An analysis of A Psalm of Life

2. • It is a lyrical poem full of religious emotions. It was published in October 1838.
• “A Psalm” is a sacred song and invocation to the mankind to follow the path of
righteousness. The poet advices people to be heroes in their lives . He asks them
to live in the present , without thinking about the task in the poem is to instruct
and guide and to inspire people . The poem teaches basic human values and lays
down the foundation for prosperous , ethical life .
• The poem consists of nine stanza’s of four lines each. It has a regular rhyming
scheme and each stanza follows the rhyme scheme ‘abab’ . In every stanza, the
first line rhymes matches with third line and second line rhymes with fourth line .
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and
educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The
Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. He was also the first
American to translate Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy,
and was one of the five Fireside Poets.
Author’s introduction

3. Explanation
He explains that he does not want to know the length of his life , life is an empty
dream .Dreams are normally fantasy and impossible . He tries to explain that life is
not an empty dream ,it is real and could be great and has a meaning . If you are
alive and awake does not mean you are living someone that does not take part in
life .
Tell me not , in mournful numbers, 1st stanza
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem

4. Explanation
In this stanza the poets states that life is real and earnest and the grave is not it’s
goal .Humans are not meant to live and die ,they are meant to be remembered .The
birth and death of a person will not remembered by the others but if they do good
deeds in their life it will be hard to forget someone’s deeds
Life is real ! Life is earnest ! 2nd
stanza
And the grave is not it’s goal
Dust thou art, to dust returnest
Was not spoken of the soul

5. • In this stanza poets says that all of us unware that the how we will die.
• we are unaware of how we will end our lives . In the end it is not about what we
have acquired or how much we have it , it is about knowing that who we are now
, is better than where we started .
Not enjoyment and the sorrow 3rd stanza
Is our destined end or way
But to act , that each to morrow
Find us farther than to –day .

6. In this poet states that that we have little time on this Earth. That even though our
bodies may grow weak, it is our hearts that will remain forever strong.
Art is long , and time is fleeting 4th stanza
And our hearts ,though stout and brave
Still , like muffled drums are beating
Funeral marches to the grave .

7. • In this stanza poets states that this life contains a lot of struggles but we must
remember that it is temporary and the goal is a much better place, so be smart
while you are here. stand out.
• Don’t follow the path that a person chooses is not suitable according to you .
Don’t follow like cattle does blindly follow and have faith on the leader without
knowing the fact.
In the world’s broad field of battle , 5th stanza
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !

8. • In this stanza poet says that trust no future and bury all the memories of the past
.
• Act and think in the present and live in the present .
• Simply live in the present. Rid of anything holding you back or anything making
you fearful of moving on. Live with the idea that after this life there is something
greater.
Trust no future , however pleasant ! 6th stanza
Let the dead past bury it’s dead !
Act- act in the living present !
Heart within , and God o’erhead !

9. • In this stanza poet says that the lives of the great men will remind us that what
they did in their lives and what path they choose so that they became great . We
can also make our lives great and worthy if we follow the right path so that the
imbedded footprints will seen the time .
• Live a life that will be remembered
Lives of great men all remind us 7th stanza
We can make our lives sublime ,
and departing , leave behind us
Footprints on the sand of time ,

10. • In this poet states that the footprints that one has imbedded in the sands will
become the example of others and help them to follow your path as so have set
an example for them .
• Not only live a life that others will remember, but live so great that when others
hear about you, you have set an example.
Footprints, that perhaps another, 8th
stanza
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main ,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother ,
Seeing, shall take heart again

11. • In this stanza poet states that the time is indefinite and work hard and be a good
person follow the path of righteousness and be a good example for others .
• Go out and live life with the idea that your time is indefinite. Work hard and be a
good person and be patient. ( The after life holds something much greater. )
Let us, then ,be up and doing , 9th stanza
With a heart for any fate ,
Still achieving , still pursuing ,
Learn to labor and to wait .

12. CONCLUSION
• He explains that he does not want to know the length of his life , life is an empty
dream .Dreams are normally fantasy and impossible . He tries to explain that life is not
an empty dream ,it is real and could be great and has a meaning . If you are alive and
awake does not mean you are living someone that does not take part in life .
• Humans are not meant to live and die ,they are meant to be remembered .The birth
and death of a person will not remembered by the others but if they do good deeds
in their life it will be hard to forget someone’s deeds we are unaware of how we will
end our lives . In the end it is not about what we have acquired or how much we have
it , it is about knowing that who we are now , is better than where we started .
• we have little time on this Earth. That even though our bodies may grow weak, it is
our hearts that will remain forever strong.
• this life contains a lot of struggles but we must remember that it is temporary and the
goal is a much better place, so be smart while you are here. stand out.
• Don’t follow the path that a person chooses is not suitable according to you . Don’t
follow like cattle does blindly follow and have faith on the leader without knowing the
fact.

13. • says that trust no future and bury all the memories of the past .
• Act and think in the present and live in the present .
• Simply live in the present. Rid of anything holding you back or anything making you
fearful of moving on. Live with the idea that after this life there is something greater.
the lives of the great men will remind us that what they did in their lives and what
path they choose so that they became great . We can also make our lives great and
worthy if we follow the right path so that the imbedded footprints will seen the time .
• Live a life that will be remembered
• the footprints that one has imbedded in the sands will become the example of others
and help them to follow your path as so have set an example for them .
• Not only live a life that others will remember, but live so great that when others hear
about you, you have set an example.
• states that the time is indefinite and work hard and be a good person follow the path
of righteousness and be a good example for others .
• Go out and live life with the idea that your time is indefinite. Work hard and be a
good person and be patient. ( The after life holds something much greater. )