Wheatley was a slave Negro girl. The second half of the octave is an exhortation to Christians to recognize the "sable race" as equally capable of achieving redemption—the poet knows that some view the color as "a diabolic die," marking out "Negros" as "black as Cain." She uses that event and her experience in America as the subject matter of her poem. If the title "On Being Brought from Africa to America" doesn't suggest change to you, maybe the subtle hints throughout the poem will help change your mind. A detailed summary and explanation of Lines 5-8 in On Being Brought from Africa to America by Phillis Wheatley. From her poetry ‘ On Being Brought from Africa to America,’ even it was a short poetry that she wrote, it was enough to show the situation and the prejudice of white people toward the black people. Cain murdered his brother and was marked for the rest of time. This poem is clearly about the writer’s thoughts about being transported as a slave from Africa such as, Gambia or Senegal areas that were not considered to be Christian land by America’s standards. Wheatley was hailed as a genius, celebrated in Europe and America just as the American Revolutionbroke out in the colonies. Thank you! She began writing poetry when she was 12 years old. In the poem " On Being Brought from Africa to America," Wheatley is stating that she has been redeemed. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! What's your thoughts? The theme of Christianity echoes through each line of this poem. The language evokes Biblical figures of villainy, namely Cain and Satan, as Wheatley knows that, to many, her soul appears as "benighted" as her dark skin. It is often cited as Tennyson’s best. Once in America, Phyllis Wheatley was transformed to Christianity and became deeply religious. Answers. -I think Wheatley is intending to reach insecure African Americans with her poem because she is saying that everyone is the same in God’s eyes. Her religion has changed her life entirely and clearly she believes the same can happen for anyone else. On Being brought from Africa to America Questions and Answers 1. At the first lnes of poem, she wrote that it was God’s mercy that she was brought from her home country to America. She wants them all to know that she was brought by “mercy” to America and to religion. Her “benighted,” or troubled soul was saved in the process. She knew “redemption” through this transition and banished all sorrow from her life. They can “join th’ angelic train”. What's important is that the speaker feels like "mercy" in her life The poem uses the principles of Protestant meditation, which include contemplating various Christian themes like one's own death or salvation. The poem describes Wheatley's experience as a young girl who was enslaved and brought to the American colonies in 1761. On Being Brought from Africa to America. She was the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry and was brought to America and enslaved in 1761. The African-American’s place in society has been and still is a sensitive issue in America. Phillis Wheatley uses several literary elements to convey her complex but succinct message to the reader, and understanding those methods is vital to grappling with the … eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. This color, the speaker says, may think is a sign of the devil. Though her poem “On Being Brought to America from Africa” is a mere 8 lines, Phillis Wheatley was able to describe her experience of coming to America as a slave without being negative and ridiculing towards her audience. May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train. Reading the Poem: Read the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phillis Wheatley silently. She gives her readers a moral message through her writing. How would you describe the tone of “On Being Brought from Africa," and does it shift? The first of these is unstressed and the second is stressed. Album Ms. Alexander’s ENG 250 Class (Fall 2015) On Being Brought from Africa to America Lyrics 'Twas mercy brought … Already a member? In a few short lines, the poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America" juxtaposes religious language with the institution of slavery, to touch on the ideas of equality, salvation, and liberty. 'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand. The login page will open in a new tab. But there's more: it's "mercy" that's bringing her. Written as a lyric, Wheatley describes her experience as a slave in a positive tone, as though being a slave was her salvation because it brought her to the Christian faith. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their colour is a diabolic die." On Being Brought From Africa to Americabrings out Wheatley as a preacher. Resources "On Being Brought from Africa to America" is a poem written by Phillis Wheatley, published in her 1773 poetry collection "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral." How do you think that readers of the time (1767?) P: PARAPHRASE: The first half of the poem explains that the speaker’s trip from Africa to America coincided with her becoming a … In this poem, the speaker contends with being "brought from Africa to America," calling this a merciful act as their "benighted soul" was taught to "understand/ That there's a God" and a Saviour. The major themes are slavery, Christianity, and redemption. The tone of the poem suggests this, seeing that the words are highly critical. Wheatley’s most prominent themes in this piece are religion, freedom, and equality. 'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: The eight lines rhyme in aabbaabb fashion. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their colour is a diabolic die." This very religious poem is similar to many others that have been written over the last four hundred years. That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. In regards to the meter, Wheatley makes use of the most popular pattern, iambic pentameter. She asks that they remember that anyone, no matter their skin color, can be said by God. If you have “sable” or dark-colored skin then you are seen with a “scornful eye”. On Being Brought From Africa To America Poem by Phillis Wheatley. It is stated that, she was Subscribe to our mailing list and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your inbox. Phillis Wheatley And A Summary of On Being Brought From Africa to America. Phillis Wheatley's poem "On Being Brought from Africa to America" appeared in her 1773 volume Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, the first full-length published work by an African American author. Add your answer and earn points. In this way, she adheres to popular poetic conventions. This, she thinks, means that anyone, no matter their skin tone or