Regionalism in "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" "Go Down, Moses" and "Keep Your Hand on the Plow"

During the time period of slavery in the United States, stories and songs were passed down orally among the slaves and became a huge part of African American culture. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” Go Down, Moses,” and Keep Your Hand on the Plow, though unknown who originally came up with them, are very important songs of the African American slaves have many characteristics of the subgenre of Realism, that being Regionalism.

All of these stories have the same characteristic of being thought of in the South on plantations. Though there is no known authors for these works, they survived by being taught and spread through all areas. The fact that these are all written in the South makes them Regionalism literary works. All share the common characteristic of using language popular to the area or vernacular and this is one of the main characteristics that separates Regionalism from being in the simple category of Realism (Anderson).

Along with the language used as a characteristic of Regionalism, the underlying theme is similar throughout all three. That common thread is in the comparisons and stories made and told respectively to religion. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” specifically references the Jordan River, which is the river that they Jews had to cross to reach the promise land in the Book of Exodus (“Swing” 346). Many times in these stories or songs of the African American slaves religion was used to make escape plans and keep spirits high about the situation that they were in. “Go Down, Moses” also makes a direct reference to Moses leading the Jews out of their persecution (“Go” 347). “Keep Your Hand on the Plow” also references two stories from the bible about people in captivity and also of enduring something hard (“Keep” 348). Collectively, religion was something that kept hopes high and faith in all of the slaves that were in captivity in the South. This is why this characteristic makes these songs a part of Regionalism as it is a characteristic of the literature of the particular are that they were written in.

The simple style that all of these songs were created in also lends to their being a part of the genre of Regionalism. All present a very simple style, often with repetition as a key part to the set up of the song. In “Go Down, Moses” every stanza ends with the same line, “Let my people go. (“Go” 347).” This repetition makes the songs so simple, but at the same time makes them extremely powerful emotionally. Most slaves were not educated and they only knew simple language, which can be seen in all three of these works. This adds to the fact that they are Regionalism literary works because of simple language being a characteristic of the South as a whole.

The songs and poems passed down orally through the African Americans are a very important part of literature as whole, but specifically Realism too. Their simple style and ties to religion are what make them perfect examples for works of the subgenre of Regionalism.


Works Cited

Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds."regionalism." Encyclopedia of American Literature: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, vol. 3, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Online. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL1330&SingleRecord=True. February 8, 2011.

"Go Down, Moses." Glencoe American Literature. comp. Wilhelm, Jeffery. McGraw Hill. Columbus, OH. 2009. pg 347.

"Keep Your Hand on the Plow." Glencoe American Literature. comp. Wilhelm, Jeffery. McGraw Hill. Columbus, OH. 2009. pg 348.

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Glencoe American Literature. comp. Wilhelm, Jeffery. McGraw Hill. Columbus, OH. 2009. pg 346.