The Poetry of Walt Whitman versus William Carlos Williams Essay

use of rhyme and rhythm, the very heart of the poem. The poet’s use of

On this verse, we can see how Whitman tries to connect to mind, body, spirit and nature. In “Song of Myself” Whitman attempted to change the meaning of American poetry. I described identity issues that pertain to him, but that the audience was able to identify with. Whitman, opened the door to

symbolic richness, but at the same time the poem supplies the reader with a wide

Whitman shed light on to the purpose of his piece. By incorporating “him or her” addresses all readers, including all of society. Similar lack of discrimination is expressed in the second stanza. Similar lack of discrimination is expressed in the second stanza, In this moment, the young child, the reader, and society becomes “the barefoot negro boy and girl.” Through the timeless and circular journey, creates a bond between civilization and nature. As time progresses forward, the future will be influenced by past, seemingly insignificant people,

This individual is the Romantic hero, the one "who in the midst of a crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude" (Emerson, 263). Emerson explains how this transcendence from a dulled state of consciousness to a higher level of awareness is achievable if you "insist on yourself; [and] never imitate" (278). In his usual candid style, Whitman identifies himself as this hero in Song of Myself proclaiming, "I exist as I am, that is enough, / And if no other in the world be aware I sit content, / And if each and all be aware I sit content. / One world is aware, and by far the largest to me, and that is myself" (2759). Improbable as it seems, Poeâs hero begins to resemble the Îmeâ in Whitmanâs last line "who trustingly consults and thoroughly questions his own soul" (qtd in Rosenheim, 25). This correspondence in self-awareness links these authors to each other, and to Romanticism.

Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself” has a scattered poem structure with stanza lengths that vary throughout the poem. Throughout the poem, Whitman explains the idea of the self, the self identifying with other selves, and the relationship between the poet and nature. Whitman supports his explanation by stating

Lastly, Whitman shows his identity through his self-pride. Self-pride is when an individual shows pride in oneself. It could be through things like goals and accomplishments, or even your looks or the way you go about things. People should also show pride in their opinions and

Coinciding with Romantic views, he speaks about a freedom to “thrive” and society will “receive [them] with free sense at last” (Whitman). Encouraging freethinking, Whitman inspires “passion, pulse, and power … for the freest action formed under the laws divine” (Whitman). Contrast to the frailty and shortcomings that London addresses, Whitman acclaims mankind and the “perfection in [them]”

I believe that the characters in Whitman’s writings have a sense of individualism and by comparing and contrasting each of the main character in “Song of Myself” and “Drum Taps” it will show others what it is like to share individuality as a whole with the world, but to be different as well based on the experiences some may have to go through.

Whitman uses examples of equality, in Song of myself, in order to prove how everything and everyone is relevant to the world. His purpose is to display nature belongs to everyone in equal shares. This poetic author writes in an encouraging and gloomy tone for his audience; the young people of the generation for that they are the ones that can promote the changes that can be

However, even though Whitman’s work may not always exude a particular feeling, his descriptive poetry does cover a variety of topics while still maintaining a sense of individualism. For example, in Whitman’s poem, “Vocalism”, Whitman writes, “After a loosen’d throat, after absorbing eras, temperaments, races, after knowledge, freedom, crimes… after these and more, it is just possible there comes to a man, woman, the divine power to speak words” (283). This particular verse of Whitman’s poetry, is discussing how people, after having to handle and learn to deal with challenges, eventually find a voice to speak up against injustice. Whitman’s poem, “Vocalism” discusses people finding their individual voices and standing up for what is right, much like democracy is supposed to allow people’s voices to be heard. Even though Whitman’s poem “Vocalism” discusses people’s individual voices and, in a way, democracy, some of Whitman’s other poems portray a variety of topics, like nature, hope, and so on. The key to Whitman’s poetry being the individualism and details throughout each poem, which could be about a variety of different

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.

Many other poets and other writers were inspired

One of the quotes that I found in Whitman's Song of Myself that indicates that he trusts his inner voice is "The latest dates, discoveries, inventions, societies, authors old and new, My dinner, dress, associates, looks, compliments, dues, The real or fancied indifference of some man or woman I love, The sickness of one of my folks or of myself, or ill-doing or loss or lack of money, or depressions or exaltations, Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events; These come to me days and nights and go from me again, But they are not the Me Myself" (page 73, section 4). This quote states that as like all human beings, we have concerns and opinions about social issues and all the things that go on in the

In “Song of Myself”, Walt Whitman attempts to define what the self is. Whitman’s concept of the self echoes Ralph Waldo Emmerson’s concept of the Over-soul; however, Whitman’s concept of the soul relies on the physical body and embracing God’s presence in mundane objects and occurrences. Whitman believes that “The soul is not more than the body, and I have said that the body is not more than the soul, And nothing, not God, is greater to one than one’s self is” (Lines 48-50). This was a bold and progressive view, especially given the time in which the work was written. In this poem, through the use of multiple lists and symbolism, Whitman created an emphasis on interconnectedness and encouraged acceptance of the physical body are all key