Phillis+Wheatley



Essential Question #1 -- What did Phillis Wheatley contribute to American literature?
 * Phillis Wheatley is known to be the mother of African American literature.
 * She paved the way for more aspiring African American writers.
 * By writing about the characteristics and heritage of African Americans.
 * She used her poetry to make political comments about freedom and independence from Britain.

Essential Question #2 -- What audience did Phillis Wheatley's writings relate to? > For more information on Phillis Wheatley [|click here].
 * Just before the Boston Tea Party, she wrote to defend the American cause, so it related to Americans.
 * Phillis Wheatley wrote a poem to George Washington.
 * Her poems were so popular that when she died, people praised her by writing poems that praised the life and works of a great poetic woman.
 * Her poems helped African Americans.
 * In one poem, "To the King's Most Excellent Majesty", she praised King George the Third for repealing the stamp act.
 * She started to write from the points and views of the colonists when the revolution began.

Essential Question #3 -- What motivated Phillis Wheatley to write?
 * Through her writing, she escaped her role as a young black slave and assumes a different persona where she conveys the word of God.
 * Her poetry was influenced by the Scripture and the Neoclassical Verse of Alexander Pope.
 * Writing settled her fears and memories from her ship ride to America and the uncertainties she anticipated.
 * She wrote about some tragic and exciting events occcurring in her life: The death of Reverend George Whitefield, Boston Massacre, the death of her master Susanna Wheatley, George Washington's Appointment to presidency and the victory of the British.
 * She wrote many patriotic verses as well.
 * Themes in her poems included freedom, escape, equality before god and African heritage.

__**Important Facts and Accomplishments**__ > Works Cited
 * 1) She published first poem on december21, 1767 in the nwe port Rhode Island, Mecury.
 * 2) In 1773 thirty-nine of phillis' poems were published and titled as poems on various subjects, religious and moral. It became the first volume of poetry to be published by an African American.
 * 3) She mastered english and the Wheatley encouraged her to learn literature, mythology, latin, and greek.
 * 4) Her poetry was influenced by the poetry of Alexader Pope and John Milton.
 * 5) She was dubbed the name "sable muse" and poems on various subjects, was published in London 1773.
 * 6) She died at age 31 a few months after her two children.
 * 7) After her death two books of her writings were published: The Memories and Poems of Phillis Wheatley and The Letters of Phillis Wheatley.
 * 8) She married John peters in 1778 after her master Susannah Wheatley died and she was free.
 * 9) Her first published poem was called "on Messers. Hussery and coffin." which appeared in the Newport Mercury in 1767.
 * 10) she had three children, but both died in an African American boarding house where they lived.