Spirituals“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”“Go Down, Moses”

“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thz1zDAytzU

Directions:

Complete the Words and Images handout while listening to this.

“Go Down, Moses”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP5EfwBWgg0

Directions:

Complete the Words and Images handout while listening to this

Background: Coded Spirituals• Explanation of Coded Spiritualshttp://video.pbs.org/video/2181639247/

• Historical Reference and Explanationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lbsW7ifWYA

“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” AnalysisChorus:Swing low, sweet chariot,

Comin' for to carry me home;

Swing low, sweet chariot,

Comin' for to carry me home.

Sweet Chariot represents:1-Biblical reference to prophet Elijah being carried home on a fiery chariot 2 - Underground Railroad (Metaphor)(Allusion)

Carry my Home represents1 – Biblical reference to wanting salvation; going to heaven2 – going “home” to freedom; Canada(Metaphor)(Allusion)

“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” AnalysisI looked over Jordan,

And WHAT did I see,

Comin' for to carry me home,

A band of angels comin' after me,

Comin' for to carry me home.

Jordan represents:1 – River between Israel and Jordan2 – The Ohio River (Metaphor)(Allusion)

Band of Angels represents1 – Angels of Heaven bringing person to salvation2 – Underground Railroad (the people coming to help)(Metaphor)(Allusion)

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot AnalysisIf you get there before I do,

Comin' for to carry me home,

Tell all my friends I'm comin' too,

Comin' for to carry me home

The main idea here is to let others know about the railroad, let others know about freedom and let others know it is time to move. Another idea is that once out you will help others find their way.

“Go Down, Moses” Analysis

Go down, Moses,

Way down in Egypt land

Tell the Pharaoh

To Let my people go.

Moses represents:• Biblical Moses who helped

Hebrews escape oppression from the Pharaoh and Egyptians

• Harriet Tubman – leader of Underground Railroad helping slaves run.

Go Down: Telling the leader to go deep into land of oppression (deep south)

Pharaoh represents:• Biblical Pharaoh• Slaveholder

Line 4: Constant repetition of asking to let the Hebrew/Slaves go.

(Metaphors and Allusions)

“Go Down, Moses” AnalysisWhen Israel was in Egypt’s land;

Let my people go,

Oppressed so hard they could not stand,

Let my people go.

Lines 5 and 7 represent conditions the people are in. The harshness they have to endure.

“Go Down, Moses” Analysis“Thus spoke the Lord,” bold Moses said;

Let my people go,

If not I’ll smite your first born dead,

Let my people go

Each time Moses spoke he was being bold for standing up to Pharaoh. 1st because he was using the Lord’s name, 2nd because people considered the Pharaoh to be God.

Last plague that Moses told was going to happen to the Pharaoh if he did not let the people go. Warning that there will be bloodshed; both for Pharaoh and for Slaveholders.

AllegoryA narrative that serves as an extended metaphor. The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols, that have both literal and figurative meanings. The difference between an allegory and a symbol is that an allegory is a complete narrative that conveys abstract ideas to get a point across, while a symbol is a representation of an idea or concept that can have a different meaning throughout a literary work.www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm

What makes these

spirituals allegories

?