For the poet Phillis Wheatley, who was brought to colonial New England as a slave in 1761, the formal literary code of eighteenth-century English was thrice removed: by the initial barrier of the unfamiliar English language, by the discrepancy between spoken and literary forms of English, and by the African tradition of oral rather than written verbal art.
Topic
Phillis Wheatley’s poetry and her place at the intersection of African oral tradition and English written literary forms.
Framework
Challenge Position / Highlight Noteworthy
Main Point
Although Phillis Wheatley overcame immense linguistic and cultural barriers to become an accomplished poet, her adoption of eighteenth-century English literary conventions limited her work’s ability to contribute to a uniquely African American literary language. Wheatley is still celebrated as the first Black American poet. ( – end of P3. – final sentence.)
P1: Introduction to Wheatley & Her Barriers
Phillis Wheatley faced several hurdles in becoming a poet, having to overcome language, cultural, and literary differences after being brought to colonial New England as a slave. Despite these challenges, she quickly mastered the English language and its poetic forms.
P2: The Meeting of Oral and Written Traditions
Wheatley’s situation represents the intersection of African oral traditions and written English literature. While African oral art persisted in Black culture, Wheatley’s background and skills meant she could have blended these traditions into a new African American literary language.
P3: Why That Potential Was Not Realized
Unfortunately, Wheatley’s poetry didn’t realize this mix. The rigid conventions of eighteenth-century English poetry, which ignored both spoken American English and Africanisms, forced Wheatley to replace her heritage with imitation of English models, rather than integrate it.