Allen Fieldhouse

Walt Whitman is considered one of the greatest American poets in history. He is commemorated for his democratic and war related works. It is known that Whitman was a self-taught autodidact, ending his formal education at the age of eleven. He was able to gather prolific knowledge as he lavishly read and visited museums. In “When I Heard the Learn´d Astronomer,” Walt Whitman took inspiration on the effect of the technological discoveries during 1865, the year in which the poem was published. Even

Right away, the poem “On the subway” discusses the vastly different lifestyles of two kids on a subway. Undoubtedly, the contrast is defined through imagery, tone, the topics being discussed consisting of the division between the poor and the privileged, race, and enforced stereotypes. First if all, a significant difference between two children is their social status. Firstly, the white boy is obviously descendant of a family of riches. In contrast, imagery is used to illuminate the black boy’s

“Song of Myself” is all about the idea of what being an American is like. It is clear that the subject for his poem is himself. However, Walt Whitman did not intend to make his poem all about himself. Instead he wanted it to be universal because everyone who is an American acknowledged that it is a poem about him or her as well. Whitman wanted a democratic society where all are equal. His three themes were the idea of ones self, the idea of one self with others, and his relationship with nature and

In Joan Didion’s “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” the author displays a darker, more disturbed picture of the Beat Movement, suggesting that while in search for the joyful quality of freedom, many of the Beats simultaneously lost and ruined themselves in the social disintegration around them. Despite the popular media’s attraction to the glamor of the movement, Didion illuminates the disquieting nature of the time: “For a year now her mother has given her [five-year-old daughter] both acid and peyote”

on what happens as they live their life. A main character, Judah, an ophthalmologist who runs into some issues and takes the unmoral path, struggles with his idea of god throughout the entire movie. The other poignant character played by Woody Allen, is Cliff Stern whom is an aspiring documentary director making his masterpiece about a philosopher

Comparing Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac I. Introduction It has never been an uncommon thing for one to retreat to nature in an attempt to ‘find one’s self,’ and somewhat cliché these days is the retreat to nature to ‘find God.’ Hundreds of books, essays, seminars, and retreats devote themselves to helping one understand how to find enlightenment and healing through connecting with nature. It is a phenomenon that transcends religious boundaries—everyone, from Buddhists to Christian Mystics to

In Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl”, the idea of resistance is present in multiple forms. On a thematic level, Ginsberg exploits the reasons the “best minds” of his generation are being destroyed (9). On a formal level, Ginsberg uses lengthy sentences to resist traditional styles of writing. Ginsberg was successful in his rebellion and gained substantial recognition; further supported by the fact he even had to fight for his freedom of expression in the court of law. As a whole, “Howl” has been a controversial

Good art never dies, but rather lingers on in the minds of the society. Allan Ginsberg’s poem “Howl” has relevance many years after it was written. “Howl” is a poem, and a story about the history of the beat generation, and the philosophies of the beat poets. At the time that Howl was written America was in the middle of the cold war, and conservatism was the norm. The shocking nature and vulgar language of “Howl” makes the poem unique during a time when having hair your hair long, or even having

The Beat Movement started out in the late 40’s and continued for another decade, it would later evolve into the Hippie Movement. Many of the things that the Hippies believed in the Beats also held to be true. The Beats had a great lack of respect for authority and traditional American values. They would attempt to convince people that this was the way to live life and to reject the way that they used to live. The Beat Movement was mostly comprised of authors, artists, and musicians. The members

Importance of Mountains in Kerouac's Dharma Bums and Barthelme's The Glass Mountain     Mountains are significant in the writing of Jack Kerouac and Donald Barthelme as symbolic representations of achievement and the isolation of an individual from the masses of the working class in industrialized capitalist American society. The mountains, depicted by Kerouac and Barthelme, rise above the American landscape as majestic entities whose peaks are touched by few enduring and brave souls