A Psalm of Life is one of the best-known poems of Longfellow.

It has served as one of the most inspirational poems in literature since it was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow, a well loved American poet, is well known for A Psalm of Life and the lessons on life which it illustrates. The primary message or the Subject Matter of the poem, is that Life is beautiful. The lyrical lines and inspiring message of the poem has been handed down through the years, bringing hope. Here is a glance -in my point of view-explanation about the poem;

At the 1st stanza, Longfellow wants to tells us that life is not an empty dream, do not waste it out.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. even it in a mournful number, life is not an empty dream. Longfellow try to stress his says. He is full of spirit and optimist; he tries to influence readers to feel the way he feel by read this poem.

At the second stanza, Longfellow forceful philosophy suggested to the direction of his hymn to action:

Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. in this part, he gives us a spirit, a reason why he doesnt believe that life is an empty dream.Longfellow advised (intention) that we are all here on Earth to live for today rather than waiting for death to take us.

At the third stanza, I got Longfellow wants us to know that whatever could be happened in life;

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

and above all things that happened, whether it is joyful or sorrow, we have to act, its not necessary what is the end of the journey in life, but the long road to the end, how we get through it is the most precious thing. And find ourselves are better and get better.

At the fourth stanza, it is about the humanity. Even we said that we are tough and brave enough, but when it come to the death we still feel scare.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. Longfellows audience as a popular writer was assured death is depicted as bedtime for a cranky child.

At the fifth stanza, Longfellow advised us that even in adversity we are to persevere and never give up.

In the worlds broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life,

world is a battle field, we have to fight for our intention and our aspiration. When we are inside of it so we have to be indeed. Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!

talk about principle. Do not follow all of the people think. Make your own principle. And be a good man.

At the sixth stanza, Longfellow said that we must live a life. Trust no-future, do not captivated by the past. But live and love your days with a whole of your heart and guide of God.

Trust no Future, howeer pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,act in the living Present! Heart within, and God oerhead!

Longfellow assuredly had personal knowledge on the subject; suffering through the deaths of two wives. Following the death of his first wife his second wife also died tragically many years later.

At the seventh stanza, I think Longfellow want to convince us to be optimist and beautify the days;

Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And at this line, we must be brave, to go on life and leave the past And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time;

At the eight stanza, Longfellow said that we, in time will get that people around us in a bad situation. It can touch our heart. But, still we have to go on.

Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing oer lifes solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again.

At the last stanza, Longfellow want us to move on, still in spirit, act with heart. Also with patience.

Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.

The message in A Psalm for Life clearly illustrates that According to Longfellow, time is too swift to wait for death because theres so many thing we can get in life, life is beautiful.

SENSE DEVICE 1. Simile is generally the comparison of two things essentially unlike, on the basis of a resemblance in one aspect. Ex: Still, like muffled drums (4th stanza, line 3)

Be not like dumb(5th stanza, line 3) Metaphorical image is an analogy identifying one object with another and ascribing to the first object one more of the quality of the second. Ex: Life is but an empty dream! (1st stanza, line 2)

soul is dead that slumbers (1st stanza, line 3)

The Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, subtitled 'What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist', is a poem that was first published in the Knickerbocker Magazine in 1838. The poem strives to look at the human attitude toward life and death. The major theme of the poem is that living is not the only thing humans are put on earth for. While heaven may be the goal at the end of life, humans are also sent to earth to live productive and generous lives as well. In the opening stanza, Longfellow begins by saying Tell me not in mournful numbers/Life is but an empty dream. With these lines Longfellow establishes that he does not want to hear from those who feel that life is only time spent on earth and that there is nothing after one dies. Longfellow indicates that things may not be as they seem. In the second stanza, Longfellow exclaims that life is real and earnest, but the grave is not its goal. Dust to dust did not refer to the soul just the physical body. Longfellow believes that the soul lives on after death. Longfellow also reiterates that life isnt about joys and sorrows. Instead, life is about doing some good while on earth so that the world is left a better place than it is today. Time is personified as a person with a capital letter, as if it is a proper noun. Time is described as fleeting, which means that it is not permanent. Rather, it is something temporary in this world.

