Philip Freneau: Difference between revisions

Following his graduation, he tried his hand at teaching, but quickly gave it up. He also pursued a further study of theology, but gave this up as well after about two years. As the Revolutionary War approached in 1775, Freneau wrote a number of anti-British pieces.{{cn}} However, by 1776, Freneau left America for the West Indies, whereand hefor spenttwo timeyears writingwas abouta nature—andbusiness writingagent bitingon satire[[Saint aboutCroix]], observing the crueltyhorrors of slavery inup theclose. WestOne Indiesof his best-known poems, "On Sir Toby", catalogs these horrors<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIy5tQXzHCYC&pg=PA96 |pages=95-98 |title=The New Anthology of American Poetry: Traditions and Revolutions, Beginnings to 1900 |volume=1 |series=The New Anthology of American Poetry |editor1-first=Steven Gould |editor1-last=Axelrod |editor2-first=Camille |editor2-last=Roman |editor3-first=Thomas |editor3-last=Travisano |publisher=Rutgers UP |year=2003 |isbn=9780813531625}}</ref> and has become a well-known anti-slavery poem.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ARzAEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |pages=44-48 |title=Why Antislavery Poetry Matters Now |series=Studies in American literature and culture |first=Brian |last=Yothers |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |year=2023 |isbn=9781640140691}}</ref> In 1778, Freneau returned to America, and rejoined the patriotic cause. Freneau eventually became a crew member on a revolutionary privateer, and was captured in this capacity. He was held on a British [[prison ship]] for about six weeks. This experience, which almost killed him, was detailed in his work ''The British Prison Ship'', which prompted many more patriotic and anti-British writings throughout the revolution and after.<ref>Harmon, William, p 357.</ref> For this, he was named "The Poet of the American Revolution".