USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -He is ready to spread the alarm to every Middlesex village and farm to arm themselves to prepare for a fight with the British. Paul Revere did not want to be heard. Because if he was heard he was in danger of being caught or killed and his plan to warn the villagers and farmers would have been ruined.

Detailed explanation-2: -On April 18th, 1775, Revere made the most famous ride of his life, to Lexington, to warn patriot leaders in hiding there. During the Revolutionary War, Revere helped fortify Boston against a possible British attack.

Detailed explanation-3: -He rows across the river with “muffled oar.” To muffle (to make quiet) would probably be wrapping some cloth around the oars. Paul is on a dangerous mission and doesn’t want to be caught. Keep an eye out for little ways that Longfellow increases the tension to make this poem exciting.

Detailed explanation-4: -The purpose of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, as you may recall from your high school history class, was to race to Concord to warn Patriots Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops-700 of them-were marching to Concord to arrest them.

Detailed explanation-5: -Paul Revere arranged to have a signal lit in the Old North Church – one lantern if the British were coming by land and two lanterns if they were coming by sea – and began to make preparations for his ride to alert the local militias and citizens about the impending attack.