At Port Royal
The poem describes a scene at Port Royal, Jamaica, where the British have captured and enslaved many Africans. The speaker reflects on the cruelty of slavery and the suffering it inflicts on its victims. He notes that even in death, slaves are not treated with dignity, but rather are thrown into the sea like so much rubbish.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1834 · Genre: Historical Poetry, Social Commentary, Narrative Poetry · 849 words
First lines
In November, 1861, a Union force under Commodore Dupont and General Sherman captured Port Royal, and from this point as a basis of operations, the neighboring islands between Charleston and Savannah were taken possession of. The early occupation of this district, where the negro population was greatly in excess of the white, gave an opportunity which was at once seized upon, of practically emancipating the slaves and of beginning that work of civilization which was accepted as the grave responsibility of those who had labored for freedom.
THE tent-lights glimmer on the land, The ship-lights on the sea; The night-wind smooths with drifting sand Our track on lone Tybee.
What this Textopian page supports
At Port Royal is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1834 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1834 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Poetry, Social Commentary, Narrative Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Political Poetry
- Length: 849 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for At Port Royal by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering At Port Royal?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Historical Poetry — The work reflects historical events and themes related to the Civil War and emancipation, conveyed through poetic form.
- Social Commentary — It addresses social issues such as slavery, freedom, and the experiences of African Americans during the Civil War.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story through its verses, depicting the experiences and emotions of the characters involved.
- Lyric Poetry — It expresses personal feelings and thoughts, particularly through the voices of the enslaved individuals.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Historical Fiction · Nautical · Adventure · Romance · Slavery · Abolitionism · Social Justice · Morality Tale · Coming of Age