explored through many genres by several different authors. Two pieces of American literature which give perspective on this theme are Toni Morrison ’s Recitatif and Walt Whitman ’s Song of Myself. In Morrison ’s writing‚ one views the ways in which race impacts identity and fosters a common humanity amongst its characters‚ while in Whitman ’s poetry one is able to analyze the ways in which the poet ’s American roots and his sense of self form his identity. Through the analysis of these two pieces of literature
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Whitman’s first poem “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” reflects transcendentalist beliefs of nature. In this poem an average person is politely listening to an renowned astronomer lecture about stars as the astronomer expounds through equations and number and odd pictures that seem to have little to do with stars. The listener becomes confused and nauseous. He promptly leaves the class where he looks up and experience actual stars. This poem explicates that while scientific calculations can quantify
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"The words of my books‚" said Walt Whitman‚ "are nothing‚ the drift of it everything." The various themes in Whitman’s works are the most important‚ the actual erudite terms are only important in upholding these ideas. The main themes of his "O Captain! My captain!" are death of a hero‚ family‚ a journey‚ and defeat vs. victory. The themes are supported by a variety of concrete stylistic techniques‚ including tone‚ apostrophe‚ allusions‚ archetypes‚ and repetition. Death of a hero is the first theme
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Katie Waddle English 12‚ 3 Mr. Decker April 5‚ 2013 "A Supermarket in California" by Alan Ginsberg addresses Walt Whitman‚ who as it becomes evident throughout the poem‚ is Alan Ginsberg’s poetic hero. Ginsberg looked up to Whitman for many reasons. Ginsberg was a bisexual or homosexual Jewish man‚ and Whitman was also thought to have been bisexual or homosexual. Ginsberg portrays Whitman’s style and his legacy of writing by continuing Whitman’s poetic assault to industrialized society and
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philosophy and theology. Today‚ the goodness of the soul and the badness of the flesh still remain a significant notion in contemporary thought. Even Whitman’s literary predecessor‚ Emerson‚ chose to distinctly differentiate the soul from all nature. Whitman‚ however‚ chooses to reevaluate that relationship. His exploration of human sensuality‚ particularly human sexuality‚ is the tool with which he integrates the spirit with the flesh.<br><br>Key to this integration is Whitman’s
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poem‚ rather than just read it. Interpreting this poem through a formalist lens answers any questions left about the text. The poem begins with “What thoughts I have of you tonight‚ Walt Whitman‚ for I walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headache self-conscious looking at the full moon.” Walt Whitman “was a journalist‚ wartime nurse‚ and poet whose poetry captured the pathos and spirituality of the ordinary soldier in the Civil War and reinforced the image of President Lincoln as a Christ
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criticisms due to its informal style. The poem on a literal level discusses the sights and sounds seen on an average venture with the “scallop edged waves in the twilight” (Whitman‚ 136) and the “crowds of men and women attired in usual costumes”(Whitman‚ 135) to cross the river from Manhattan to Brooklyn‚ yet on a figurative level Whitman discusses the adventure of the soul and the commonality of the body and soul‚ and within every human. Whitman’s use of the Brooklyn Ferry as a means to communicate to
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find in Yeats’ poems? 2007*** 4. What modern elements do you find in Yeats’ poems? 2009** Walt Whitman 5. Consider Whitman’s treatment of soul‚ self and body. 2007*** Or How does Whitman ‘song’ and ‘celebrate’ the self in his Song of Myself? 2008*** 6. How Whitman broke with the traditional verse forms and themes in his poetry? 2003‚ 2006‚ 2008*** 7. Whitman’s use of symbols. 2003 Or‚ Whitman is merely fantastic in his symbolism. Discuss with reference to Song of Myself. 2009** Robert Frost
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Swearingen Ms. Petronella English 1320 21 February 2015 Close Reading- Song of Myself by Walt Whitman In Walt Whitman’s poem‚ Song of Myself‚ I found different key pieces of Whitman’s diction and language to be more in depth and not so cut‚ black and white. This poem really makes you think by giving you different perspectives of life to wonder about through the use of his words. I have gotten the impression that Whitman really values himself and his beliefs of a good world and being alive in the present
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A Wrinkle in Time written by Madeline L’Engle is about a girl named Meg Murry‚ her little brother Charles Wallace‚ and their friend Calvin O’Keefe who are normal kids and then they go out on a journey to go find Meg’s lost father. One main character in A Wrinkle in Time is Meg Murry. Meg Murry is a young and plain girl. She wears glasses and has braces. She thinks she is unattractive and doesn’t think good things about herself. In school she gets into trouble with her other classmates because she
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