Nancy Hanks
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If Nancy Hanks
Came back as a ghost, Seeking news Of what she loved most, She'd ask first "Where's my son? What's happened to Abe? What's he done?" "Poor little Abe, Left all alone. Except for Tom, Who's a rolling stone; He was only nine, The year I died. I remember still How hard he cried." |
"Scraping along
In a little shack, With hardly a shirt To cover his back, And a prairie wind To blow him down, Or pinching times If he went to town." "You wouldn't know About my son? Did he grow tall? Did he have fun? Did he learn to read? Did he get to town? Do you know his name? Did he get on?" |
As much as Abraham Lincoln liked to recite poetry and entertain others, his work would pale in comparison to the number of poems and tributes written about his life. One such poem, "Nancy Hanks," is written as a flash forward concerning Lincoln's life from his mother's perspective. The video (left) reflects a musical rendering of the poem and some of the images it might suggest.
Tributes are written to show gratitude, respect, or admiration for the namesake of the tribute. Some are written by contemporaries of the subject, while some are written many years after the subject's death. Lincoln's assassination elicited hundreds of tributes which reflected the suddenness of his death, but also helped to cement the "larger than life" image of Lincoln's life and presidency.
Tributes are written to show gratitude, respect, or admiration for the namesake of the tribute. Some are written by contemporaries of the subject, while some are written many years after the subject's death. Lincoln's assassination elicited hundreds of tributes which reflected the suddenness of his death, but also helped to cement the "larger than life" image of Lincoln's life and presidency.
Essential Question: What images of Lincoln do these tribute poems evoke?
Directions: Read each of the following tribute poems and analyze the images created within the poems. What really stands out about Lincoln in each poet's work? Write an essay discussing one or more of the poems. Be sure to make connections to each poet, to the techniques utilized in the poems, and to the imagery they have developed within their poems. Consider themes used such as Lincoln as a commander in chief, a martyr, a son, etc. Also consider how each poet's own life might have influenced the content of each work. You may find that the Poetry Analysis Form would be helpful.
Directions: Read each of the following tribute poems and analyze the images created within the poems. What really stands out about Lincoln in each poet's work? Write an essay discussing one or more of the poems. Be sure to make connections to each poet, to the techniques utilized in the poems, and to the imagery they have developed within their poems. Consider themes used such as Lincoln as a commander in chief, a martyr, a son, etc. Also consider how each poet's own life might have influenced the content of each work. You may find that the Poetry Analysis Form would be helpful.
Lincoln Tributes
For additional tributes to Lincoln, look up the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Julia Ward Howe, Berton Bellis, Langston Hughes, Vachel Lindsay, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Herman Melville.