Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

The large amount of poems in Dickinson’s collection containing the theme of death is impossible to be overlooked. Approximately one-third from her entire collection speaks about the subject, something that for many decades has intrigued fans and scholars alike. In order to understand this fixation, one must study the poet’s upbringing and religious conflicts, which are unequivocally at the center of this fascination with the theme of death.

Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of Myself’ helps inspire my body and soul, activates my mind, and encourages individual discovery for the sake of creating a better world for all to live in. It also acts as a form of instruction for becoming an American in ideal and in action. Through his free-form verse and tone that reflects more of a wizened and rosy cheeked grandfather than controversial poet, Whitman’s writing acts as a refreshing breath to all, including myself, that are searching for an empathetic peace of mind. “I celebrate myself, and sing myself,/ And what I assume you shall assume,/ For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you./”, Whitman begins, inviting the reader to a conversation by the fireside, as we are equal in spirit, matter, and creation, which should obviously be celebrated and shared.

a. The parts I read from Whitman’s Song of Myself are very interesting because right off the bat, Whitman informs his audience that he is writing this long epic poem about himself. His work shapes what it means to be an American. He discusses all different kinds of people and places and tries to find unity that forms positive relationships. To him, everything is good if it is contributing to the larger good in some way. His poem was controversial because he lacks any sort of “filter.”

She uses personification to give Death human characteristics and overall she write very mysterious, elliptical poetry. Whitman’s poems he would make his poetry about citizens and their daily day life. In her poem “I Hear America Singing,” he said a lot of descriptive details in this certain poem. The reader’s are supposed to recognize that workers live’s are a struggle and that through any struggle it is going to be hard

In the following stanzas, Whitman offers up ideas that could fit in with the symbolism of the grass. He never speaks with the voice of absolute authority. The next four stanzas begin with the phrase ?Or I guess,? which not only implies uncertainty, but with the ?or? reminds us of the practically infinite acceptable answers. This is a kinder, gentler Whitman than

When I read Walt Whitman’s poem “Song of myself”, it took me a minuet to realize that it was a collection of poems written into one long poem. Once I learned that I made reading it easier.

Works of art, such as poems, influences our perceptions in life with its strong leitmotifs and messages it carries out. A poem that had a big effect on my percipience in life was Walt Whitman’s poem, “O Me! O Life!” The poem begins with the narrator questioning their existence and the emptiness in life; and with it, craving the light in the end of the tunnel. It discusses themes such as failed explorations and the meaning of their lives with their confusion and letdowns. Whitman later ends the poem with answering the question that existing is a good enough purpose for living and that everyone will leave a mark on this world. This poem had a substantial effect on me because I was constantly questioning my life. Moving from adolescence to adulthood

Although Whitman expressed some very progressive beliefs such as equality amongst blacks and whites, the poet is so focused the attempt to connect with humanity, that he may actually miss the mark on doing so. Whitman admits that he does not “ask the wounded person how he feels… I myself become the wounded person” (Lines 840-841) after describing a horrific punishment for a runaway slave. It is admirable that Whitman is attempting to emphasize with the slaves and their plight, he will be truly unable to understand them unless he experiences their pain

Not only does she make death a seemingly mundane occurrence, but she often personifies death. Giving death a personality and, in some of her poems, even a physical embodiment, helps her readers relate to and acknowledge

Intuitive decisions allow self-appreciation since the results of those choices were self-deprived. People can say “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” The repetition of words, including “myself,” “assume,” and “belong,” emphasizes Whitman’s understanding of himself. He loves himself, as indicated through his free-verse style, and wants to convey that emotion to the audience. His exchange with them and the “atom” symbolizes the connectivity he feels with his readers. At the core of his identity is his humanity, which he shares with his readers, along with his thoughts and emotions. Whitman does not see himself as an outsider for following his intuition, rather a representative of humanity. Similarly, atoms are the simplest form of matter. As people conform, their life becomes complicated. To live a life adopted from society is to “live meanly, like ants” (Thoreau 395). Such a life involves following others and living a monotonous life without considering its purpose. Running a path that was designed by someone else is exhausting as one keeps considering what the next task is to continue the path. The longer this life continues, the longer one lives in

I think he is telling the reader to fully love themselves and the nature that surrounds them (Lauter, 1498). This reading could be considered as a poet’s/writer’s guide to help him/her connect with their inner selves and let it flourish through their writings. After reading this, I think life itself could be considered as a poem. Whitman says dismiss whatever insults your soul and daily life as the poet should not spend time doing unneeded work. Walt Whitman definitely knew his self-worth; I suppose this was written to enlighten others to truly love themselves and not listen to any negativity. I also believe that Whitman understood the negative forces of America’s government hence the idea to writing “Leaves of

By finding a way to connect “a farmer” with the “gentleman”, Whitman is creating a unique identity by transcending social boundaries and uniting the different people in America through the common idea of being American. By making everyone part of the larger “I”, Whitman is not only able to connect all Americans together, but also prove that they are all the same, promoting his idea of true democracy-in which all men and women have equal

Emily Dickinson was born in a time when not many women involved themselves in poetry or any form of intellectual capability. Nonetheless, she did, and she was such a wonderful poet that her poetry rivaled Whitman’s. Of course, no one ever saw her poetry at the same time as Whitman because she chose not to publish her poetry in her lifetime. Once she did, however, the world was shocked by the literary genius that lived in seclusion for a good majority of her life, especially because of how raw her writing was without having the influence of an editor or publisher. Her style is very distinguishable through it’s excessive but purposeful punctuation and 4-6-4-6 rhyme that matches church songs and patriotic songs like “Amazing Grace” and “Glory to God on High.” The church influenced more than her style, however, as much of her subject matter pertains to her unorthodox beliefs. Other subjects include hope and sometimes humor, but her ideas on death are both very interesting and complex. Dickinson does not make light of death, but she uses her poems as her diary to record her thoughts on death. She moves rapidly from thinking death is passive to thinking it is an amazing honor, but she also thinks of it in a terrified sense. Emily Dickinson’s views on death may not be easy to understand, and one may not draw a conclusion based off of her thoughts

“Song of Myself” was first published as the untitled opening poem of Leaves of Grass in 1855. The author’s name does not appear on the first edition’s title page, but it is mentioned in the poem: “Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos.” This characterization sums up the subject of identity in “Song of Myself.” Whitman presents himself as an American working man and as a mystical figure at one with the universe. Whitman celebrates the human body and its ability to become one with the self and with nature.The speaker shows that the union of the self and the body allows for a truly transcendent experience in which one attains absolute fulfillment. This joined self is capable of simultaneously being one with nature and standing apart from nature.

Not only does she seem to believe immortality is awaiting her, she is strong in her opinion, as the sentence ends in a period revealing that she is serious and near certain in her belief. In this first stanza, the inability to fully understand what Death has done and what death has in store for the speaker can relate directly to the message of the poem as a whole. That death is nothing like what we can image or comprehend.