Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The Cross of Snow"

In the long, sleepless watches of the night,
A gentle face--the face of one long dead--
Looks at me from the wall, where round its head
The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.
Here in this room she died, and soul more white
Never through martyrdom of fire was led
To its repose; nor can in books be read
The legend of a life more benedight.
There is a mountain in the distant West
That, sun-defying, in its deep ravines
Displays a cross of snow upon its side.
Such is the cross I wear upon my breast
These eighteen years, through all the changing scenes
And seasons, changeless since the day she died.

1) After reviewing Longfellow's biographical information, I understand why his tone is so depressed in this poem. It's probably about his late wife. He visits the room she died in and seems very sad. He feels like the days stand still nor are "changeless since she died.
2) Rhetorical Aspects-
Imagery is a huge part of this poem. Longfellow creates an image of his wife's ghost in front of him. The gentleness of her face and the roundness of her head can be visualized by readers, through Longfellow's description.
Comparisons are also effective in this poem. Comparing his wife's life to the life of a martyr and a very blessed person.
3) I also read "Changed" by Longfellow. Once again the images were very vivid and helped me visualize the scene. The topic of a person changing after being away from a familiar place for years was interesting. This is a phenomonon that all men and women experience at least once, so the subject was very good.
4) I don't know if Longfellow's works were distinctly American. I think his themes were universal in that when people lose love, like in "The Cross of Snow" they may feel like Longfellow and be able to relate to him. The subjesct of "Changed" is also u niversal in that people might leave their childhood place and return many years later. Somehow, the place looks very different upon their return.