The Arrow and the Song Characteristics

The Arrow and the Song
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)
I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air,
It fell on earth, I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow still unbroke;
And the song, from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

Describe 3 major characteristics of the sub-genre that you chose and apply that knowledge to one of the poems in your sub-genre.
The Victorian era poetry has many different characteristics. 3 of them are: This poetry was written when England was at its most powerful state. These poems were generally religious. These writers were generally known for their quirky wording, mystical interrogation, and verbal embellishment.
This poem was written while England was in power. You can tell that the speaker feels power when he says, “I shot an arrow into the air.” Poems in the Victorian era were following the previous eras and were religious. This poem however, is not religious. Or not in an obvious way. I did not notice very much quirky wording, or verbal embellishment, but I did recognize the mystical interrogation. The arrow sounds like a metaphor and it is flying in the air, and landing in a tree unbroken. This seems somewhat mystical. Overall this was a cool poem and the one I enjoyed the most.

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