Another comparison Longfellow makes is to compare life to a battle field. From the day people are born until the day they die, they are leading and participating in wars and battles. Longfellow indicates that people shouldnt be so caught up in the bivouac of Life that people fail to live. This indicates that people should not become complacent with life. Instead, mankind should make the most of every minute of existence in this world. One of the greatest verses of the poem lies in the words Lives of great men all remind us/We can make our lives sublime/And departing leave behind us/ Footprints on the sands of time. This stanza points out to the reader that mankind should take as example all the great men that have come before, who are evidence that not everyone is forgotten after their life on earth has ended. Everyone should strive to be like them and leave footprints on others and the world. Longfellow leaves the reader with the idea that people should live life by working through the time on earth to make life a wonderful place. In the end, mankind must wait to find heaven and toil here on earth until that day comes. Written in an ABAB rhyme scheme with 9 quatrains, the poem varies between 7-8 syllables per line. Longfellow includes some use of repetition with words such as Life is, Actact and Footprints. Other sound devices the poet instills include alliteration is words such as gravegoal, broad battle, and "Learnlabor. Rich with philosophical grandness the poem Psalm of Life has a message that is still as relevant today as it did for more than a century ago. It serves as a reminder to make the most of this time on earth people call life, because it is a fleeting moment.

In his poem A Psalm of Life, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow packs the poem, written after the death of his first wife, Mary, with many literary devices. It is said by many critics to be one of his most popular poems. In addition to similes, imagery, personification, and an a-b-a-b rhyme scheme, A Psalm of Life is spiritual with direct references to God, but indirect references to Biblical passages. The poem is written in stanzas of four lines or quatrains. Longfellow begins the first stanza with exuberance and the thought that life is full of both good and bad. These experiences make it worth living. Death is part of it. Although his wife died, the poet was not so grief-stricken that he is unable to function. In stanza two, the poet insists further that the grave is not the end of life. The third line, Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest, refers to the Book of Common Prayer, a tome used in the Anglican and other religions for definitive sacraments and rites. So the poet places his trust not in man, but in something greater. If Longfellow had been so grief-stricken that he could not see living for what it was, the wisdom of his words could not have achieved the balance between life and death. Along those same thought lines, in stanza three, line one, Longfellow imparts that each day of life is neither, enjoyment or sorrow but a chance for humans to get further than they were the previous day before. In other words, as a human, each much keep moving and not stop, no matter what happens. His positive attitude continues through the remaining stanzas with his use of words and phrases like, stout and brave, hero, living Present, Footprints on the sand of time, and still achieving. Listed below are examples of the literary devices used throughout the poem.

Simile: The first simile is Still, like muffled drums, are beating in stanza four, line three. The other simile is Be not dumb, driven cattle! in stanza five, line three. Imagery: bivouac of Life. To bring some of the images to the attention to the reader, the poet capitalizes words like Art, Time, Trust, Future, Past, and Present. Although she had a different writing style, Emily Dickinson used this device in her poetry. Dickinson and Longfellow were contemporaries for at least part of their lives. Personification: some of these devices are the same one that Longfellow uses to create imagery. They are listed in the paragraph above. Rhyme scheme: Longfellow uses an a-b-a-b. The rhymes he used are exact rhymes, for example from stanzas one and two: numbers/slumbers, earnest/returnest. Many different interpretations of this poem exist. It can be about life and death and what humans do during their lives. The poem is about Longfellows relationship with God and spirituality. The Footprints that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow refers to in the eighth stanza can be considered to be humans looking back at their lives and see where theyve been. The poet concludes the poem with the thought, repeated in different words from stanza three, that no matter what life brings humans, to keep on going is the only choice the human race has.

