Walt Whitmans Influences - 1411 Words

Walt Whitman’s influence to American Literary History After the Civil War, Walt Whitman realized that the American people were in need of their own identity. Therefore, he wrote the book â€Å"Leaves of Grass† with the goal of creating a literature piece that was authentic and organic to the United States in every sense. Whitman introduced to literature the idea of the â€Å"American Dream† and highlighted how important it was for the American people to develop their own identity. Consequently, he rejected the European writing styles and adapted the use of free-verses to his writing, making it a popular writing style in American poetry. Whitman valued of humanity, nature and spirituality. Therefore, he joined the Transcendental literary movement and†¦show more content†¦The poem â€Å"Song of Myself† contains all the elements that defined â€Å"Transcendentalism†. The Transcendental movement is based on the principle that human knowledge could go beyond worlds. â€Å"Transcendentalism† origina ted as a sub-genre of â€Å"Romanticism†. In the poem â€Å"Song of Myself† Whitman presents the idea that regardless of particular religion, a higher power resides within every living thing and that the knowledge of ourselves and the living things around us gives us a transcendent power beyond our world. On the â€Å"Song of Myself† poem Whitman presents the believe that every living organism in the universe possesses a spirit. Additionally, Whitman acknowledges the need for a spiritual relationship between a person and a higher spiritual power. For Whitman, life was and endless journey. The following quote captures some of the Transcendental elements used by Walt Whitman on the â€Å"Song of Myself† I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. On this verse, we can see how Whitman tries to connect to mind, body, spirit and nature. In â€Å"Song of Myself† Whitman attempted to change the meaning of American poetry. I described identity issues that pertain to him, but that the audience was able to identify with. Whitman, opened the door toShow MoreRelatedWalt Whitmans Influences1597 Words   |  7 PagesThere have been many influential writers that left their own unique mark on American history; one in particular that has made a significant impact is Walt Whitman. His writing styles evoke different nontraditional methods that did not coincide with the traditions of more â€Å"mainstream† American writers. He did this by establishing a pattern that utilized a lot of free verse compared to the more natural rhyme of poems, and also by describing his subject with emphasis to make the story as real as possibleRead MoreEssay about American Influences of Walt Whitman1476 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Influences of Walt Whitman In his poems and life, Walt Whitman celebrated the human spirit and the human body. He sang the praises of democracy and marveled at the technological advances of his era. His direct poetic style shocked many of his contemporaries. This style, for which Whitman is famous, is in direct relation to several major American cultural developments. The development of American dictionaries, the growth of baseball, the evolution of Native American policy, and the developmentRead MoreWalt Whitman Poetry Essay1685 Words   |  7 PagesWhitman’s Contribution to American Identity Walt Whitman’s portfolio of poetry was a crucial staple in the American identity. Whitman used his poetry to contribute to the evolution of self-reliance, human freedom and concepts of democracy. These influences can be seen throughout all of his poems, but more relevantly in â€Å"Song of Myself†, â€Å"For You O Democracy† and in â€Å"Live Oak, with Moss†. After analyzing these works thoroughly, Whitman has undeniably aided in the development of American identityRead MoreI Too Sing America Analysis852 Words   |  4 PagesSinging America Langston Hughes has cited Walt Whitman as one of his greatest influences he has had, and some believe that Hughes wrote I, Too, Sing America in response to Whitmans I Hear America Singing. Hughes builds on to Whitmans poem by writing his poem along the same lines and basics as Whitmans. Both poems talk about the way people work hard, how they sing America, and the way they are so content and never complain. All the characters work all day and they sing America, meaning theyRead More Individuality in Whitmans Song of Myself Essay1260 Words   |  6 PagesIndividuality in Whitmans Song of Myself During a lecture in 1907, William James said the philosophy which is so important in each of us is not a technical matter; it is our more or less dumb sense of what life honestly means. It is only partly got from books; it is our individual way of just seeing and feeling the total push and pressure of the cosmos (Bartlett 546) Individuality has been a prevalent theme in every type of literature for quite some time. Whether it is a character discoveringRead MoreWalt Whitman Spontaneous Me1530 Words   |  7 PagesWalt Whitman â€Å"Spontaneous Me† â€Å"Walt Whitman revolutionized American Poetry† (Norton 2190). A statement made by many, in which the American society can agree upon. His bold style of writing grasps the reader into a world where nature and sexuality meet. Whitman’s collection entitled Leaves of Grass was published in 1855 to a nation barely accepting of new ideas (Oakes). During the time of slavery and great religious value, Whitman’s pieces were considered immoral, traitorous and were often bannedRead MoreWalt Whitman And Allen Ginsbergs Poetry1332 Words   |  6 Pagesyour inner moonlight; don t hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don t care who s listening.† Walt Whitman was a brilliant writer of his time, a writer that created a voice for the masses to no longer be a mass, but an individual. He was truly a pioneer of his generation, a revolutionary in thought, and this is not his quote. Due to his paralleled lifestyle to Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsberg learned a nd drew inspiration from such works as â€Å"Leaves of Grass† to apply towards his ownRead MoreAllen Ginsberg, A Supermarket in California Literary Analysis1669 Words   |  7 Pageshero and influence, Walt Whitman. This piece was an experiment of style and theme that would later dominate his career (Pagnattaro 1). It seems that the use of Whitman in this poem is a device, which the author used to contrast Walt’s idealism with his own cynical version of reality. Ginsberg was expressing his disdain with the hypocrisy of modern American society’s â€Å"progress† and the bastardization of nature that happens as a symptom of mass consumerism. The reasons why Ginsberg chose Walt WhitmanRead MoreThe Most Uneven Great Poet By Tenney Nathanson1102 Words   |  5 PagesSoul and Body, set to them my name, Walt Whitman Walt Whitman, termed â€Å"America’s most uneven great poet† by Tenney Nathanson, is one of America’s greatest poets. Born in 1819 in Long Island, Whitman lived during an era when sexuality, especially homosexuality, a term not coined until years later, was a taboo subject not to be discussed in public. Many of his poems centered on his private and public life as well as sexualizing men, women, and objects. Whitman’s poems shaped history by bringing theRead MoreIndividuality And Free Verse in Walt Whitmans Song of Myself1524 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican dream has not always been consistent, (married with 2.5 kids, 2 cars, a dog and a satisfying job), the spirit of innovation, individuality and progress remains unchanged. The father of free verse, and perhaps the American perspective of poetry, Walt Whitman embodies these values in his life and work. First published in 1855 in Leaves of Grass, Song of Myself is a vision of a symbolic I enraptured by t he senses, vicariously embracing all people and places from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans