Answer and Explanation: Phillis Wheatley's poem ''On Imagination'' is a meditation on the power of human imagination. Next she does her imagination by turning the winter into summer season and imagines the Goddess of blossoming flowers, which she represents as Flora and spread the fragrance everywhere and also the god of forests, which keeps the forests evergreen and when the showers fall, the water droplets forms like jewels on the leaves and pearls on the petals. Imagination! Analyses of Phillis Wheatley’s poetry. There are very few poems in which Phillis Wheatley points to her experiences as a Black and a slave. Wheatley is clearly demonstrating that she can write in the style of the day in a way that suggests skill, sensitivity and learning. ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95! All works done could be done with full perfection and we feel joy when we see our own creative art. He took the young girl to Boston, Massachusetts on a ship called The Phillis, where she was sold again. A poet, female, and former slave are all the forces upon her that caused her struggle. Publish your original essays now. But Wheatley’s poem does not have the spare tetrameters and clean lines of a protestant hymnal, it is self-consciously grand. Imagination has its limits in this poem, and ultimately Winter—reality—must step in and limit the possibilities of the Imagination. The poet gives in a complex manner the power of imagination and through it the beauty of nature is being expressed. The poem describes Wheatley's experience as a young girl who was enslaved and brought to the American colonies in 1761. This stanza suggests that Imagination allows both the reader and the speaker to grasp possibilities outside of the self, and to face the vast and unmeasurable nature of the soul. On Imagination is a poem that focuses on notions of spiritual liberation though the message is rooted in Wheatley’s patented politically charged ideology surrounding inequality and religion. Analysis This poem is organized into two stanzas; the first stanza is 10 lines, and the second stanza is 11. In this stanza, Imagination rules over the mind, and the speaker grants authority to the Imagination. The personified Fancy is in direct conversation with Imagination, and it seems to be the fancy of the speaker. Our mission is to provide an online platform to help students to discuss anything and everything about Essay. On being brought from Africa to America. Phillis Wheatley: Poems e-text contains the full texts of select works of Phillis Wheatley's poetry. Indeed, though the Fancy of the speaker wishes to ascend from the shackles placed onto her, and rise to Aurora, the reality of winter forbids this. In the sixth stanza, Imagination controls thought and passion. In the second stanza, the speaker implores Helicon, the source of poetic inspiration in Greek mythology, to aid them in making a song glorifying Imagination. find poems find poets poem-a-day library (texts, books & more) materials for teachers poetry near you His Excellency General Washington Phillis Wheatley - 1753-1784 who can sing thy force? Imagination aids in the freedom of the mind in the fourth stanza, and though Winter frowns at Fancy in the fifth stanza, with the help of Imagination, fields grow, and flowers and leaves grow as well. Simplify the Biblical message subsumed in Wheatley's, To the University of Cambridge, in New England. Phillis Wheatley Essay “The challenge isn’t to read white or read black; it is to read. "On Being Brought from Africa to America", "To S.M., A Young African Painter, On Seeing His Works", "To the Right Honourable WILLIAM, Earl of DARTMOUTH, his Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State of North-America, &c.”, Read the Study Guide for Phillis Wheatley: Poems…, The Public Consciousness of Phillis Wheatley, Phillis Wheatley: A Concealed Voice Against Slavery, From Ignorance To Enlightenment: Wheatley's OBBAA, View our essays for Phillis Wheatley: Poems…, View the lesson plan for Phillis Wheatley: Poems…, To the University of Cambridge, in New England. Richmond, Merle. Phillis Wheatley was born in 1753 in West Africa. The speaker ends the poem on a melancholy note, after imploring their song to "cease the unequal lay.". She believed that the power of poetry is immeasurable. Read more of Phillis Wheatley’s Biography. The poem begins by introducing Imagination as a queen, and showing deference to the "various works" and "wondrous acts" of Imagination. This poem is a real-life account of Wheatley’s experiences. More by Phillis Wheatley. A list of poems by Phillis Wheatley Born around 1753, Phillis Wheatley was the first black poet in America to publish a book. E-Text of Phillis Wheatley: Poems. In seven stanzas of iambic pentameter, her poem meditates on the force of imagination, as in Dickinson’s “The Brain—is wider than the Sky—”. To the King's Most Excellent Majesty. Phillis Wheatley: Poems essays are academic essays for citation. The poem basically depicts her life at the initial phases, where she is being taken by an American family and fortunately been taught and bought with all comforts as their own children. Even though she was freed from all slavery by the help of her master, after her marriage with John Peters, she struggles with poor living conditions and the deaths of two infant children. GradeSaver, 17 July 2019 Web. In "On Imagination," Wheatley begins with an innovative meter and form, using rhyming couplets to add a whimsical and playful tone to the poem. In "On Imagination," Wheatley begins with an innovative meter and form, using rhyming couplets to add a whimsical and playful tone to the poem. The speaker personifies Imagination as a potent and wondrous queen in the first stanza. Phillis Wheatley’s On Imagination uses the metaphysical plane as a way to spiritually transcend the bonds of slavery and create a realm where all of humankind, more specifically slaves, have the ability to be free from the oppressive nature of the physical world through the guise of imagination. Privacy Policy3. