Walt Whitman (1819-92)

Walt Whitman (1819-92)

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born in Long Island, NY, belong to a working-class family he was outgoing. Brief period as an editor that ended when his opposition to slavery became a problem. He travelled a lot and was impressed by the vastness of the American landscape and the variety of people.

His poetry was influenced by Emerson (Trascendentalism), it was a sort of celebration; durin the civil war he served as a volunteer in military hospital (famous elogy to Abraham Lincoln).

Rest of his life spent working on 6editions of Leaves of Grass. His literature was disregarded by the public shocked by his frankness in sexual matters and his rough working-man image.

"Leaves of Grass"
his great masterpiece; originally published with 12poems it grew to include 400. he believed American poetry should be like the country it represented, free of strict rules; a poet should be a man of the common people.Use of metaphors and smilies.Many poems are a celebration of USA.

"O Captain! My Captain"
his most popular poem; he was sorry for having written it 'cause it was asked him to read it in public. Its popularity is due to the style, elements of the ballad form.

"When I heard the learned astronomer" is one continuous sentence and there is no end rhyme. It extols the beauty of the natural world leaving a stuffy lecture hall to smell the air and watch the stars.

"I hear America singing"
this poem is dedicated to America's different voices, men and women alike. He is delighted by the song of common people, the builders of new American nation.