Dec 20, 2009

To His Excellency General Washington | Summary

Line 1
Celestial choir is the poet’s muse, a device of neoclassicism. The muse is called on to inspire the poet’s writing.

Line 2
“Columbia” was a term Wheatley used for America, later used by other writers.

Line 3
“Freedom’s cause” is the central theme of the poem, the struggle of the colonists to be free from England, even if it meant going to war against the more powerful British.

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In this context, “dreadful” means “inspiring awe or reverence,” “in refulgent arms” means “in...