Poetic Prowess and Self-Definition in Wheatley's "On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield" Emily Turner College

Receiving international attention upon publication, Phillis Wheatley’s “On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, 1770” introduced the literary world to the influence of her words, specifically her thoughts regarding death. The eulogized subject, Whitefield, existed as a famous 18th Century evangelist, impacting many English and American listeners including Wheatley herself. Through poetic structure, figurative language, and allusions, Wheatley cultivates an elegiac poem that not only establishes her as a literary genius, but also sets the tone for her subsequent work, revolutionizing her as an erudite, religious slave icon.

Abiding by an iambic pentametric structure, Wheatley confines her words in a deliberately succinct way that engages the reader’s attention as if it were one of Whitefield’s own sermons. She marries the metered form with coupled end rhymes that emulate a hymn-like atmosphere. Separating the piece into five stanzas, Wheatley isolates each individual thought in its own section to emphasize the ideas of reflection, journey, sermon, mourning, and acceptance. Furthermore, Wheatley employs her melancholy yet hopeful tone through the poetic structure, leaning on metrics and rhyme to carry out a brilliant...