where they’re from can find God and salvation. So, the speaker seems to be saying it was a good thing that she was brought from her homeland. Wheatley writes in iambic pentameter, and her poem is an octave, or set of four couplets. This free poetry study guide will help you understand what you're reading. Assonance: "Their colour is a diabolic die." She has been enlightened … Join the conversation by. The book includes many elegies as well as poems on Christian themes; it also includes poems dealing with race, such as the often-anthologized “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” She returned to America in 1773. This simple and consistent pattern makes sense for Wheatley’s straightforward message. Example of a poem on slavery is "On being brought from Africa to America" 3. Deonca Pierce ENG 350 American Literature I 2 September 2011 Response paper 3: “On Being Brought from Africa to America” To the literary world, Phillis Wheatley is recognized as the first black American poet (Archiving Early America, 2011). Keywords didn't meet our safe search guidelines. Blackness of the skin, Wheatley says, does not equate to blackness of the soul, and black people too may "join th'angelic train". In her poem, “On Being Brought From Africa to America” Wheatley is able to uncover a flaw in the American society at the time by saying, “Remember, Christians , Negros , black as Cain , May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train”. Discussion of themes and motifs in Phillis Wheatley's On Being Brought from Africa to America. Phillis Wheatley Peters, also spelled Phyllis and Wheatly (c. 1753 – December 5, 1784) was the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. On Being Brought from Africa to America Phillis Wheatley. Answer : "On Being Brought from Africa to America" is a poem written by Phillis Wheatley.The poem describes Wheatley's experience as a young girl who was enslaved and brought to the American co view the full answer In this poem, the speaker contends with being "brought from Africa to America," calling this a merciful act as their "benighted soul" was taught to "understand/ That there's a God" and a Saviour. In the lines of this piece, Wheatley addresses all those who see her and other enslaved people as less because of their skin tone. He says that the issue of prospering politics is not the sole responsibility of one city or country, but it should be the concern of the whole continent. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. Wheatley expresses through this poem that she understands it was in God's larger plan for her to be kidnapped and sold into slavery. The theme of the poem is twofold, and in some sense problematic to the modern eye. On Being Brought from Africa to America. She lived between 1753 and 1784. Wheatley’s work is convincing based on its content. Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain. There is a good example of an allusion in the last lines when the poet refers to “Cain”. Mercy brought her and it also "taught my benighted soul to understand," although what she understands is unstated. Wheatley was a female African-American poet, who was born around 1753 in Senegal/Gambia, a part of the Africa. Please log in again. Line 1: Simply put, the speaker says she was "brought." She addresses her African heritage in the next lines, stating that there are many who look down on her and those who look like her. melaniepoetry Uncategorized April 20, 2018 2 Minutes. The poet’s personification of ‘mercy’ (‘Twas mercy brought me from my … Subsequently, question is, what is the pagan land mentioned in the first line? Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Major Themes in “On Being Brought from Africa to America”: Mercy, racism and divinity are the major themes of this poem. On Being Brought from Africa to America - 'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, 'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, - The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. Wheatley is a subtle rebel. On Being Brought From Africa to America is an unusual poem because it was written by a black woman who was a slave back in the days when black people could be bought and sold at will by white owners. I felt as her image had a more passion in her poem. On Being Brought From Africa to America is an unusual poem because it was written by a black woman who was a slave back in the days when black people could be bought and sold at will by white owners 2. Phillis Wheatley And A Summary of On Being Brought From Africa to America. Wheatley describes her native Africa as a "Pagan" land wherein her soul was "benighted": she describes her enslavement and passage to America as representing a salvation for her, in that she has been taught about God and a Saviour and redemption she "never sought nor knew" before. The clash between racial reality and idea is what is artistically shown in “on being brought from Africa to America”. On Being Brought From Africa to America Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery at the age of seven or eight and transported to North America.She was enslaved by the Wheatley family of Boston.After she learned to read and write, they encouraged her poetry … I am wondering if Wheatly's attitude in the poem was resentful. The first, personification, is seen in the first lines in which the poet says it was “mercy” that brought her to America. On Being Brought from Africa to America (1773) By Phillis Wheatley "Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. She believes that her discovery of God, after being forcibly enslaved in America, was the best thing that could’ve happened to her. ‘On Being Brought from Africa to America’ was written by Phillis Wheatley and published in her collection Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773. On Being Brought from Africa to America. But I believe that Wheatley is trying to reach out to her audience to society. Explain how Phillips Wheatley’s rhyming and use of meter create emphasis on certain words and, in turn, themes. How would you describe the tone of “On Being Brought from Africa,” and does it shift? she speaks to the white Christians: Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Wheatley was a slave Negro girl. After the elder Wheatleys died, Phillis was left to support herself as a seamstress and poet. Some of the best include ‘A Hymn to God the Father’ by John Donne (Donne is a great source for religious poetry), ‘The Collar’ by George Herbert (a less strict religious poem that includes the questioning of religion) as well as Alfred Lord Tennyson’s ‘In Memoriam’. In other words, her location was changing, from Africa to America. That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. 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