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Analysis Of Walt Whitman 's ' Leaves Of Grass '

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Tyler Petry Walt Whitman Mar 20 2017

Walt Whitman was one of the greatest poets of the eighteen hundreds. Most of his poems can be found in his short book Leaves of Grass. He is one of the best known America 's poets and set the standard for intellectual patriotic poems.

Walt was born on May 31, 1819 in Long Island, New York. His father was an English carpenter and house builder whom was very strict. While his mother was of Dutch descent and of Quaker faith, and could barley read. It is doubtful that either of his parents would read, much less understand his poetry. His father Walt senior was too burdened with Walt 's eight brothers and sisters four …show more content…

Walt 's easy going manner was likable, but his work habits drove them crazy. His daydreaming three hour lunch breaks and long observational walks were very odd to his employer. These habits cause him to be fired from many of his writing positions. By 1845 he had been employed by ten different newspapers in and around the New York area. He is offered a job by an acquaintance to work in Louisiana at the New Orleans Crescent. He takes the job on impulse of being fired from the Eagle shortly before. After a year he gets home sick and is overly repulsed by slavery. He found that the buying and selling of human beings was disgusting. Walt has written poems about such observations.

He returns home to New York and goes in to the building trade with his father and brothers. He writes articles for the New York newspapers from time to time. It was during this time that Walt, wanting to become a better writer, decides to become better educated. He reads articles on a variety of subjects. He visits museums and attends operas. He talks with everyone he meets, stagecoach drivers to sculptors. Walt jots down his ideas that will later be used in his poetry. He wants to keep the writing simple. He wants his writing to be easily understood by all who might read it. He wants his readers to be able to relate to the American character.

In the spring of 1855, Walt Whitman

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