I Hear America Singing By Walt Whitman

Along with social status, discrimination is another differing factor that distinguishes the two poems’ point of views. In “I Hear America Singing”, the unjust treatment of other races or ethnicities, also known as discrimination, is completely glossed over and ignored. This is due to the fact that Whitman believes all Americans are treated equally.

The two poems, “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman, and “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, can be cross-analyzed to display several similarities and differences. Although the styles of the poems differ; they both contain similar literary devices such as imagery and metaphor. In addition, the poems seem to communicate with each other when placed side by side. In other words, “Let America Be America Again,” may be read as a response to “I Hear America Singing.” The American Dream is explored in both poems and yet it is only present in “I Hear America Singing,” while missing and longed for in “Let America Be America Again.”

The poems “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus and “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman, exemplify the idea of American freedom in its purest form. While one poem talks about one most important symbols in American history, and another talks about the average American’s way of life, both poems convey the of American triumph and success.

America has produced many opportunities for the immigrants, who built the nation from the ground up. Those Immigrants are what make the American Identity unique with being recognized by the world. The nation went through the trial of fire beginning with the American Revolution, then the Civil War, and now Global Peace. Furthermore, each event has a common trait, which is the people, who came here to achieve their dreams. America has been the bastion of democracy and opportunities for many centuries. The similarities and differences between “I Hear America Singing,” “To Walt Whitman,” and “I, Too, Sing America” are viewpoints on America, motivates, experiences, and viewpoints.

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

America is a country that has been through many different times of trials. Wars and disease have spread across that nation several times. During times of depression, though, a group of people seems to always emerge from the destruction. That group of people are the poets and writers of America. Through trial and strife, writers are able to find inspiration for their works, and are able to give readers hope for a better day. Walt Whitman was an amazing writer who wrote several poems concerning the great United States of America, talking about the people that have built the nation up from the dust. But, a group of people that Whitman forgot to write about on most occasions were the slaves and black people of which America thrived. Langston Hughes was a black man in the 20th century that took note of Whitman's poems, and their lack of recognition towards his people. Whitman wrote a poem called, "I Hear America Singing," in which Hughes wrote the poem, "I, Too Sing America," in response. In the poem by Hughes, there are several different ways that the writing interlaces with Walt Whitman's.

The preacher’s speech from chapter ten of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and the poem I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman both contain many stylistic devices that convey these American authors’ purposes of revealing the common man. Whitman and Steinbeck both write about occupations and people in the working class to bring these often overlooked citizens to attention. Although Whitman illustrates his purpose through the use of poetry, and Steinbeck through prose, the literary devices they use to bring these ordinary men and women to light are very similar, and cause the reader to consider the lifestyles of people that are often overlooked. Steinbeck and Whitman both convey a glorification of the common man through the use of repetition, tone, and transcendence.

Rimon Jabbar March 26, 2018 English “I hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman Task one, Analyzing figurative language. The poem “I hear America singing” by Walt Whitman is a powerful, meaningful poem. The ongoing theme of the poem is centered around the idea of Americans working joyfully every day, different professions both men and women, whether mechanics, boatman’s, or young wives sewing and washing. America is bonded in song as a strong, happy patriotic community. The tone of the poem is appreciative, joyful and proud.

Many of Whitman’s poems address the issue of freedom in the society, a lot of which were influenced by his personal life. His orientation toward the ideal life is underscored through the poem, I Hear America Singing,

Hughes’ poem builds on Whitman’s poem by showing the reality of America compared to Whitman’s idealized version of America. Both Whitman and Hughes’ poems have differences in theme, mood, tone, and perspective. ‘I Hear America Singing’ by Walt Whitman is written from the perspective of a white man, which may affect Whitman’s portrayal of the American dream. Whitman’s poem was written during a time where women were basically stuck in a house all day and it’s shown when he says, “The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife” (Whitman, 8). In his poem, Whitman displays a happy tone throughout the poem that also has a few hints of a proud feeling laid out throughout the poem, unlike Langston Hughes’ poem ‘I, Too’.

If one listens closely, they can hear America’s song. The words, like thunder, comprise the groans of the slave, the cheers of the free, and the unmistakable sounds of the brave. The music rings out as clear as day; it is composed by the growing children and the dying men. Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes captured the essence of these songs in their respective works, “I Hear America Singing” and “I, Too, Sing America.” The first describes the melodies of a working nation, the “the wood-cutter’s song” and the “delicious singing of the mother” (Whitman 7-8). The quiet musings of a young African American make up the latter; it is a hymn of hushed hope for tomorrow. Although the two poems stand alone, both Whitman’s and Hughes's works powerfully capture the song of America through the sense of pride found in each piece, the uses of different literary elements, and their individual views of the nation.

In his poems and life, Walt Whitman celebrated the human spirit and the human body. He sang the praises of democracy and marveled at the technological advances of his era. His direct poetic style shocked many of his contemporaries. This style, for which Whitman is famous, is in direct relation to several major American cultural developments. The development of American dictionaries, the growth of baseball, the evolution of Native American policy, and the development of photography all played a part and became essential components of Whitman’s poetry.

In “I Hear America Singing,” Walt Whitman’s message of the American identity is that it is diverse and proud. The fact the American identity is diverse is proven best in the first line, which states, “I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear.” In this line, the word “varied” proves that it is diverse because if something is varied it has a variety of things amassing it. The American identity being proud is proven by the line, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else.” This line proves that the American identity is proud because it is saying that we celebrate what only we have. This celebration evinces that we are proud of what we gain by working.

“I celebrate myself, and sing myself / and what I shall assume you shall assume” (Whitman 1-2). These lines not only open up the beginning of one the best poems of the American Romantic period, but they also represent a prominent theme of one of this period’s best poet, Walt Whitman. In Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself, Whitman deals with his time period’s most prominent theme of democracy. Whitman tells readers that they must not only observe the democratic life but they must become one with it. As Whitman states, “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (3). Democracy provides a connection with all people. It is as if Joseph Stella felt this connection and decided to depict it in his collection of paintings entitled “Americans in the Rough.” The individual is of no greater or lesser worth than anyone else. Beatrice Marovich states that, “It is a song for fellow Americans, about the American body politic” (349). An analysis of Song of Myself portrays that understanding and becoming one with democracy through political collectivity essentially sets the stage for the American democratic self. Joseph Stella does a great job of interpreting and depicting Whitman’s ideals of democracy through his illustrations representing every facet of an American democratic life.