This semester I have learned valuable tools and techniques when it comes to writing and analyzing different types of literature. I will thoroughly explore what Whitman, Columbus and Smith meant in specific passages of a few of their literature works. Whitman’s free verse poems, “Leaves of Grass” and “Song of Myself”, seemed to be most appealing. I also found Christopher Columbus’s “Letter to Lluis de Santangel” and “Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella” to be quite intriguing about life back then. Even John Smith’s writings such as “The General Historie of Virginia” and “A Description of New England” enlightened me to what it was they saw when venturing out in the new world.
Walt Whitman was an American poet whose free verse brought a new style and uniqueness to American poetry. “Free verse is poetry organized according to the cadences of speech and image patterns rather than according to a regular metrical scheme. The meter is irregular and its rhythms are based on patterned elements such as sounds, words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs, rather than on the traditional units of metrical feet” (“Free Verse Encyclopedia” 1). You can see his free verse style through his literary works such as “Leaves of Grass” and “Song of Myself”.
Whitman wrote broad stanzas and focused on the whole of America as his inspiration. His lines covered a wide range of topics and generated multiple points of view for the reader. He called his life’s work “Leaves of Grass”; stressing the
Walt Whitman started journalism in 1841. He founded a weekly newspaper called the Long-Islander. In 1865, Whitman published his second edition of Leaves of Grass (poets.org). After the start of the Civil War had started, Whitman went to Washington because he read his brother’s name (George Whitman) on a casualty list from the battle of Fredericksburg. He arrived in time to find his brother with a small cut on his face and while there he noticed how terrible the sick and wounded were being treated. He decided that he will do what he can to help and stayed. After the civil war, Whitman published Drum Taps. This collection of poems is more focused on
Whitman was able to change people’s views on life and was able to give people something that they wanted and were looking for in his creation of a new writing style. His writing about real life experiences connected him well with the common man, which is another aspect of the Romantic period. Whitman is also thought of as the “father of free verse.” He enjoyed using free verse because it could further distinguish him from other writers of the past, and of his time.
Today Whitman’s poetry is considered to be of the conservative and traditional variety, but back in 1855, when Leaves of Grass was first published, it was a controversial volume. This poetry broke conventions when it came to basics syntax, rhythm,
Walt Whitman was a man who created a new style of writing, a style that has been repeated ever since he crafted it. Many contemporary authors have attempted to look upon the world in the way Whitman did, to see it with fascination and love and to share these passionate feelings with their readers just like Whitman. One modern author that has had success in recreating Whitman’s style with his own twist is Tyler Knott Gregson. Gregson looks at the world with the same reverence that Whitman did. It is through their poetic styles that Whitman and Gregson collide and it is by analyzing these styles, specifically in “Song of Myself” and “Typewriter Series #317,” respectively, that we are able to see a young Whitman within
Walt Whitman’s poetry embodies the changes taking place in America during and after the Civil War. He experiences them firsthand as a Civil War nurse. In the poems, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d,” and “A Child Said What is the Grass?”. Whitman talks about both population growth, and the many deaths during the Civil War. He sees life and death as a cycle, and examines life after the life of an individual.
“Whitman claimed that after years of competing for the usual rewards he was determined to become a poet,” (Cambridge University Press, 1996). At first he experimented with a variety of literary genres that would appeal to people’s tastes of the period, although, he intended to write an American epic and used free verse based on the Bible. In 1850, he began writing poetry that would
Walt Whitman, born on May 31, 1819, is an influential and well-known American poet. Growing up, Walt Whitman lived a modest, yet difficult life. At age 11, Whitman began working in the printing business. Here, Whitman found his love for journalism and poetry. From here, Whitman organized a weekly paper known as, the Long Islander. Unfortunately, the Long Islander rapidly folded. After this venture, Whitman became an editor at various newspaper companies. Two companies include, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and the Crescent. After losing both these jobs, Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass, his most influential work. Leaves of Grass attracted the attention of Henry David Thoreau, the author of “Civil Disobedience.” Sadly, Whitman never gained financially
When Whitman wrote his poetry, he wanted his to be unique and he wanted it so that his poems would be able to reach to many people within their vocabulary. Whitman’s way of making his poetry stand out among others was by making a new way of writing now called free verse. Sensitive subject would also be integrated into his writing. A lot of the work was focused on the United States and the potential, and problems he saw coming with it.
