The Hasty-Pudding falls under the category of mock-heroic poems. Mock-heroic is a type of satire that uses an elevated state of heroic style to explain a particular subject. Joel Barlow wrote The Hasty-Pudding, and it was published in 1796 by the New York Magazine. Over time, the hasty pudding has continued to gain popularity, and it is commonly anthologized worldwide. On a literal level, the poem is designed to pose as a platform for celebrating an ancient and popular American dish. As one reads The Hasty Padding, it becomes clear that its writer was keen on celebrating the simple life attached to the modern American diet. Joel Barlow divided the poem into three parts. Hence, covering the mythical origin, production, and consumption of cornmeal mush. Some critics argue that The Hasty Pudding was designed to include literature, politics, mythology, and culture aspects. Hence, there are different ways of understanding the poem as alluded by various modern scholars.

The Hasty Pudding is made up of three parts known as Cantos. Joel Barlow divided the poem on purpose with the aim of designing it in the form of other famous mock-heroic poems such as The Fan and The Rape of the Lock. Famous mock-heroic poems had set a precedent of dividing the writing into three parts. The three parts of The Hasty Pudding contain 157, 108, and 110 lines which are full of traditional neoclassical content. As one reads the poem, it becomes evident that Joel Barlow took his time to arrange his ideas. The lines are designed in a way that facilitates ideas to flow freely. The strategy aided Joel Barlow to produce a riming and metered pattern of views from one line to the other. Hence, making the poem under analysis a charming piece of literature. That is why the poem has over time went on gaining more fame among modern scholars globally.

Joel Barlow was motivated by the popularity of hasty padding to write about it in 1793. This was a symbol of sociability and patriotism. Especially, in the US which was a young nation during that time. Research indicates that even though hasty pudding may look like a weird dish in modern culinary landscape, at the turn of the 18th century, it was trendy in post-colonial New England. The recipe was made by boiling milk with wheat flour. However, over time people replaced wheat flour with corn flour. As one reads the poem under analysis, it brings a magnificent view of a pure dessert made of sweetened and spiced boiled corn flour. Such a scenario is a clear extension of mock-heroic which transforms something humble and meek into a core epic centerpiece. Joel Barlow made hasty pudding the subject of discussion in the poem. For example, by explaining to his audience about what that it takes to bring hasty pudding on the dining table.

One of the core features of a mock-epic is the use of a sarcastic tone. Sarcasm is one of the most used rhetorical and literary devices in poetry. As one reads the poem under analysis sarcasm is noted from the fast line. For example, the author begins by stating “Dear Hasty-Pudding, what unpromised joy. Expand my heart, to meet thee in Savoy!” The statement exemplifies a sarcastic tone which set the bar for other lines in that poem. Sarcasm in poetry is used to amuse the audience. Hence, keeping the audience eager to know what will happen next. With that in mind, it is logical to state that Joel Barlow used satire as a way of making his poem sound catchy to the audience. Joel Barlow’s strategy of using satire worked perfectly. That is because over time the poem under analysis has continued to win the hearts of poem lovers many years after it was published.

Joel Barlow was very keen on his choice of words in the poem under analysis. This becomes evident as one reads through the poem because the author builds a storyline with his artistic choice of words throughout the poem. One idea leads to the other. Hence, facilitating a smooth flow of scenes. Joel Barlow used various symbols in the poem under analysis with the aim of giving his audience a clear view of his argument and ideas. The symbols are used effectively to the extent that a reader gets a clear picture of images which aid him or her to understand the true meaning of the poem. All this is made possible by the ability of Joel Barlow to use his words skillfully.

In a nutshell, The Hasty-Pudding is an interesting poem which can be used by upcoming poets in grooming their writing skills. From the above analysis, is it is clear that The Hasty-Pudding is a relevant poem even though it was written many years ago. Additionally, Joel Barlow stands out as an author who did an excellent job in using various techniques of poetic writing. That is why the poem under analysis has over time caught the eyes of a wide range of scholars globally.

 
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