Walt Whitman 1819 1892 Background Born in Long

Walt Whitman 1819 -1892

Background Born in Long Island n Jobs n – – – Office clerk Printer’s assistant School teacher Journalist/editor Part-time carpenter and building contractor

Leaves of Grass n n Published at his own expense, 1855 Went unnoticed (too new/different) Sent samples, one to Emerson, who embraced it Republished 9 times, ending in 1891

The Image of the Poet n Carefully crafted an image: – Full of contradictions § A con artist and a saint § An artist and a hobo § Brags, but shy Enjoyed the public eye, sought it out n Always, he was real – a man of the people n

His Unique Style n The father of free verse – poetry with no rhyme or meter n Cadence: the natural rhythm of speech patterns n Wrote in long lists n Rambles and repeats himself n Makes up new words

Subject matter n The unique American experience – Democracy and the limitless potential of the U. S. – Unspoiled beauty of nature, where he finds spiritual truth and inspiration – The common working person – Equality – Civil War Celebrates humanity and the human body n Celebrates himself, in the sense that he stands for every American n

Subject Matter Cont’d Believed he understood every American because every American was a part of him and he a part of them (shared the same atoms) n Celebrates and expresses an exuberance for life n