The Slave's Dream

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significance of the line;
'like a blood-red flag'

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@Anusuya Hazra,

What is the significance of the following line from the poem, The Slave's Dream by H.W. Longfellow:

"like a blood-red flag"

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@Anusuya Hazra,

I have not studied this poem, but there are several useful Google references. My interpretation of "blood-red flag" would be "a flag soaked in the blood of imagined battle", since the poem is about the slave's yearning for a struggle/battle for freedom and triumphant return to his land of origin.

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@Anusuya Hazra,

In the poem The Slave's Dream, why does the slave follow the flamingoes which look a blood-red flag?

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try this

Quote:

In this poem Longfellow is using lots of figurative language and this simile is one of them. The flamingoes are bright red in color as most of us already know and the main character is using this color like a flag to guide him towards his final destination. The main character is following the flight of the flamingoes all day and night through plains of tamarind trees until he can see the ocean. Thus the simile is comparing the flamingoes to a bright red flag marking his final destination. This is very similar to the Christian idea of the three wise men following the star of David to find the baby Jesus

http://www.enotes.com/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/q-and-a/explain-this-simile-before-him-like-blood-red-flag-142249/

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@Anusuya Hazra,

The flamingo is symbolic of one who has still has freedom in his native land, and is leading the way for those who have battled to return.
(Written whilst above was being posted)

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The Slave's Dream

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