Poetry Analysis America By Phillis Wheatley - 1079 Words

Poetry Analysis: America by Phillis Wheatley Born in Senegal around 1753, Phillis Wheatley became an important American poetic figure. At the age of 8, she was kidnapped and brought to Boston on a slave ship and upon her arrival to Boston, she was quickly sold to John Wheatley (Bio). Under her new family, Phillis adopted the master’s last name, taken under the wife’s wing, and showed her deep intelligence. Even though suffering from poor health, Phillis’s intelligence did not go unnoticed; she received lessons in theology, English, Latin and Greek. Being a slave did not stop Phillis from learning and experiencing her life, she participated in the master’s family events and eventually became a family member. The irony in this situation is†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Fearing his Strength which she undoubted knew† (10) expresses Great Britain’s fear of America over powering their â€Å"Tyranny† (30) which also backs up the support of America’s increasing independence. The author’s use of this line creates a growing unease on the antagonist; this line also shows how a son can grow, learn, and see things through their own point of view. The line adds to the idea of a son slowly departing from his mother’s ways and conforming to his own; just as America is conforming to its own beliefs and ideas of a nation. Wheatley’s use of figurative language such as a metaphor and an allusion to spark an uproar and enlighten the reader of how Great Britain saw and treated America as if the young nation was below it. â€Å"Savage monsters† (3) is a metaphor that compares America to being an inhumane society. This use of language creates a disrespectful mood among the readers during the late 1770s and early 1780s which was Wheatley’s purpose- to help spark patriotism. Wheatley also alludes to taxes that Great Britain imposed on America which played an important part in the Revolution starting. In line 11, the author states that â€Å"she laid some taxes on her darling son† and this line is wittily written because Wheatley subtly expresses how Great Britain imposed their taxes and regulations. â€Å"Laid some taxes on her darlingShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Phillis Wheatley 1037 Words   |  5 PagesChandler Helmers Mr. Campbell English 3 Honors 10/12/14 An Analysis on the work of Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley is a Gambian born African American poet. She was bought off of the slave trade by the Wheatley family from Boston. Her love of writing was influenced by the reassurance of the Wheatley family who taught her how to read and write. The family encouraged her poetry and helped develop her literature skills. Phillis is known for becoming the first published African American poet. 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