What is the Critical appreciation of the slave's dream?

Answer 1

The Slave's dream is a beautiful poem by Longfellow which depicts the Poet's support to abolish slavery. This poem is about an African slave who seems to be having an afternoon sleep but this also can be interpreted as he has fallen down due to exhaustion, especially when the last stanza of the poem is interpreted. The poet uses diction, imagery and personification to convey the deep meaning of the poem. It becomes evident that the slave's dream about his native land is something that he has been yearning for but possibly was never able to achieve. The word "Lordly" which has been used to describe river Niger and the personification of the forest as shouting "Liberty" is a neat depiction of the scenary of Freedom that would have been available to the poor man had he not been a slave. Another beautiful personification about freedom is with the description of the "Blast" of the Desert being wild and free.

The description of the slave riding as a king with martial attire, with a scabbard on a stallion has been used by the poet to depict how the slave perceives himself to be living as a King in his native land, had he not been taken in as a slave. The description of his "dark eyed" queeen and his children depicts the life the slave is missing as he has left this family behind in the native land.

The last stanza of the poem shows liberation as the only means of freedom for the slave. For slaves, ultimatley it is only death in which they will find solace, for they can dream but due to their helpless state cannot achieve their dreams. It is very touching to read the last stanza, he will not feel the pain of the whip and the burning heat (which metaphorising the hardship in a slave's life) as his spirit is finally released free from his haggard body.

Answer 2

The poem is all about the negro slave's dream.His dream shows his longingness for freedom. At the end he is dead, neiter feeling the diver's whip nor the burning heat of the day. This shows that he is dead. Finally his soul has got freedom.

Answer 3

1. non of your business)

Answer 4

There are a variety of themes in the poem The Slaves Dream. The main themes are escape, as well as the struggle for freedom.