The poetry of the 19th century fireside poets is a traditional representation of American verse of the time. ... Pentameter is the most commonly used meter in English poetry, and as Bryant's structure of poetry is traditional it hearkens back to classic English verse in form. Whitman, however, has less of a conventional approach to poetry. ... The poetry of Walt Whitman and William Cullen Bryant represent two very different aspects of 19th century American poetry. While both men's poetry contains transcendentalist themes, the two are very different in terms of meter and language....

• Word Count: 1012
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

" (Britannica poetry) Poetry is a vast subject that dates back to thousands of years. In writing poetry, authors often incorporate or manipulate syntax, sound scheme, meter, and more to invoke certain aesthetics and meaning. ... Whitman broke the boundaries of poetic form and took a very personal style in writing his poetry. ... In this sense, it can be said that the poem depicts a form of epic poetry. ... In terms of digressing from the traditional epic, Whitman creates what is almost an exclusive style by establishing what has come to be known as an American epic. ...

• Word Count: 1717
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

Through his poetry, Whitman's "Song of Myself" makes the soul sensual and makes divine the flesh. ... This equality includes not only his sexuality, but in broader terms, his soul and body. ... His preface even called for a new "Kosmic" poetry. Whitman celebrated an untamed communion with nature with overtones of sensuality that appeared shocking even though his poetry expressed solid transcendental doctrine. ...

• Word Count: 1078
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

It is because of this that he is "arguably the most influential American writer" of the eighteen hundreds, and many other writers and thinkers during the time "sought to come to terms" with him (Baym 211). ...

• Word Count: 1963
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Between 1848 and 1855 he developed the style of poetry that won praise from Ralph Waldo Emerson and earned readers in England. ... Whitman's influence on later American poetry has been profound, both by the examples of his open forms and by his bold encompassing of subject matter that had formerly been considered unpoetic. Many of his four hundred poems contain musical terms, names of instruments, and names of composers. ...

• Word Count: 1529
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Whitman's Secret Mentor Walt Whitman was a man who slowly developed his personality throughout the course of his life. It can be said that his emotions were a very broad spectrum, and at times, even contradictory. Much like many people in today's society, it took some horrific experiences in Wh...

• Word Count: 1476
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School