Name: ______________________________
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Walt Whitman--“Song of Myself”
Written in free-verse
Celebration and an offering of himself (body and soul) to his readers
In 1855 at his own expense, he published a book called Leaves of Grass
o Of the 795 copies printed, few were sold; yet, in time, the book would
alter the course of world literature.
The beginning a lifelong journey to discover himself, America, and the world
“Song of Myself” is in 52 parts; part one is a kind of opening prayer
abeyance—n.—temporary inactivity or stopping
cease—v.—to stop
creeds—n.—beliefs or opinions
harbor—v.—to keep or hold in the mind
hazard—n.—a foreseeable but unavoidable danger
loaf—v.—to lounge lazily and idly
schools—n.—any group of persons having common attitudes or beliefs
spear—n.—a sprout or shoot, as of grass
“Song of Myself” (1) --pg. 534
1. Who is the speaker?
2.
What are his intentions in lines 2-3?
3. What attitude does the speaker express about himself in lines 6-13?
4. What do you envision in in lines 4-5?
5. Is the speaker’s “loafing” mere idleness or something else?
6. In Whitman’s time, as never before, nature was being explored, analyzed,
harnessed, exploited, and otherwise “used” to serve humankind. How is this poet
going to “use” nature? How could this statement be seen as a description of the
poet’s style?
“Song of Myself” (52)
1. What does the speaker compare his poetry to in lines 46-48?
2. What does the speaker mean by calling his poetry “my barbaric yawp” (line 48)?
3. What do you think grass symbolizes in this poem?