The Poetry of Walt Whitman Essay - 1645 Words

Walt Whitman is considered by many to be one of the greatest poets of the nineteenth century. Whitman grew up in New York and was a member of a large family, having eight siblings. Only four of these siblings lived to adulthood. His father was an alcoholic, which led to Whitman becoming more like a father-figure than a brother to his siblings. Whitman quit school at the age of eleven. He then worked as a journalist, as a carpenter, as a teacher, and as an editor before focusing on poetry. Whitman is most well-known for his book of poems, Leaves of Grass. Whitman could not find a publisher interested in his poems; therefore, he published them himself. Whitman rereleased this collection of poems several times, each time with the addition of†¦show more content†¦Whitman deplored slavery and was even fired from his job as an editor for his outspoken views on the subject. Whitman saw Lincoln as someone who wanted to put an end to slavery and as someone who would put his words int o action. Whitman took a great interest in The Civil War. His brother served in the war and Whitman volunteered as a nurse at an army hospital in Washington, D.C., where he dressed the wounds of injured soldiers, as well as read to them, and wrote letters for them to their families. Whitman gave lectures on President Lincoln almost up until his own death. Whitman was greatly disturbed by the assassination of President Lincoln and wrote these poems as a tribute to him. The most popular and the most analyzed of these poems is When Lilacs Last in the DoorYard Bloom’d. Laurie Lanzen writes, â€Å"this is a poem whose rich and sacred beauty and rapture of tender religious passion leave it unique and solitary in literature, and will make it the chosen and immortal hymn of death forever† (Lanzen, 544 ). Even though Whitman never mentions President Lincoln by name in the poem, according to whitmanarchive.org, this poem â€Å"was published in the fourth edition of Leaves of Grass in 1867 under the heading President Lincoln’s Burial Hymn† (whitmanarchive.org). This has come to be considered as one of the best poems ever written by Whitman. When Lilacs Last in theShow MoreRelatedWalt 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†. 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For example, topicsRead MoreWalt Whitman And Allen Ginsbergs Poetry1332 Words   |  6 Pagesinner 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. 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Whitman Essay1229 Words   |  5 Pages Dickinson vs. Whitman After receiving five years of schooling, Walt Whitman spent four years learning the printing trade; Emily Dickinson returned home after receiving schooling to be with her family and never really had a job. Walt Whitman spent most of his time observing people and New York City. Dickinson rarely left her house and she didnt associate with many people other than her family. In this essay I will be comparing Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. Emily Dickinsons life differs greatly