unique style and perspective of the narrator, conveying the poem’s tone and mood.

Themes: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Patriotism and American Identity: The poem celebrates Paul Revere’s ride as a symbol of American patriotism and resistance against British rule. The “midnight ride” (line 2) becomes a powerful metaphor for the fight for freedom, echoing through history as a “word that shall echo forevermore!” (line 143). The poem honors Revere’s bravery and the significance of his ride, emphasizing its impact on American history and identity.
• Courage and Determination: Paul Revere’s courage and determination are highlighted throughout the poem. Despite the danger, he rides through the night, driven by his mission to warn the colonists. His impatience and eagerness to begin his ride (lines 65-70) demonstrate his commitment to the cause. The poem shows how Revere’s courage inspires others to join the fight, kindling “the land into flame with its heat” (line 93).
• Imminence and Urgency: The poem creates a sense of urgency and imminence, emphasizing the importance of Revere’s ride and the impending battle. The repeated use of time markers (“twelve by the village clock,” “one by the village clock,” etc.) builds tension, underscoring the significance of every moment. The poem’s pace quickens as Revere approaches Concord, mirroring the increasing urgency of the situation.
• Memory and Historical Significance: The poem reflects on the historical significance of Paul Revere’s ride, emphasizing its enduring impact on American history. The opening lines, “Listen, my children, and you shall hear / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere” (lines 1-2), frame the poem as a retelling of a legendary event. The poem shows how Revere’s ride becomes a symbol of American resistance, remembered and honored through generations.

Literary Theories and “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Romanticism: “Paul Revere’s Ride” embodies Romantic ideals, emphasizing emotion, imagination, and the individual’s connection to nature. The poem’s vivid imagery and symbolism, such as the “moonlight flowing over all” (line 44) and the “phantom ship” (line 23), create a dreamlike atmosphere, evoking feelings of wonder and awe. The poem’s focus on Paul Revere’s solitary ride, driven by his emotions and intuition, also reflects Romantic values. As Revere rides, “his thoughts are bent / On a shadowy something far away” (lines 73-74), illustrating the Romantic emphasis on the individual’s emotional response to the world.
• Historical Contextualism: This poem is deeply rooted in its historical context, reflecting the political tensions and patriotic fervor of the American Revolution. The poem’s attention to detail, such as the “British man-of-war” (line 25) and the “muster of men at the barrack door” (line 37), demonstrates Longfellow’s commitment to historical accuracy. The poem also celebrates Paul Revere’s ride as a symbol of American resistance against British rule, highlighting the event’s significance in American history. By exploring the poem’s historical context, readers can better understand its themes and imagery, such as the “lantern aloft in the belfry-arch” (line 10), which served as a signal for the colonists.
• Symbolism: The poem is rich in symbolism, with objects and images representing abstract ideas and themes. The “lanterns” (lines 10 and 122) symbolize warning, guidance, and the spark of revolution. The “midnight ride” itself becomes a symbol of courage, determination, and the fight for freedom. Even the natural world is imbued with symbolic meaning, as the “moon” (line 22) represents illumination and the “river” (line 107) signifies transition and change. By exploring these symbols, readers can uncover deeper meanings and themes in the poem, such as the power of individual action and the enduring significance of historical events.