%Up to Rohana, the narrator was alone in the compartment. A girl boarded towards the compartment . Her parents bid her goodbye at the station and were anxious about her well-being and advised her a lot regarding where to keep her belongings, not to lean out of the windows and to avoid talking to strangers. Once the train left the station, the narrator started a conversation

asking if she too was going to Dehra. The voice startled her as she thought her to be alone in the compartment. The girl told him that she was going to Saharanpur where her aunt would come to take her home. She also envied the narrator as the hills of Mussoorie, where he was headed to, presented a lovely sight in October (the present month). After some more chit-chats, the narrator told her, quite daringly (as he was blind and couldn't have known her face for sure) that she had an interesting face. She was happy at this and replied that it was indeed a welcome deviation from the often repeated phrase: "You have a pretty face". Soon it was time for the girl to bid goodbye as the train arrived at her destination. After her departure, a man entered the compartment and apologized, as a matter of fact, for not being as attractive a traveling companion as his predecessor. When the narrator asked him if the girl had her hair long or short, he replied with intrest that he had noticed only her eyes, which were beautiful but of no use, as she was completely blind.22222222222222

Footprints,on the sands of time.These often quoted inspirational lines are a part of the poem A Psalm of Life, which wascomposed by H.W. Longfellow, way back in 1838. This poem relates to the people from allwalks of life. It is an epitome of Longfellows philosophy on life. It is brilliantly crafted, and thetheme and ideas are excellently interwoven, very simple words are used but their meaning isprofound. It is a great inspirational poem. On 20th July it will be completing its 168thanniversary. Still, it is a part of school syllabus and is loved.It is a treatise

on the art of living. It teaches that we should always strive to excel in whatever we do. It seems to be in sync with Lord Krishnas message in Bhagwad Gita, to live and to letlive, to do our duty because that is in our hands but successor failure is beyond us. Life isprecious, life is beautiful, not a single moment may be wasted as Art is long and time isfleeting even in death the soul does not die but sleeps in slumber. We should not allowourselves to be driven like dumb cattle. One, whose soul does not stir at the prospect of being an achiever, who does not nurture any hope is as good as dead, he has truly stoppedliving. We should learn to live inpresent, and try to make it better and glorious, that is themoment gifted to us by God thats why it is called Present. The past is dead, it can not bechanged, the future however promising it may look, but we do not have any control over it, itssuccess can not be vouchsafed. Act-actis the clarion call given by Longfellow to the world.Time at our disposal is very short, with each passing day we are moving towards our death,so we should accomplish what we desire to, with faith in God.Our accomplishments may pave a way for the forlorn destitute souls, who have lost track of their rightful path. We may leave our footprints on the sands of time, we may set an examplefor others to follow. We can make our life sublime it will inspire other people to know thatleading a life of fulfillment is worth living. On the whole, it can be categorized as a spiritualpoem. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow begins his poem "A Psalm of Life" with the same exuberance andenthusiasm that continues through most of the poem. He begs in the first stanza to be told "not inmournful numbers" about life. He states here that life doesn't abruptly end when one dies; rather,it extends into another after life. Longfellow values this dream of the afterlife immensely

andseems to say that life can only be lived truly if one believes that the soul will continue to live long after the body dies. The second stanza continues with the same belief in afterlife that is present inthe first.Longfellow states this clearly when he writes, "And the grave is not its goal." Meaning that, lifedoesn't end for people simply because they die; there is always something more to be hopefuland optimistic for. Longfellow begins discussing how humans must live their lives in constant anticipation for the next day under the belief that it will be better than each day before it: "But to act that each to-morrow / Find us farther than to-day."In the subsequent stanza, Longfellow asserts that there is never an infinite amount of time to live,but art that is created during one's life can be preserved indefinitely and live on long after itscreator dies. In the following stanzas, Longfellow liken living in the world to fighting on a hugefield of battle.He believes that people should lead heroic and courageous lives and not sit idle and remainineffectual while the world rapidly changes around them: "Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be ahero in the strife!" His use of the word "strife" is especially interesting, since it clearlyacknowledges that life is inherently difficult, is a constant struggle, and will never be easy.Longfellow then encourages everyone to have faith and trust the lord and not to rely on anunknown future to be stable and supportive.

