The Landlord’s Tale. Paul Revere’s Ride

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy‑five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to‑night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light—
One, if by sea, and two, if by land;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm.”
Then he said, “Good night!” and with muffled oar
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore,
Just as the moon rose over the bay,
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay
The Somerset, British man‑of‑war;
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar
Across the moon like a prison bar,
And a huge black hulk, that was magnified
By its own reflection in the tide.

Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street,
Wanders and watches with eager ears,
Till in the silence around him he hears
The muster of men at the barrack door,
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet,
And the measured tread of the grenadiers,
Marching down to their boats on the shore.

Then he climbed the tower of the Old North Church,
By the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread,
To the belfry‑chamber overhead,
And startled the pigeons from their perch
On the sombre rafters, that round him made
Masses and moving shapes of shade,—
By the trembling ladder, steep and tall,
To the highest window in the wall,
Where he paused to listen and look down
A moment on the roofs of the town,
And the moonlight flowing over all.
Beneath, in the churchyard, lay the dead,
In their night‑encampment on the hill,
Wrapped in silence so deep and still
That he could hear, like a sentinel’s tread,
The watchful night‑wind, as it went
Creeping along from tent to tent,
And seeming to whisper, “All is well!”
A moment only he feels the spell
Of the place and the hour, and the secret dread
Of the lonely belfry and the dead;
For suddenly all his thoughts are bent
On a shadowy something far away,
Where the river widens to meet the bay,—
A line of black that bends and floats
On the rising tide, like a bridge of boats.

Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride
On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere.
Now he patted his horse’s side,
Now gazed at the landscape far and near,
Then, impetuous, stamped the earth,
And turned and tightened his saddle girth;
But mostly he watched with eager search
The belfry‑tower of the Old North Church,
As it rose above the graves on the hill,
Lonely and spectral and sombre and still.
And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,
But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight
A second lamp in the belfry burns!
A hurry of hoofs in a village street,
A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark,
And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing, a spark
Struck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet:
That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the light,
The fate of a nation was riding that night;
And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight,
Kindled the land into flame with its heat.

He has left the village and mounted the steep,
And beneath him, tranquil and broad and deep,
Is the Mystic, meeting the ocean tides;
And under the alders, that skirt its edge,
Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge,
Is heard the tramp of his steed as he rides.

It was twelve by the village clock,
When he crossed the bridge into Medford town.
He heard the crowing of the cock,
And the barking of the farmer’s dog,
And felt the damp of the river fog,
That rises after the sun goes down.

It was one by the village clock,
When he galloped into Lexington.
He saw the gilded weathercock
Swim in the moonlight as he passed,
And the meeting‑house windows, blank and bare,
Gaze at him with a spectral glare,
As if they already stood aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon.

It was two by the village clock,
When he came to the bridge in Concord town.
He heard the bleating of the flock,
And the twitter of birds among the trees,
And felt the breath of the morning breeze
Blowing over the meadows brown.
And one was safe and asleep in his bed
Who at the bridge would be first to fall,
Who that day would be lying dead,
Pierced by a British musket‑ball.

You know the rest. In the books you have read,
How the British Regulars fired and fled,—
How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farm‑yard wall,
Chasing the red‑coats down the lane,
Then crossing the fields to emerge again,
Under the trees at the turn of the road,
And only pausing to fire and load.

So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm,—
A cry of defiance and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo forevermore!
For, borne on the night‑wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof‑beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

Summary of The Landlord’s Tale. Paul Revere’s Ride

Popularity: This poem, attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is a narrative celebrating patriotism and commemorating Paul Revere, a key figure in the American Revolution. It was first published in 1861 in The Atlantic. The poem recounts Revere’s courageous ride to warn colonists of the approaching British troops and highlights how his dedicated service is remembered today, underscoring the importance of patriotism and its lasting impact on history.
Representation of Courage: The poem honors Paul Revere’s bravery, detailing his actions on the 18th of April 1775 when British forces plotted against colonial leaders in Lexington and Concord. Colonists entrusted Revere and others to warn the townspeople. He arranged a signal with a friend—lanterns in the Old North Church belfry—to indicate if the British were approaching by sea or land. Revere embarked on his perilous ride, spreading the alarm throughout the countryside. Despite the risks, he pressed on, embodying courage and self‑lessness. His sacrifice and message continue to resonate, forever cementing his place as an American hero.
Major Themes: Bravery, honesty, patriotism, and history are the core themes woven throughout the poem. Longfellow emphasizes Revere’s unwavering courage and dedication to his country. While Revere was not the sole messenger, his story stands out as a symbol of American spirit. He willingly undertook a demanding and discreet mission, demonstrating commitment and resolve. This poem celebrates those who, through their service, have shaped the course of history, ensuring that their stories are remembered for generations to come.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “The Landlord’s Tale. Paul Revere’s Ride”

Literary devices are essential components of a literary work, enriching the text and conveying deeper meaning. Longfellow masterfully employs these devices in this poem to create a vivid and engaging narrative. Here’s an analysis of some key literary devices used:

Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity. For example, the repetition of the /o/ sound in “Blowing over the meadows brown” and the /i/ sound in “Swim in the moonlight as he passed” creates a musical quality and enhances the poem’s rhythm.
Anaphora: This device involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Longfellow uses anaphora, as seen in the repetition of “How the” in the penultimate stanza, to emphasize the events following Revere’s ride and create a sense of dramatic buildup.

“How the British Regulars fired and fled, —
How the farmers gave them ball for ball.”

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close succession. Examples include the /h/ sound in “The hurrying hoof‑beats of that steed” and the /t/ sound in “And turned and tightened his saddle girth,” contributing to the poem’s sonic texture and memorability.
Enjambment: Enjambment occurs when a thought or phrase is continued from one line to the next without punctuation, creating a sense of flow and momentum. For example,

“The watchful night‑wind, as it went
Creeping along from tent to tent,
And seeming to whisper, “All is well!””

Imagery: Longfellow utilizes vivid imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses, creating a clear and immersive experience. Examples include “He heard the bleating of the flock,” “And the meeting‑house windows, blank and bare,” and “And felt the breath of the morning breeze,” all of which paint a detailed picture of the setting and atmosphere.
Symbolism: The poem employs symbolism to convey deeper meaning. The “lantern” serves as a powerful symbol of hope and communication, signaling the British approach and rallying the colonists.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “The Landlord’s Tale. Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poetic devices are techniques specifically employed in poetry to create rhythm, enhance meaning, and evoke emotion. Here’s an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem:

End Rhyme: End rhyme is the use of rhyming words at the end of lines. Longfellow skillfully uses end rhyme throughout the poem, such as “need/steed,” “load/road,” and “ball/wall,” to create a musical flow and reinforce the poem’s structure.
Rhyme Scheme: The poem predominantly follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, which contributes to its rhythmic quality and predictability. This pattern is maintained throughout most of the stanzas, providing a sense of coherence and balance.
Stanza: A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit within a poem. “The Landlord’s Tale. Paul Revere’s Ride” consists of nine stanzas, each varying in length and structure, contributing to the poem’s overall narrative flow and dramatic effect.

Quotes to be Used

The following lines are useful for a speech while discussing legendary figures who gave their lives for their homelands:

“Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear…”