Walt Whitman
American Literature
MWenger
Terms:
Cadence:
Free Verse:
Catalogue:
Incremental repetition:
Alliteration:
Imagery:
Parallelism:
Onomatopoeia:
Personification:
Coda:
Interesting facts about Walt Whitman (p. 438):
Notes on Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself (p. 438 and 440-441):
Song of Myself #1
An opening or introduction to the poem (poet’s journey)
Literary Devices:
Incremental Repetition
Quote:
Parallel Structure
Catalog
Themes:
** Everyone is part of the whole of nature
Interconnection of humanity
Everyone is equal
Quote:
** Pride of American heritage
Significant Elements:
**
Quote:
“…every atom of my blood, formed from
this soil, this air.”
**
“ I, now, 37 years old in perfect health
begin, hoping to cease not till death.”
Song of Myself #6
This poem reflects a conversation between poet and himself
Literary Devices
Imagery:
Quote
Parallelism:
Theme:
**Oversoul/those dead live again in nature:
Quote:
**Positive POV of death:
Symbol:
Child:
Grass:
Meaning:
Song of Myself # 14
Literary Devices:
Onomatopoeia
Quotes
Catalog:
Significant elements:
Connection/link to the natural world
Quotes
I am enamored of growing outdoors,/of
men that live among cattle…
Song of Myself #17
Literary Devices
Parallelism
Quote
Theme
An individual’s thoughts belong to
everyone
Quote
“Song of Myself #52
Final poem of the Song of Myself journey of Walt Whitman. This coda sums up
Themes of the entire series.
Literary Devices:
Personification:
Quotes:
Themes:
**Free Spirit which is not definable
Quotes:
**Individuality…yet part of all
**Empathy
**Endless journey of contentment:
Significant Elements:
**
Quote:
“I too am not a bit tamed..I sound my
barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.”
**
“I depart as air…”
**Accessibility/link to all humanity
Essential Questions:
**How may the poetry of Walt Whitman mirror Transcendentalism?
**How may the poetry of Walt Whitman contribute to America’s story?
**How does the style of Walt Whitman reflect the themes of his poetry?
**How does Walt Whitman’s poetry compare/contrast to other poetic pieces discussed in
Regards to theme and style?