The White Czar by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Peter the Great rises from his grave after hearing artillery and his people's cries, then leads armies across rivers, deserts, and mountain passes. He vows to sail to the Pillars of Hercules, open the Bosphorus to his fleets, and end the Sultan's oppression of Christians.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Political Poetry, Supernatural · 470 words
First lines
The White Czar is Peter the Great. Batyushka, Father dear, and Gosudar, Sovereign, are titles the Russian people are fond of giving to the Czar in their popular songs.
Dost thou see on the rampart's height / That wreath of mist, in the light / Of the midnight moon? O, hist! / It is not a wreath of mist; / It is the Czar, the White Czar, / Batyushka! Gosudar!
Genres
- Narrative Poetry — Rhymed stanzas with a recurring refrain recount the Czar's awakening, emergence from the grave, military advance, and declarations.
- Political Poetry — The Czar demands passage for his fleets through the Bosphorus and vows to end the Sultan's oppression of Christians.
- Supernatural — The dead Czar hears his people, tears his shroud, and rises to lead armies.
Tags
Russia · resurrection · military campaigns · naval expansion · Bosphorus · Ottoman rule
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The White Czar is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, Political Poetry, Supernatural
- Length: 470 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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