Paul Reveree Hero's Journey

A story can be like a game of telephone. After years of getting passed down from generation to generation it can be tweaked and changed. When Paul Revere saw the British coming to the Middlesex village and farm he knew he had to act fast. Paul hopped on his horse hoping to get the word out to the whole county before it was too late. But, there were many obstacles standing in his way including time. So, in order to achieve all he needed to he would have had to watch out for the British. Henry Longfellow’s poem is not valid because first, the times of the night were not accurate with the events that occurred. Second, many people are left out of the story. Lastly, Paul Revere did not save the nation that night.

Some may claim that Henry Longfellow

got all of the facts about that night right. However, Henry Longfellow left a lot of important information out of his poem. As it says in Henry Longfellow’s poem, “And seeming to whisper, “All is well!” (Paul Revere’s Ride) This infact is not correct because fear was in the air. “I saw two men on Horse back, under a Tree. When I got near them, I discovered they were British officer.” (Paul’s letter) This proves that even though he put on a brave face he was scared.
In the poem by Henry Longfellow he mentioned many times throughout the night.

Little did we know he was completely wrong. In the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Longfellow he told many times of the night where Paul would arrive in different parts of the county. As it says in the poem, “It was twelve by the village clock…” As it goes on to say, “It was one by the village clock…” and lastly, “It was two by the village clock…” As it says in “Paul Revere’s letter to Jeremy Belknap” he was not out that late. “About 10 o’clock, Dr. Warren Sent in great haste for me…” As it later states, “I set off upon a very good Horse; it was about 11 o’Clock…” This proves that Paul was not out very late in the

night.
In the poem written by Henry Longfellow, he did not provide any other names other than Paul’s.

In the original letter written by Paul he had many names of the people who had helped make this all possible. In Henry Longfellow’s poem it doesn’t mention anyone who had helped Paul Revere that night. As it states, “Meanwhile, his friend, through the alley and street…”

In the letter written by Paul Revere himself it states many names of people who were also as important that night. As it states, “Dr. Warren Sent in great haste for me...Hancock and Adams were, and acquaint them of the Movement…” These are just a few examples of all of the people that were also involved. This shows that there were many other important figures involved that night.

Lastly, Paul did not determine the fate of the country that night. As it says in Henry Longfellow’s poem, “The fate of the nation was riding that night…” In the letter written by Paul Revere, “As soon as he took me, the Major ordered him, if I attempted to run, or any body insulted them, to blow my brains out…” This proves that even when he got captured the fate of the nation was not all up to

him.
Henry Longfellow did not get the whole story of Paul Revere’s ride that fateful night. To begin with, the different times of night were different in the poem than they were in the letter. Next, many important figures were forgotten in the poem but were mentioned many times in the letter. Lastly, Paul did not have the fate of the nation riding on his shoulders. Though Henry’s poem may seem valid there are many flaws in his tale.