A Fable for Critics

James Russell Lowell, a prominent American Romantic poet and member of the Fireside Poets, utilized his poetry as a tool for social critique, particularly in the abolitionist movement. A graduate of Harvard law school, he published his first poetry collection in 1841. "A Fable for Critics" showcases his distinctive writing style through its short, humorous narrative, reflecting his belief in the poet's role as a societal prophet and critic.