“the Indian burying ground” is a tribute ‘The Indian Burying Ground’
Stanza 1. The argument Philip Freneau
(written in the form of an elegy or ode) to the
provided by the poet here.
customs of 18th -century Native Americans 1. In spite of all the learned have said,
The poet differs from many
who buries their dead in sitting position. This 2. I still my old opinion keep;
other educated people in
burial custom highlights their beliefs in their belief that the way we 3. The posture, that we give the dead,
bury our dead lying down 4. Points out the soul’s eternal sleep.
simplicity in life and eternity.
suggests they are
embarking on a long sleep. 5. Not so the ancients of these lands—
SACAI JUN 2021 6. The Indian, when from life released,
7. Again is seated with his friends,
8. And shares again the joyous feast.
“His” refers to the 9. His imaged birds, and painted bowl,
“Indian” 10. And venison, for a journey dressed,
11. Bespeak the nature of the soul,
12. Activity, that knows no rest.
Stanza 4. the aspect of American
Indian philosophy.
13. His bow, for action ready bent,
The fact that the American Indian
14. And arrows, with a head of stone,
people bury their dead together
15. Can only mean that life is spent,
with their bows and
16. And not the old ideas gone.
arrows indicates a belief that while
the person is mortal and their
physical body has 17. Thou, stranger, that shalt come this way,
succumbed to death, the soul lives 18. No fraud upon the dead commit—
on in the afterlife equipped with 19. Observe the swelling turf, and say
those necessities they 20. They do not lie, but here they sit.
had during life which suggests
continuity from life after death. SACAI 21. Here still a lofty rock remains,
JUN 2021 22. On which the curious eye may trace
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ansiestudynotes. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.67. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.