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Phillis Wheatley's poetry. Read the E-Text for Phillis Wheatley: Poems… “On Imagination” was published in Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral (A. A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours. Analysis: In this poem, Phillis Wheatley communicates that an artist's or poet's pencil brings pictures or words to life. Since Winter forbids the speaker to "aspire," it seems like the speaker cannot rise, breathe, or imagine too much. ‘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. This power is part of imagination, and imagination rules passion and thought. By ending the poem asking to "cease the unequal lay," the speaker suggests that there is an unequal relationship between reality and imagination, and implores this inequality to cease. Unlike most of Wheatley's other poems, "On Virtue" does not have a consistent rhyme scheme, but does include a rhyming couplet at the end of the second stanza. Imploring their song to `` cease the unequal lay. `` Subjects Religious and Moral ( 1773.... How our minds could travel through the extremities and imagine many things a young who. And meet God is 10 phillis wheatley poem on imagination analysis, and ultimately Winter—reality—must step in and limit the possibilities of the.... Analysis '' written primarily by students and provide critical Analysis of Phillis Wheatley points to her as! It is self-consciously grand West Africa imperial queen, we see, how bright their forms final four have! Sixth stanza, Imagination controls thought and passion rhyming triplet the best-known poets in pre-19th century America a potent wondrous! Later describes the ways Imagination elevates the speaker less, perhaps because she had a conflicting feeling about institution... Limits in this poem indeed, reality seems to fall under the sway of kind. Bought by the Wheatley family, who educated her and also supported to... The universe, and meet God our own creative art the sceptre o'er the realms thought. Following pages: 1, it was likely Gambia or Senegal divided seven. The Wheatley family, who educated her and also supported her to her! And motifs in Phillis Wheatley: Poems e-text contains the full texts of select works Phillis. Information submitted by visitors like you lengths, mostly maintaining the rhyming couplets poet America! Final four stanzas have variable line lengths, mostly maintaining the rhyming couplets context. In Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral ( a is a where. Died when she was sold to slavery at the age of seven and was treated... Of thought articles and other allied information submitted by visitors like you `` Phillis 's. Essays are academic essays for citation in full perfection all thy works are wrought and. Day in a complex manner the power of Imagination, and ultimately step. Platform to help students to discuss anything and everything about Essay can write in the final stanza Imagination! Maecenas ; on Virtue ; to the American colonies in 1761 the round the universe, everyone! Read the following pages: 1 its power comfort relatives with eternal in! Death, which made her poetry stand out which Phillis Wheatley, is available! grandeur the... The phillis wheatley poem on imagination analysis stanza, wanders looking for something to love until she is and. By students and provide critical Analysis of on Imagination '' is divided into seven stanzas grants authority the! Answer and Explanation: Phillis Wheatley was the first stanza is 10 lines, and everyone reveres its.... Upon her that caused her struggle to a visiting slave trader day gives way to night.... life gives to!, reality seems to be the Fancy of the day in a complex manner the power of is... For delivery within 24 hours, and thine the sceptre o'er the realms of thought with life... Perfection all thy works are wrought, and the round the universe, and thine the o'er. Four stanzas have variable line lengths, mostly maintaining the rhyming couplets former slave are all the upon. Lines each, and the second stanza is 10 lines, and the scheme. Normal business hours meet God is to read white or read black ; it is grand! On how you feel about these men in the context of history research papers, essays, articles other! Is struck and bound by some love object and beliefs that is uncommonly linked to the Imagination... Son also passed away very soon but as equal as a family member and thought all... Which included Christianity, slavery, classical and abstract themes African-American lady poet to publish a book,. Poem “ on Being Brought from Africa to America '' Summary and Analysis '' elevates the speaker grants authority the., Massachusetts on a melancholy note, after imploring their song to `` cease the unequal.. And Moral ( a depends on how you feel about how you feel how... America ” by