Character guide

Unknown Narrator

major

Also known as mine, your

The central narrative voice and focal character throughout the poems.

Niobe

supporting

Also known as Thy

A grieving mother whose children are slain by Apollo, featured in a poem from Ovid.

Mneme

supporting

Also known as Hers, thy, thee, Thy, hers

A personification of memory and muse invoked in the poems.

Goliath of Gath

supporting

Also known as Gath, Goliath, Myself

The Philistine giant defeated by David in the biblical poem.

David

supporting

Also known as Young David

The young shepherd who defeats Goliath and later becomes king.

Phillis Wheatley

major

Also known as Phillis

The author and narrator, an enslaved African American poet.

Susanna

minor

Also known as thy, Thou

A virtuous woman falsely accused, from the biblical apocrypha.

Britannia

supporting

Also known as thy, Thy

The personification of Britain, addressed in patriotic poems.

Alphenor

minor

One of Niobe's sons slain by Apollo in the mythological poem.

George Whitefield

supporting

Also known as the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, Whitefield

A famous evangelist whose death is mourned in a poem.

Leonard

minor

A character mentioned in a poem, possibly a friend or relative.

Aurora

minor

The Roman goddess of dawn, personified in hymns.

Bosrah

minor

A biblical place personified in a poem about divine judgment.

Ismenus

minor

One of Niobe's sons killed by Apollo.

Eliab

minor

Also known as thy, thee

David's older brother who appears in the Goliath narrative.

Thomas Amory

minor

Also known as the Rev. Dr. Thomas Amory, Amory

A clergyman whose sermons are praised in a poem.

Fancy

minor

A personification of imagination and creativity.

Apollo

supporting

Also known as Mr. Richard Wilson Apollo, Wilson, Divine Apollo

The god of poetry and music, also slayer of Niobe's children.

Jesus

minor

Central figure of Christianity, referenced in religious poems.

Phoebus

minor

Also known as Phoebus blaz’d, gay Phoebus, thy

Another name for Apollo, the sun god.

Latona

minor

Also known as Divine Latona

Mother of Apollo and Diana, invoked in the Niobe poem.

Damon

minor

Also known as thy

A pastoral character, possibly a shepherd or lover.

Maro

minor

A reference to the Roman poet Virgil, used as a poetic figure.

Jesse

minor

Also known as The son of Jesse I

Father of David, mentioned in the Goliath poem.

Sol

minor

The Roman sun god, personified in hymns.

Aeolus

minor

God of the winds, invoked in a poem about a voyage.

Samuel Marshall

minor

Also known as Dr. Samuel Marshall, Marshall

A clergyman whose death is commemorated in a poem.

Afric

minor

Personification of Africa, referenced in poems about the poet's origins.

Sewell

minor

Also known as the Rev. Dr. Sewell

A clergyman whose death is mourned in a poem.

Philistia

minor

The land of the Philistines, personified in the Goliath poem.

Israel

minor

Also known as Affrighted Israel

The nation of Israel, personified in biblical poems.

Jove

minor

Also known as Dodonean Jove, the thund’ring Jove, immortal Jove

The Roman king of the gods, invoked in classical allusions.

Amphion

minor

Also known as great Amphion

A mythical musician who built Thebes with his lyre.

Cadmus

minor

Founder of Thebes, mentioned in the Niobe poem.