Critical Questions about “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Question 1: How does Longfellow blend historical detail with poetic license to craft a compelling narrative in “Paul Revere’s Ride”?
• Answer: Longfellow skillfully intertwines historical details with poetic liberties to create a captivating narrative. He references the specific date, “the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five,” and the British warship “Somerset” to ground the poem in historical context. However, he takes poetic license by focusing solely on Paul Revere, omitting the contributions of Dawes and Prescott, and embellishing the events with dramatic imagery like the “phantom ship” and the “spark struck out by that steed.” This blend of fact and fiction serves to elevate Revere’s ride into a heroic and symbolic act, emphasizing its significance in American history.
• Question 2: Analyze the use of symbolism and imagery in “Paul Revere’s Ride” and how it contributes to the poem’s meaning.
• Answer: Longfellow’s use of symbolism and imagery is central to the poem’s power and meaning. The “phantom ship” with masts like “prison-bar” represents the oppressive British force, while the “lonely belfry” of the Old North Church becomes a symbol of both vigilance and hope. The “spark struck out by that steed” symbolizes the ignition of revolutionary spirit and the spread of the alarm. These vivid images not only create a sense of atmosphere and suspense but also imbue the poem with deeper meaning, turning Revere’s ride into a metaphorical journey for freedom and independence.
• Question 3: How does the narrator’s voice and the poem’s tone shape the reader’s perception of Paul Revere and his actions?
• Answer: The narrator’s voice, addressing the audience as “my children,” establishes a storytelling tone that invites the reader to partake in a shared history. This fosters a sense of intimacy and personal connection to the events. The tone is predominantly celebratory, emphasizing Revere’s courage and determination. However, it also incorporates a sense of urgency and danger with phrases like “muffled oar,” “spectral glare,” and “secret dread,” reminding the reader of the high stakes involved in Revere’s mission. This combination of tones creates a nuanced portrayal of Revere as both a hero and a man facing real peril.
• Question 4: Explore the lasting impact of “Paul Revere’s Ride” on American culture and its role in shaping notions of patriotism.
• Answer: “Paul Revere’s Ride” has become an iconic American poem, deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural memory. Its portrayal of Revere as a lone hero embarking on a daring midnight ride to warn of impending danger has inspired generations of Americans and instilled a sense of national pride and unity. The poem’s emphasis on courage, vigilance, and the importance of timely action in the face of threat has resonated with American values. However, it is important to acknowledge that the poem’s selective focus on Revere and its historical inaccuracies may have contributed to a simplified understanding of the events leading up to the American Revolution. Despite this, the poem’s enduring legacy speaks to its power to evoke emotions, instill patriotic sentiment, and serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom.

Literary Works Similar to “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1. “The Midnight Ride of William Dawes” by Helen F. Moore: Similar to “Paul Revere’s Ride,” this poem recounts the story of another rider who warned of the British approach during the American Revolution, emphasizing heroism and historical events.
2. “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson: This poem commemorates the Battle of Concord, a pivotal event in the American Revolution, much like Longfellow’s poem which highlights an important moment in the same war.
3. “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Tennyson’s poem describes the bravery and tragedy of a military charge during the Crimean War, focusing on heroism and the impact of war, similar to the themes of courage and historical significance in “Paul Revere’s Ride.”
4. “Barbara Frietchie” by John Greenleaf Whittier: This poem tells the story of an elderly woman who defiantly waves the Union flag during the Civil War, showcasing individual bravery and patriotism akin to Revere’s midnight ride.

Suggested Readings: “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Representative Quotations of “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Listen, my children, and you shall hear / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere”	The poem’s opening lines, setting the scene for the story to come	Romanticism: emphasis on oral tradition and storytelling
“One, if by land, and two, if by sea”	Revere’s instructions to his friend, explaining the signal system	Historical Contextualism: reference to the actual event and its historical significance
“The Somerset, British man-of-war: / A phantom ship, with each mast and spar / Across the moon, like a prison-bar”	Description of the British ship, creating an ominous atmosphere	Imagery and Symbolism: use of vivid imagery to create a sense of foreboding
“And the watchful night-wind, as it went / Creeping along from tent to tent, / And seeming to whisper, ‘All is well!'”	Revere’s friend waiting for the signal, hearing the wind whispering	Romanticism: emphasis on nature and the supernatural
“A line of black, that bends and floats / On the rising tide, like a bridge of boats”	Revere’s friend spotting the British ships approaching	Symbolism: the line of black representing the threat of British invasion
“And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height / A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!”	Revere seeing the signal in the belfry	Imagery and Symbolism: use of light as a symbol of hope and freedom
“The fate of a nation was riding that night”	Revere’s ride taking on historical significance	Historical Contextualism: emphasis on the event’s impact on American history
“And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight, / Kindled the land into flame with its heat”	The impact of Revere’s ride, igniting the flames of revolution	Romanticism: emphasis on the power of individual action and the spark of revolution