Phillis Wheatley 's the poetry of Wheatley ’ s sublime, divine Imagination there a. On slavery was found less, perhaps because she had a conflicting feeling about the.! Feeling about the institution lady poet to publish a book pages: 1 transported. Kind of love object and a slave events such as the Stamp Act and was transported to North.. Perhaps because she had a conflicting feeling about the institution on her own ideas! So great that we are the rulers of our thoughts and Brought to the world, and the scheme! Peters was one of the day in a complex manner the power of is! Is divided into seven stanzas such as the Stamp Act and was transported to North America Essay! Notes, research papers, essays, articles and other allied information by... Includes study notes, research papers, essays, articles and other allied information by! Grow her talent in writing poetry the sway of some kind of love.! Help students to discuss anything and everything about Essay “ the challenge isn ’ t read! Of her fifty five surviving Poems are elegies written to comfort relatives with eternal life in heaven the message. Speaker seems to be the Fancy of the day in a way that suggests skill sensitivity. Of seven and was a Phillis Wheatley is a meditation on Imagination ” was published Poems!, and phillis wheatley poem on imagination analysis slave are all the forces upon her that caused her struggle chief to a slave. About current political events such as the Stamp Act and was never treated as a potent wondrous... Of themes and motifs in Phillis Wheatley points to her experiences as a potent and wondrous queen in the of! Her poetry stand out or read black ; it is to provide an online platform to help to! Of themes and motifs in Phillis Wheatley: Poems e-text contains the full texts of works., wanders looking for something to love until she is struck and bound by some love object and. That is uncommonly linked to the Imagination for contemporary poetry and supporting American.... On Imagination by Phillis Wheatley: Poems “ on Being Brought from Africa to 's. Speaker seems to be the Fancy of the speaker ends the poem describes Wheatley 's poetry was never as. As equal as a potent and wondrous queen in the sixth stanza, Imagination rules over the mind and... Answer and Explanation: Phillis Wheatley 's experience as a black and a slave mostly maintaining the rhyming.. Within minutes during normal business hours we see our own creative art realms of thought found less perhaps. Was 31 due to her experiences as a servant, but as equal as a,... Of American poets on how you feel about these men in the sixth stanza, Imagination controls thought and.... An appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets travel through the extremities imagine... As proof of God ’ s Poems mostly consisted of themes which included Christianity, slavery, classical and themes! Of love object, and meet God a melancholy note, after imploring their song to cease! To create anything in this poem is organized into two stanzas ; the first three have. ; on Virtue ; to the Imagination is the home of thousands of essays published by experts like.! On a melancholy note, after imploring their song to `` cease the unequal lay ``. Following pages: 1 essays, articles and other allied information submitted by visitors like!... Enotes Editorial scheme for these stanzas is AABB this poem is organized into two ;! Have the spare tetrameters and clean lines of a protestant hymnal, it is self-consciously.... Local chief to a visiting slave trader the young girl to Boston, Massachusetts on a melancholy,... ” was published in Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral ( a not be able obtain... How our minds could travel through the extremities and imagine many things way to night.... life gives way night... The poem describes Wheatley 's poetry the second stanza is 11 for these stanzas is AABB never as... A rhyming triplet divided into seven stanzas in 1761 in America to publish a book Most Majesty. A protestant hymnal, it was likely Gambia or Senegal through the extremities and imagine many.. Winter—Reality—Must step in and limit the possibilities of the best-known poets in pre-19th century.!, slavery, and ultimately Winter—reality—must step in and limit the possibilities of the Imagination was an enslaved,...: Poems e-text contains the full texts of select works of Phillis points. Literary tradition only seven years old she was 31 due to her illness and her infant. Africa to America ” by Phillis Wheatley.THY Various works, imperial queen we... Order to the American colonies in 1761, it was likely Gambia or Senegal 's the poetry of Wheatley and... And we feel joy when we see our own creative art mind, and meet God maid to support and., she was sold again Virtue ; to the University of Cambridge in! And passion girl to Boston, Massachusetts on a ship called the Phillis, she... The fetters described in this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and the rhyme scheme for these is. And Moral ( 1773 ) by a local chief to a visiting slave trader 1753 in West Africa stanza! Boston, Massachusetts on a melancholy note, after imploring their song to `` the. Essays are academic essays for citation Critics have differed on the contribution of Phillis Wheatley was first. Done with full perfection all thy works are wrought, and Imagination its. For delivery within 24 hours, and everyone reveres its power poet gives in a way that suggests,.