Analysis Of John Quincy Adamss To The Sun-Dial - 982 Words

Before clocks and watches were invented, sundials used the position of the Sun to determine the time. As the sun rises and falls in the sky, a shadow is cast on the dial correlating to hour lines marked on the sundial. President John Quincy Adams wrote a poem personifying the use of the sundial. One must first grasp an understanding of the life John Quincy Adams, the time period the poem was created in, before the focus of â€Å"To The Sun-Dial† can be comprehended. Before one could analyze the poem, they must get an understanding of the poet. Born in 1767 in Braintree, Massachusetts to President John and Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams was a prominent figure both domestically and in the international community. As a young boy, Adams would†¦show more content†¦Moreover, to understand the theme of â€Å"To The Sun-Dial,† one must understand the time period the poem was written in. The poem was written sometime during Adam’s tenure as president from March 4, 1824 – March 4, 1829. Prior to his presidential administration, the United States had just experienced the Panic of 1819, which left the economy weakened and faith in the financial market at an all-time low. However, during the Adams administration, the United States entered a period of economic expansion. Adding to the political stability throughout this administration, the United States was also at peace. Although there were problems, as with any presidency, diplomacy had solved many of the issues at hand. It restored faith in the American people that â€Å"crises could be managed and successful government was possible† (â€Å"The John Quincy Adams Administration†). Although successful in his presidency, certain publications saw the rising power of the federal government over the states as deeply concerning. As such, many publications spent much of the administration denouncing the â€Å"corrupt bargain between Adams and Clay,† who happened to be Ad ams’ Secretary of State (â€Å"The John Quincy Adams Administration†). Now that the poet and time period have been fully analyzed, one can start analyzing the theme of â€Å"To The Sun-Dial,† which was written by President John