The Song of Hiawatha: An Epic Poem

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is an epic poem published in 1855. Set along Lake Superior's shores, it follows the fictional adventures of Ojibwe warrior Hiawatha and his tragic love for Minnehaha, a Dakota woman. Through childhood adventures, battles with evil magicians, and cultural innovations, the poem weaves together Native American legends that Longfellow adapted from various sources. The story concludes with Hiawatha's departure as European missionaries arrive, marking a moment of cultural transformation.