"A PSALM OF LIFE" [Analysis - NO.] Tell me not in mournful numbers, "Life is but an empty dream!" For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. ["Mournful numbers": Science. The application of scientific principles would bring one to the conclusion that death brings an end to life; and, by definition a cessation of all functions of a living being, including, the capacity to dream. However, in this opening stanza, Longfellow immediately declares himself to be a believer in life hereafter. Human life, he declares, would not be life without the belief (the dream) of life hereafter. It is not clear how Longfellow might be able to support this conclusion, viz., life is not life without a belief in the hereafter? Further, Longfellow dismisses rational argument by expressing the view that some things are beyond the comprehension of mere mortals.] Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; "Dust thou art, to dust returnest," Was not spoken of the soul. [Proceeding on the basis that life cannot exist without the belief in the hereafter (begging the question) Longfellow then asserts that life is real (a proposition that is not much in dispute) and, Q.E.D., or so Longfellow thinks: there is an everlasting soul.]

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us further than to-day. [Eschewing Epicureanism, Longfellow asserts that we proceed along a path, through a transition (death), to an everlasting life hereafter.] Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. ["Art is long, and Time is fleeting." Art is endless, immortal; and, man's life in his mortal frame, is measured by a discreet marker, time. The poet then repeats his established theme that our life proceeds to the grave and beyond.] In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! [Not much on topic, but an interesting shift in pace: life's a struggle. Well, no doubt; and, no matter one's belief, a heroic life is the only one worth living.]

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act -- act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! [With these lines, Longfellow throws aside the ideas of The Enlightenment and subscribes to the notion that the Good Lord will take care of us, just as he takes care of wild birds. Have faith, make no plans, do not act rationally: a very disastrous way to conduct one's affairs, it seems to me.] Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; [Not sure which "great men" Longfellow has in mind. I suppose, throughout the pages of history we will find those who have left their marks; some rational, some irrational.] Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. [Ah! Good point. We are guided by those who succeed and we emulate their acts Those who don't succeed, indeed who get

themselves into trouble, we eschew (that is not to say we would not necessarily help them out of their trouble).] Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour and to wait, [Well, generally good advice. But, one should not labour long if expected results are not forthcoming during one's life; and, it would be a complete waste of a life to wait for an award in the hereafter on account of some unfounded belief in such.]

An Analysis of Longfellow's A Psalm of LifeHenry Wadsworth Longfellow begins his poem "A Psalm of Life" with the same exuberance andenthusiasm that continues through most of the poem. He begs in the first stanza to be told "not inmournful numbers" about life. He states here that life doesn't abruptly end when one dies; rather, itextends into another after life. Longfellow values this dream of the

afterlife immensely and seems to saythat life can only be lived truly if one believes that the soul will continue to live long after the body dies.The second stanza continues with the same belief in afterlife that is present in the first.Longfellow states this clearly when he writes, "And the grave is not its goal." Meaning that, life doesn'tend for people simply because they die; there is always something more to be hopeful and optimisticfor. Longfellow begins discussing how humans must live their lives in constant anticipation for the nextday under the belief that it will be better than each day before it: "But to act that each to-morrow / Findus farther than to-day."In the subsequent stanza, Longfellow asserts that there is never an infinite amount of time to live, butart that is created during one's life can be preserved indefinitely and live on long after its creator dies. Inthe following stanzas, Longfellow likens living in the world to fighting on a huge field of battle.He believes that people should lead heroic and courageous lives and not sit idle and remain ineffectualwhile the world rapidly changes around them: "Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!"His use of the word "strife" is especially interesting, since it clearly acknowledges that life is inherentlydifficult, is a constant struggle, and will never be easy. Longfellow then encourages everyone to havefaith and trust the lord and not to rely on an unknown future to be stable and supportive.He advises people to seize the moments they have before them and act while thinking about theirpresent situations. Longfellow continues his poem by citing the lives of great and important men whowere able to leadincredible lives and leave theirmarks. He views these

men as role models for people who have yet to live their lives; Longfellowencourages his readers to leave their own "footprints on the sands of time" and become important.