Analysis Of Walt Whitman 's ' Crossing Brooklyn Ferry '

The Sea-Drift is one of the few poems that recount Walt Whitman’s childhood. Whitman takes us through journey to imagine his childhood in way that is straightforward. This poem gives me the vibe of song and musical because use of the language. This poem Sea- Drift sounds like song lyric maybe, because the bird crying to the ocean and which creates a chirping sound, nature sounds. I think this is iconic because it illustrates the imagination of a child observing nature as it makes him curious to figure out microscopic things in nature, although birds are visible but to investigate the nest of the birds and count its contains are bit unbelievable.

The idea of an equal America exists no more. Regardless of the fact that there is a plethora of varying perspectives dividing the country into two, there are words and phrases that are generally accepted in viewing our country from the rest of the world. First, the American Dream is regularly associated with equal opportunity, prosperity, and liberty. Walt Whitman, as well as many others, have written about this desired America for the socially accepted American. He is often referred to as “America’s Poet,” who amplifies the elegant qualities of America that we believe to be true. It is obvious that Whitman portrays America as an alive and colorful place full of chance and flourishment throughout his work. “I Hear America Singing” is a prime example of an America that is only seen from the surface, where Whitman clearly indicates that the United States is a country where all its citizens are able to achieve equality and liberty. Contradictory, Sharon Olds poem, “On the Subway,” proves the lack of individual liberty, which deteriorates the growth of the country, ultimately opposing the America, where personal freedom is the foundation. Olds’ poem pokes holes in the surface that shows the controversial interior that truly makes up America that Whitman painted beforehand. Olds and Whitman also illustrate varying insight regarding personal liberty and its importance in two opposing poems; one who proclaims it as easily attainable and necessary to the country and the other who

“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” is Walt Whitman’s way of personifying the everyday experiences of living in society; specifically, Whitman’s firsthand account of his routine crossing on the Brooklyn Ferry. To achieve this is his poem Whitman utilizes the use of repetition to emphasize specific points throughout the works. This is particularly evident in stanza six, here Whitman begins each statement with the phrase “I too”; in doing so Whitman exploits the device of repetition to consolidate the striking commonalities each individual share. By relating to such familiar commonalities such as “I too walk’d the streets of Manhattan, and bathed in its waters.”, the author brings the reader onto level ground and utilizes the familiar experiences of common

America has been home to two major races being whites from Europe and the Black from Africa

Walt Whitman could be seen as a narcissist because of his confidence in knowing the “ways” of the world. He is confident in his theory that the physical self and the emotional self, or the soul, are equals in all aspects. But I’m unsure if this is such a bad thing, as narcissism has negative connotations. On the other hand, the object of a visionary poet is not to sway people a certain way or impress them but to be able to reveal a moment or feeling in time and share their findings, which Walt does. Through his work he isn’t saying look at me and all I know. He is sharing his self-discovery and soul searching with the reader to show how magical it can be. He shares his uncertainties, what it’s like to love and what it’s like to be at peace

Walt Whitman was one of the best literary figures of that time and through history because people still love his books. After Whitman stopped writing he decided to become a nurse during the Civil War. His most famous book was Leaves of Grass; it is now a trademark book through history. He also wrote about the potential freedom in America.

Martin Luther King once said, “I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed, without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today- my own government.” This quote demonstrates how the government was the biggest promoter that spread violence and Martin Luther King wanted to address it first before helping oppressed. In section 24 Whitman uses repetition to symbolize the oppressed and unheard voices of the 19th century. Whitman gives voice to people whose voices are not usually heard in society.

The new colossus reflects on the american dream by welcoming “ the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” The new immigrants came from Europe to find hospitality. “ I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” The new colossus is welcoming the European immigrants to find freedom and liberty.

Walt Whitman was born in 1819, a second son to a housebuilder and one of 9 children. He worked as a printer at an early age, this is where he became enamored with the written word. Working as a printer in New York until a fire devastated the printing section of the city he was self-taught reading the works of Homer, Dante and the Bible. Whitman worked as a teacher for several years before becoming a journalist, full-time and establishing the paper The Long Islander. He worked as an editor for several papers before moving to New Orleans to become the editor of The Crescent where he first experienced the reality of the slave trade. Returning to his hometown of Brooklyn in Long Island he founded the newspaper the Brooklyn Freeman and continued

Though the statue of liberty was finished in August of 1885, immigrants from many nations came to the United States even before the green lady was standing in the New York Harbor. The poem, The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, was later added in 1903, to signify the “golden door” that to many immigrants who were escaping strife or looking for a better life thought would await them in America. Though the poem suggested that America was a land of flowing milk and honey, immigrants did not find such a warm welcome that was suggested by the torch holding lady. In Mario Puzo short story, Choosing a Dream, he describes America as a place where immigrants or anyone can achieve “some economic dignity and freedom”, however, this is not the case for

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.”( Bio. A&E Television Networks 1) Walt Whitman's life was a representation of his famous quote. Whitman lived his life looking toward the future waiting for his radical ideas to become reality. Walt Whitman was arguably the best writer in United States history, and has written many famous pieces in the American Realism era. Whitman suffered through the Civil War, where brothers would often turn against brothers to fight for opposing sides. Walt Whitman rose up through turbulence of the Civil War during the American Realism era to write, “O CAPTAIN! My Captain!”(Whitman 1), a poem that illustrates a nation morning for their fallen leader.

Walt Whitman is known for having some of the most distinct poems in history. His work is instantly recognizable due to his particular traits of: individuality, an emphasis on the natural world, constantly using free verse, usually encompassing numerous subjects in one poem, using personal details, and the speaker speaking for himself and the reader. Many have tried, but very few poets have mastered the techniques Whitman once did. He wrote with a stylistic freedom and proved he was worthy to be an American Poet.

The “American Dream” is a notion that every single person who comes to this country strives for. The image of an a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence, the father is smiling going off to work a steady job, the mother is smiling and waving her husband off while she tells her son to stop getting dirty chasing the dog, and the daughter is playing with her dolls by the front porch and most of all being happy with what you have and are doing. In both, Long Day’s Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill and Moby Dick by Herman Melville, present aspects that relate to the American Dream. Both show financial contentment and love for family.

Title- The song of myself sounds like a poem of self expression, and a gospel of Walt Whitman's’ self beliefs. When his optimistic outlook on life is brought into perspective, one could also conclude that the poem was about his positive and radical outlook on life, because it is a song of himself, his personal expression.

In Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself”, the poet showcases his feelings of people and himself by using literary descriptors to convey his thoughts on these and various other subjects. In section 20, Whitman’s purpose is to showcase self-assuredness regardless of what the world tries to state otherwise by maintaining his resolute happiness in being himself. This is what sets him apart from being like the other people in the world.