II. EVANGELINE. a. Character and Subject. 'Evangeline" is a narrative poem; it tells a story. Narrative poetry is generally the first kind of poetry to arise among a people. It is simpler and easier to understand than some other kinds of poetry; and it appeals to a very general interest, the love of a story. The "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" are of the highest type of narrative poetry, and they arose among a rude and only partly civilized people. These two great poems are called epics; but all narrative poems are not epics, although the name "epic poetry" is often used meaning no more than narrative poetry as distinct from dramatic poetry or lyric poetry. There are many kinds of narrative poetry. There are Fables, short tales with a moral. There are Ballads, which often deal with short stories of adventure. There are Tales in verse, sometimes romantic, sometimes humorous. 'Evangeline" is what is called an Idyll. 66 66 The word Idyll comes from a Greek word meaning originally a little picture." The name was given, however, so often to short narrative poems giving pictures of simple country life that it has now a somewhat different meaning-an Idyll is now generally understood to be a narrative poem of no very great length, of a simple, pastoral, homely character, relying for its effect upon the gentle emotions it calls up and on its descriptions of natural scenes.1 In reading the poem of "Evangeline" we shall do well to think particularly about some of its qualities and characteristics; to think of some of the things that please us, that we may enjoy 1 Tennyson in his "Idylls of the King" uses the word in a somewhat different sense his themes are not simple, pastoral, homely; they are romantic, glittering, passionate. Browning also, in his "Dramatic Idyls," does not hold closely to the old signification; the poems grouped under this name have rarely any simple and pastoral 66 character. These two great poets have done something to give a new meaning to the word. Generally, however, when we say idyllic we mean something more like "Evangeline," something romantic, but sweet, tender, natural, dealing generally with love and often with sorrow. them the more. The poet himself, at the beginning of the poem, gives us an idea of the kind of tale that he is to relate: "Ye who believe in affection that hopes, and endures, and is patient, Ye who believe in the beauty and strength of woman's devotion, List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the forest; List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy." Evangeline's affection, hopeful and patient of much suffering, her devotion, strong and beautiful, this is the theme of the poem, this is the idea embodied in the tradition on which the story is based. Ask yourselves where Evangeline's devotion appears best presented; think of her devotion to her father as well as to her lover. Find examples of her hopes, of her endurance of sorrow. When I think of her I am apt also to think of another well-known figure famous for love, devotion, patience, another poor girl who went on a hard journey, though not so long as Evangeline's and with happier end, the figure of Jeanie Deans in "The Heart of MidLothian." But each one will think of Longfellow's heroine in his own way; the thing that is important is, that we realize the story, make it real to us, and that we appreciate as far as we are able the poetic character of the tradition. b. The Historic Facts. In the case of this poem we must also know a little about the historic facts with which the poem deals, for although the tale of Evangeline and her lover is, as Longfellow says, a "mournful tradition," yet the main outlines of the banishment of the Acadians and their wide dispersion are matters of history. All through the first half of the eighteenth century the French colonies in Canada, and the English colonies in what is now the United States, were constantly at war. The home countries were at war during 1697-1713 (War of the Spanish Succession), and 1740-1748 (War of the Austrian Succession), and 1756-1763 (Seven Years' War), and, of course, at these times the colonies went to war also; in colonial history these wars were called Queen Anne's War, King George's War, and the French and Indian War. Even in times of formal peace, how ever, there were often hostilities. America was not large enough for the French and the English too; one side had to conquer the other. The Acadians were French by descent; and Acadia, or Nova Scotia, had been French by settlement and possession until 1713, when, at the close of Queen Anne's War, it was ceded to England. The English did not at once settle in the country, nor assume regular control over the Acadians, who got into the habit of regard ing themselves as neutrals, being French in sympathy, but English in law. If it had been a time of peace they might perhaps have so remained; but as it was, in the hostilities that were every now and again breaking out between the French and English colonies in America, the Acadians found it harder and harder to maintain their neutral position. The English to the south looked upon them with suspicion, the French to the north would have been glad of their assistance. The Acadians refused to take the oath of allegiance to the King of England (cf. 1. 456), and they were thought, with some reason, to have aided the French and Indians in their raids upon New England. They were, in fact, a constant menace to the colonies to the south; not that as a people they had hostile designs, but they would not make themselves assured friends, and there were some among them who were only waiting for an opportunity to separate themselves from the English, who differed from them in race and religion. The New England colonies saw that unless some severe measures were taken Nova Scotia could not be saved to England, and that Nova Scotia should remain English was necessary to the safety of New England. It was resolved, not by England but by New England, that the Acadians should be dispossessed of their country. At the particular time, the English settlers were in alarm at Braddock's defeat. It was a harsh act, but it seemed to be an act necessary to self-preservation. Not only must the Acadians be taken from Acadie, but they could not be allowed to retire to the friendly colonies, thereby to strengthen the power of England's enemies. They must be brought to the English colonies and scattered among them, lest, being together, they should do some harm. About six thousand Acadians were taken from their homes and sent to the various English colonies; about three thousand five hundred escaped and found their way to Canada. The act seems to have been one of the horrible necessities of war. Doubtless it is no more to be justified on that account than is the slaughter of many times six thousand in one great battle 1; but, on the whole, not much more brutal or inhuman. When we read "Evangeline," we need not feel fiercely toward the English (or, more exactly, toward the New Englanders), as if they had devised an unprovoked act of pure cruelty. The Acadians were many of them secret enemies, and as a people they would not give the necessary assurance of being trustworthy friends. Another historical point we must recollect. If you trace Evangeline's wanderings on a map, you will see that the line wanders over the United States from east to west and from south to north. But you must remember that at the time that Evangeline wandered over those vast regions the Thirteen Colonies, and after them the United States, held only the narrow territory between the Alleghanies and the sea. Their claims extended far to the west, but 1 As Waterloo, for instance, or Gettysburg, where more than fifty thousand were killed or wounded on both sides. their settlements were confined to a narrower compass. Therefore when Evangeline went to Louisiana she met Basil, who had almost become a Spanish herdsman (see note on 1. 997), and when she wandered in the Rocky Mountains it was a French priest (1. 1189) whom she met at the mission in the Ozark Mountains, and with French guides (1. 1234) that she sought Gabriel in Michigan. One word more should be said of the fortunes of the Acadians. As time went on, a few of them found their way back to their old homes, as we hear in the last lines of the poem. But a larger number (among them Basil of the poem) found their way |