Whitman1

A detailed Summary of Whitman1

Through a multitude of literary devices and techniques, Walt Whitman's poem, "Song of Myself," is one of his most famous contributions to American literature. He uses simile and metaphor, paradox, rhythm, and free verse style, to convey his struggle between the relation of the body and soul, the physical and the spiritual being. He continues to disobey all social restrictions of the romantic time period. From the beginning, Whitman begins by stating, "What I shall assume, you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you," proposing that the reader listen to him, for he possesses all of the answers to life. The setting is somewhat naturalistic, and offers an image of the speaker, relaxing, possibly sprawled out across a blanket, philosophizing about life, while in the middle of a peaceful meadow. As the poem later shifts in tone, and setting, Whitman starts to think about the answers to life he has come up with, based upon the past, and decides that the reader should hear him out, one final time, as his ideas have changed. This brings us to #44 of "Song of Myself."

In section #44 of, "Song of Myself," Whitman's first stanza begins: "It's time to explain myself...let us stand up.

In the third stanza, Whitman writes: "Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you my brother or sister? I am sorry for you...they are not murderous or jealous upon me; All has been gentle with me...I keep no account with lamentation; what have I to do with lamentation? I am an acme of things accomplished, and I am an encloser of things to be. My feet strike an apex of the apices of the stairs, on every step bunches of ages, and larger bunches between the steps, all below duly traveled-and still I mount and mount." Here is a direct statement towards minorities. He apologizes on his own behalf for the discrimination for which they have been plagued. Why should I feel the grief that you feel? I am a pinnacle of things achieved, and I still possess the ability to achieve more. He goes on to explain that he has climbed to the top of the mountain. As he has climbed, he has grown, both physically and spiritually. The further Whitman climbs, the closer he comes to greatness, and the separation between him and the people below him is expanding, the further people are from his greatness. This sense of superiority correlates to his theme of equality because he had to earn his way to the top of the mountain, and feels that everyone, if not already, has or should have the ability to climb to the top as well. Then he would not be as superior; however, he insists that ambition is the reason for his superiority, and each person is equal in that they can control their own ambition to become more powerful.

Concluding section #44, Walt Whitman writes, "Cycles ferried my cradle, rowing and rowing like cheerful boatmen; for room to me stars kept aside in their own rings, they sent influences to look after what was to hold me. Before I was born out of my mother generations guided me, my embryo has never been torpid...nothing could over lay it; for it's the nebula cohered to an orb...the long slow strata piled to rest it on...vast vegetables gave it sustenance, monstrous sauroids transported it into their mouths and deposited it with care. All forces have been steadily employed to complete and delight me, now I stand on this spot with my soul." In this final stanza, Whitman sums up the section by telling the reader that throughout his journey, a spirit had watched over him, and as previously mentioned, people were willing to lend a helping hand so that he could achieve greatness. He was guided throughout his early periods of life. Whitman also seems to feel that grea

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Approximate Word count = 1671
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English