The aspect of individualism is seen everywhere in modern and post Romantic Era literature: “Romanticism embraced individuality and subjectivity to counteract the excessive insistence on logical thought” (“The Art Story, Romanticism”). In American Literature, there is a common theme of rugged individualism. This state of mind refers to the belief that an individual, on their own can succeed. Rugged individualism, which gained momentum during mid 1900s, stemmed from the very individualistic Romanticism Era. This theme can be commonly found in American Literature. For example, in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, rugged individualism is present through the main idea of the book. In the novel, the main characters, who were farmers, moved west in order to find work and escape the dust bowl. When the farmers in the story uprooted their whole lives, although it may …show more content…
One of Walt Whitman’s most famous piece of poetry is called Song of Myself. When Walt Whitman wrote Song of Myself, he paved the way for a new style of writing using free verse and a loose structure. In this poem, Walt Whitman writes about himself, therefore glorifying the individual: “I celebrate myself, and sing myself And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” (Whitman 1 2 3). Whitman writes about himself to show the importance of the individual: “This celebration of himself reflects the American Romantics' obsession with individualism” (Shmoop, Walt Whitman “Song of Myself”(1855)). Throughout the whole poem he frequently uses “I” in order to once again, stress the importance of the individual. In addition to this, Walt Whitman also broke free from the tradition of rhyming and formal poetry. Walt Whitman’s use of free verse displayed the new and liberated sense of American Literature and also paved way to a new style of poetry that was free
Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." The Norton Anthology of American Literature.. Gen. ed. Nina Baym. 8th ed. Vol. C. New York: Norton, 2012. 24-67. Print.
Whitman, Walt. “Song of Myself.” 1855 ed. Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” Edwin Haviland Miller. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1989. 9-11.
A literary catalog is considered a long list of events. One of the works that it is demonstrated in is “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. Whitman writes over 52 sections within his poem, which clearly he mastered the technique. He informs the reader that it is time to celebrate himself which then he transmits different episodes of his experiences. The main concern is that his poem is universal in America and can encourage self-reliance.
Stanza 33 of “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman is a beautiful poem. In the poem, Whitman describes a multitude of examples of people he considers heroes.
Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. Dover Thrift ed. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2001. Print.
Throughout the span of this semester, much of the literature discussed revolved around the so-called renaissance of American literature and its impact upon both the nation and its people. Of all the authors studied in this time period, Walt Whitman may well be known as the quintessential American author. Famous for breaking every rule known to poetry in the inimitable compilation, Song of Myself, Whitman provided a fresh and insightful commentary upon the dualistic nature of society, love, and life itself. Through defining these essential aspects of humanity, Whitman indeed composed one of the most accurate and enduring definitions of the individual self that literature, American or otherwise, has ever seen. Specifically, this was done through
The Heath Anthology of American Literature repeatedly refers to Walt Whitman and his poetry in terms of being American, yet as I read Song of Myself, my thoughts are continually drawn to the philosophies and religions of the Far East. Like the Tao Te Ching ideas are expressed in enigmatic verse and each stanza is a Zen koan waiting to be meditated on and puzzled out. Even Emerson called Whitman's poetry "a remarkable mixture of the Bhagvat Gita and the New York Herald" ("The Whitman Project"). Song of Myself contains multitudes of passages that express Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist thought.
Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" is a vision of the American spirit, a vision of Whitman himself. It is his cry for democracy, giving each of us a voice through his poetry. Each of us has a voice and desires, and this is Whitman's representation of our voices, the voice of America. America, the great melting pot, was founded for freedom and democracy, and this poem is his way of re-instilling these lost American ideals. In this passage from "Song of Myself" Whitman speaks through his fellow man and speaks for his fellow man when his voice is not socially acceptable to be heard.
In stanza six of the poem "Song of Myself", by Walt Whitman, he poses the question "What is the grass?" I believe that grass is a metaphor for the cycle of life. Throughout the poem Whitman points out images that grass could represent. All of these images stem from the life and death that we come to expect in our lifetime. During your life you will experience death, it at times surrounds you, but if you look past the grief and look to the beauty you will see that it is a cycle that keeps our world in balance. The images of flags, tears, children and older people that are torn from the ones they love, but only to soon return to other lost ones are all parts of Walt Whitman's poem.
1. In Song of Myself 15, Walt Whitman personifies “America” as its people, living, breathing and working towards the greater goal of contributing to their country. This sense of unabashed patriotism pervades Whitman’s prose. Whitman uses simple language, often a noun describing the occupation followed by a verb describing the task.
Whitman's radical ideas of individualism have a great deal to do with his Quaker background. The Quaker religion is one in which the authority was Inner Light. "Whitman himself was not only personally familiar with, but deeply impressed by, a religion whose only authority was the Inner Light" (Canoy 481). The Inner Light is a special influence, which made Whitman's poetry unique. This certain influence did such things as guide Whitman down his soul searching path as well as help him define within himself the characteristics of an individual. In section fifteen of "Song of Myself," Whitman discusses people from every class and every profession. He goes on to say "the young fellow drives the express-wagon... love him though I do not know him;" (2753). ...
The poem has set a certain theme and tone but no definite rhyme. In this poem, the poet explores into a thought of the self, the all-encompassing "I," sexuality, democracy, the human body, and what it means to live in the modern world. He addresses that the human body is sacred and every individual human is divine. Hence, Whitman was known for writing poems about individualism, democracy, nature, and war.
However, this difference can also be seen as an addition to Wordsworth, as Wordsworth advocated for organic form. Whitman’s further use of organic form is still within the influence of Wordsworth, as it ties back to the Romantic ideals he put forth. Overall, while Whitman may have denied inspiration from Wordsworth, the evidence points in a different direction. All in all, Whitman’s “Song of Myself” and Wordsworth’s preface to Lyrical Ballads show the influence of Wordsworth’s ideas on Whitman through the use of the common experience and the language they utilized, even if their forms were slightly different.
Society shapes human beings into what they think is perfection. People in today’s society follow the world’s rituals as they continue to conform to fit in to the latest trends. Today, implants, plastic surgery, and weight loss treatments are the reason people have money set aside in their savings accounts. The pressure of others claims to be the main reason people change their hair, skin, and size, and often forget about their own special characteristics. There is a reason Walt Whitman, writes “I Celebrate Myself, and Sing Myself,” to show the importance of loving yourself and cherishing your own personal qualities as a human being. He speaks of himself, hoping to grab his readers’ attention. Throughout the poem, “I Celebrate Myself, and Sing
Tsz Wai Wong AMS 1A (Spring 2015) Journal 12 What are the visions of “sexuality” and “American” that Whitman tries to present from the poem? The attempt to pin down Walt Whitman's most famous poem, “Song of Myself”, and isolate the elements of sexuality and what it means to be "American" does a great disservice to the transcendental and ambitious work. A key way to understand the work is reconciling a mix of Americanism and transcendentalism; the work is simultaneously universal and American.