Philip Freneau

In the period between the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Philip Morin Freneau is one of the most important literary figures. He holds this position not just because he was a prolific writer but because he experimented with many different styles and forms. In the body of his works one can find poems which illustrate well the neoclassic school and those which classically illustrate the pre-Romantic fancy. He is, therefore, important as a transitional poet. His poems about the sea, the Indian, and the mutability of life are intrinsically good -- as are his poems mocking these genres. His occasional poems are justly celebrated for their satire and realism, and they illustrate that genre well. In considering his value as a litterateur, we must also remember Freneau's prose; for he tried his hand at the philosophic essay as well as the satiric diatribe. But a study of Frenau should go beyond evaluating his works. Frenau is important precisely because he is, in many ways, a man representative of his time; and the time he lived in is historically important. - Preface.