Rockliff

National Epics

I have not cited sources for the status of Barlow's Columbiad and Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha as national epics for the United States. I do not see sources cited here for the other national epics. There is, of course, no "official" national epic for the United States, and likely never will be. I cite the Columbiad and the Song of Hiawatha here because, when they were published (1807 and 1855, respectively), they were hailed by many critics as national epics. They were also rejected by many critics, as epics and even as poems. I cite them here because, historically, they are the closest the United States has come to a national epic. Rockliff (talk) 17:32, 27 March 2009 (UTC)