Walt Whitman was an 19th century American poet and author of “Song of Myself,” a 52-section poem that conveys a lot of the basic premises and themes of transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is the belief in the power of the individual, no one is better then anyone else, everything is interconnected, and the power and value of nature. It was a reaction towards rationalism that resulted in the development of transcendentalism. Walt Whitman shared this values and beliefs and is notable in a lot of his work, even more so in his poem “Song of Myself,” where he opens-up about his opinions with one’s self, nature, and the universe. Another theme of Transcendentalism believes that Authors should be equine and create new literature, just as Whitman have his own style of writing that made him equine and original. Throughout “Song of Myself” Whitman conveys the point of view of a transcendentalist as his constantly makes the connection connecting nature, humans, and spiritual. The poem tells us about Whitman, almost to the point that it was his form of writing his autobiography, but even more so it expresses his self-satisfaction is all that mattered and personally didn’t care if you joined in his-self celebration or not regardless he was going to celebrate.
Walt Whitman’s 1892 poem “Song of Myself” is an extensive selection consisting of 52 separate sections expressing Whitman’s different perspectives on different subjects concerning things such as his own inner personality, nature and the human perspective. Each, as expected, helps to reveal a part of Whitman’s psyche. In the case of Section 6 of “Song of Myself”, Whitman talks at length about the most worldly of the Earth’s creations, grass. Grass is used as a metaphor for many things throughout the section, from life to death to equality and, most importantly, the presence of the unknown, which connects back to the previous themes mentioned. Whitman establishes the theme of the unknown through his primary subject matter, thoughtful use of diction and his poetic form. Whitman helped to show what questioning and marveling at the world could do to help better an individual as they journey through the confusion that is human existence.
In conclusion Walt Whitman is one of my favorite poets of all time; and aside from him having the nickname Father of Free Verse and referred to himself as the American Bard at Last everything from his birth to his death are intriguing. Whitman is a very well know American Poet and will forever be known as a controversial writer, essayist, journalist, a humanist and was part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism. Incorporating both
In parting with traditional poetic formalities, Walt Whitman alleviated a burden that impeded his ability to achieve full poetic expression. To Whitman, the strict boundaries that formal meter, structure, and rhyme imposed set limits on his stylistic freedom. This is not to say that these limits prevented Whitman from conveying his themes. Rather, they presented a contradiction to which Whitman refused to conform. In Whitman’s eyes, to meet these formal guidelines one would also have to sacrifice the ability to express qualities and passion of living men. Thus, Whitman contested traditional poetic protocol because it added a layer of superficiality that concerned itself with creating perfect rhythmical, metrical,
In the introduction of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman it depict America and its way of life. at the end of the day the excellence, he trusts that American artist and individuals are the best of all. there are sure things that made this country interesting, for example, the general population from everywhere throughout the world, and distinctive accepts and their societies too. on page 5, section second, whitman showed that America itself is isn't a country, yet it is a countries of a country, here he implied that settler made this country to blend countries. proceeding onward whitman likewise trusts that american are the most virtuoso, he contend that not just the official, diplomats, writers, and so forth, are by all account not the only he is thinking about virtuoso, yet it is the common people.on page 7 he discussed diverse conditions of America, the things each state has, and composed his contention as though he was composing a ballad, since he showed the magnificence of each state, land, ocean, and even kind a people lives in each state. in the start of page 9 Whitman allude to artists that, every one of them composed the ballads, in great or terrible disposition however completed their contemplations of American creative energy. at the end of the day, Whitman trusts, that the writer has have specified just America, and Americans in their ballads, in this manner, that is the reason influenced him to trust that America and American artist, additionally the general population are splendid.
In his verses, Walt Whitman eradicates divisions of individual entities while simultaneously celebrating their unique characteristics. All components of the universe are united in a metaphysical intercourse, and yet, are assigned very distinct qualities so as to keep their identities intact. Often times, Whitman demonstrates these conceptions through elements of song. “Walt Whitman caroled throughout his verse. For the Bard of Democracy, as America came to call our great poet, music was a central metaphor in his life and work, both as a mindset and as a practical reality.” (Hampson) His musical poetry lyrically encompasses themes of social equality. Whitman enterprises a communion of persons
Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, Long Island New York. He was raised by his mother, Louisa Van Velsor, and father, Walter Whitman. His father was a home builder, and his mother stayed home and took care of her nine children. Growing up, Whitman was very ambitious and did a little bit of everything from working at a printing press when he was only twelve years old to teaching to journaling. He believed in anti-slavery during the Civil War and a lot of his journals reflected equality and telling us we are basically all the same. In 1855, he sent out his first edition of “Leaves of Grass” to be published but it was not received well by readers. After receiving negative feedback from it, Emerson sent him a letter praising it and Whitman rewrote a second edition which included Emerson’s letter of approval. Whitman continued working various jobs and ended up settling down in Camden, New Jersey where he looked after his dying mother. In his epic poem, “Song of Myself” he relays the theme that we are all the same and connected in the same unique way. It related to his culture during his time but, it is also very relevant to our culture today. He reminds us throughout the poem the importance of how we should accept each other in our communities.