Phillis Wheatley

Definition

Phillis Wheatley was an enslaved African American woman who became a renowned poet in the 18th century. She was the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in the American colonies, making her a pioneering figure in the development of African American literature and identity during the American Revolution.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Phillis Wheatley was kidnapped from West Africa as a child and brought to Boston, Massachusetts, where she was enslaved by the Wheatley family.
2. Despite her enslaved status, Wheatley received an exceptional education and began writing poetry at a young age, drawing inspiration from classical and biblical sources.
3. Wheatley's 1773 poetry collection, 'Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,' was the first book published by an African American and one of the first books published by a woman in the American colonies.
4. Wheatley's poetry often explored themes of Christianity, freedom, and the human experience, and her work was praised by prominent figures like George Washington, who recognized her as a talented poet.
5. Wheatley's success as a published poet challenged the prevailing racist attitudes of the time and helped establish her as a pioneering figure in the development of African American literature and identity during the American Revolution.

Review Questions

• Explain how Phillis Wheatley's life and work as an enslaved African American poet challenged the prevailing attitudes and assumptions about race and identity during the American Revolution.
  • Phillis Wheatley's life and work as an enslaved African American poet challenged the prevailing racist attitudes of the time by demonstrating the intellectual and creative capabilities of African Americans. As the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in the American colonies, Wheatley's success as a published poet undermined the common belief that enslaved Africans were inferior and incapable of producing high-quality literary work. Her poetry, which explored themes of Christianity, freedom, and the human experience, also helped shape the emerging African American identity and contributed to the growing abolitionist movement during the American Revolution.
• Analyze the influence of Neoclassicism and the African Diaspora on Phillis Wheatley's poetic style and themes.
  • Phillis Wheatley's poetic style and themes were influenced by both Neoclassicism and the African Diaspora. The Neoclassical emphasis on order, harmony, and restraint is evident in the structure and language of Wheatley's poetry, which often drew inspiration from classical and biblical sources. At the same time, Wheatley's experiences as a member of the African Diaspora, having been kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved in Boston, shaped the themes of her work, which explored the human condition, the struggle for freedom, and the role of Christianity in the lives of enslaved individuals. This unique blend of Neoclassical and African American influences made Wheatley's poetry a pioneering contribution to the development of African American literature and identity during the American Revolution.
• Evaluate the significance of Phillis Wheatley's literary achievements and their impact on the broader context of the American Revolution and the abolitionist movement.
  • Phillis Wheatley's literary achievements were highly significant in the broader context of the American Revolution and the abolitionist movement. As the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in the American colonies, Wheatley's success as a published poet challenged the prevailing racist attitudes of the time and helped establish her as a pioneering figure in the development of African American literature and identity. Her poetry, which explored themes of Christianity, freedom, and the human experience, contributed to the growing abolitionist movement by humanizing the experiences of enslaved individuals and undermining the justifications for slavery. Additionally, Wheatley's work was recognized and praised by prominent figures like George Washington, which further elevated her status and the status of African Americans more broadly during the American Revolution. Ultimately, Phillis Wheatley's literary achievements played a crucial role in shaping the emerging African American identity and the broader struggle for freedom and equality during this pivotal period in American history.

Related terms

Slave Narratives: First-person accounts of the experiences of enslaved individuals, which emerged as an important literary genre during the American Revolution and helped shape African American identity and the abolitionist movement.

Neoclassicism: A literary and artistic movement that emphasized the ideals of order, harmony, and restraint, which influenced the style and themes of Phillis Wheatley's poetry.

African Diaspora: The dispersal of Africans throughout the world, particularly to the Americas, as a result of the transatlantic slave trade, which shaped the experiences and identity of African Americans like Phillis Wheatley.