Which poet is associated with the poems 'Fable for Critics' and 'First Snowfall'?

Which poet is associated with the poems 'Fable for Critics' and 'First Snowfall'?

• A. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• B. Oliver Wendell Holmes
• C. John Greenleaf Whittier
• D. James Russell Lowell

Answer: (D)

James Russell Lowell is the poet tied to both pieces. “Fable for Critics” is a famous satirical poem in which Lowell lightly but sharply critiques his fellow American poets and critics, revealing his wit and willingness to challenge literary pretensions of his time. “First Snowfall” shows a different side, using the quiet, reflective mood of the season’s first snow to evoke memory, loss, and the beauty of nature. Together, these works illustrate Lowell’s range as a poet who could skew with humor and speak with lyric tenderness. The other writers listed are known for different famous works—Longfellow for sweeping narratives like Evangeline, Holmes for prose and verse such as The Chambered Nautilus, Whittier for nature- and reform-themed poems—whereas these two poems are distinctly associated with Lowell, highlighting his unique voice among 19th-century American poets.

James Russell Lowell is the poet tied to both pieces. “Fable for Critics” is a famous satirical poem in which Lowell lightly but sharply critiques his fellow American poets and critics, revealing his wit and willingness to challenge literary pretensions of his time. “First Snowfall” shows a different side, using the quiet, reflective mood of the season’s first snow to evoke memory, loss, and the beauty of nature. Together, these works illustrate Lowell’s range as a poet who could skew with humor and speak with lyric tenderness.

The other writers listed are known for different famous works—Longfellow for sweeping narratives like Evangeline, Holmes for prose and verse such as The Chambered Nautilus, Whittier for nature- and reform-themed poems—whereas these two poems are distinctly associated with Lowell, highlighting his unique voice among 19th-century American poets.