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Young Writers Society


Song of the Southern Women



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Reviews: 766
Mon May 04, 2020 10:24 pm
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Brigadier says...



Once again it's time to analyze some poetry from the American Civil War. This time I've chosen a piece from Julia Mildred. It is part of a poetry movement from women during the War where they dealt with the struggle of wanting to support the war but being unable to participate in combat. Many of these poems talked about the ways that they could participate or discussed the political climate.

O ABRAHAM LINCOLN! We call thee to hark
To the song we are singing, we Joans of Arc;
While our brothers are bleeding we fear not to bleed,
We’ll face the Red Horror should there be need
By our brothers we’ll stand on the terrible field,
By our brothers we’ll stand, and we’ll ask for no shield;
By our brothers we’ll stand as a torch in the dark,
To shine on thy treachery, we Joans of Arc.


Behold our free plumes of the wild eagle dark,
Behold them, and take our white brows for thy mark;
We fear not thy canon, we heed not thy drum,
The deeper thy thunder the stronger we come.
Is woman a coward? No, no, she is brave!
Oh! nothing but love ever made her a slave;
In home’s happy circle she’s poetry lark,
But threaten that home and she’s Joan of Arc.


O Abraham Lincoln! we call thee to hark,
Thou Comet of Satan! Thou Boast of the Dark!
Take off thy red shadow from Washington’s land—
Back! back! for thy footstep is slavery’s brand.
Future-eyed prophecy cries to thee, Down!
For she sees on thy forehead the hope of a Crown;
The fire that sleeps in our Southern eyes dark,
Would lighten in the battle—we’re Joans of Arc.


The same starter questions as before to get rolling and a few new ones.
Code: Select all
[b]1. What do you think this poem is about? Why?[/b]

[b]2. As a reader, what line sticks out to you the most? Why?[/b]

[b]3. Does the patriotic side appeal to you? Why or why not?[/b]

[b]4. Do you agree with the speaker's point of view?  Why or why not?[/b]

[b]5. Does this poem remind you of other pieces of poetry?  If so, please provide a link to them.[/b]

[b]6. If you could ask the author of this piece a single question - what would you ask them?[/b]

the brigadier rides again!
LMS VI: Lunch Appointment with Death

  





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Points: 200
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Tue Nov 30, 2021 2:22 pm
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harry2184929 says...



1. This is an interesting poem. She portrays the struggle of (white) women in the South as similar to Joan of Arcs - women resisting against tyranny and dying for their cause.

2. This line sticks out the most:
Take off thy red shadow from Washington’s land—
Back! back! for thy footstep is slavery’s brand.

It's somewhat ironic she compares the power of the North (Washington) to 'slavery's brand', considering the actual slavery prevalent in the South.

3. The patriotic side does not appeal to me but I think the poem is interesting for understanding the mentality of the Confederate South, especially women's role within that. I also question if it is a patriotic side (for the nation) or just a pro-Confederate side.

- Harry
  








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