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Walt Whitman - Song of Myself

The belief that Whitman had no style would imply that Americans as a society have no style, a statement that not only Whitman but Emerson and Thoreau as well fought against through their writings. Whitman and Emerson fighting for the same cause is not coincidental, Whitman has often been viewed as the "child"" of Emerson, his work being greatly influenced by Emerson. Whitman's technique of looking at everything as a whole and always opposed to breaking up the whole can be linked to his belief of unity within our country.
             Whitman's work can be seen almost as a piece of music; it has a beginning and an ending with many different themes in between and many developments and variations taking place. In Song of Myself one section may clearly lead to another and other times not; the reason for this unclear path from beginning to end may be that Whitman is reaching toward the unknown. To be able to achieve this task he tries one approach, then another. It is almost as he is tossing seeds into his poetry and allowing the leaves of grass to grow together in whichever form or path they choose for themselves. Thoreau would appreciate this idea of some paths leading to civilization, while other paths leading to other paths. The first few lines of Whitman's Song of Myself define the true essence of his style; simple and personal. He leases part of himself in his work as shown in lines 1-4 of Song of Myself: .
             "I celebrate 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" (SOM 2096).
             These lines provide evidence to support the claim that Whitman is trying to make a very personal connection with his readers to allow the work to not only be a representation of himself but a representation of everyone and everything. Line 3 sums up his attitude towards the work as he simply stated what's mine is yours. This idea of simple and personal can be further enforced by the way Whitman chose to uniquely sign his book.


Essays Related to Walt Whitman - Song of Myself

1. Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman, In part 5 of "Song of Myself", analyzes his inner-self while revealing many aspects of transcendentalism in his poetry. ... As the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review agrees with me, "the famous section 5 of "Song of Myself" is a good example of the transforming mystical experience, described erotically," (Walt). In discovering the poem "Song of Myself", the ideas, mannerisms, and feelings of Walt Whitman were revealed in such a way that one could accept them as a true physiological account of his life. In comparing this life account to that of a transcendentalist, one finds that Wa...

  • Word Count: 963
  • Approx Pages: 4
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2. Poem Analysis - Song to Myself

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3. Walt Whitman

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  • Word Count: 1169
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4. Whitmans and lincoln comparisn

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  • Word Count: 1476
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5. Life in Whitman's Poetry

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  • Word Count: 1606
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6. Walt Whitman

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7. Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass

In Walt Whitman's collection of poems entitled "Leaves of Grass" we are able to see how Whitman is a realist. ... I find these qualities to be tied with Whitman's inability to get close to people. ... (Song Of Myself). Whitman is a poet for the people, and likes to portray the average laborer in his poems. ... For our final paper I have been looking at the effect of the Civil War played in Whitman's poetry. ...

  • Word Count: 274
  • Approx Pages: 1
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8. Life of Walt Whitman

Among the ranks of the most debated writers of American history, Walt Whitman I am sure is among the top 10. ... I will evaluate as well as provide critical references and debate to the character of Walt Whitman, as well as the poems "Song of Myself", "As Adam, Early in the Morning", and "I Hear America Singing". ... Walt Whitman Sr. was a liberal thinker, which probably has had some effect on Walt Whitman the poet's thinking as well. ... It is his position that in "Song of Myself "Whitman's conception of the self, its relationship to the image of wind, and the religious dimension...

  • Word Count: 2331
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9. Walt Whitman poem analysis

Walt Whitman has written many poems throughout his lifetime. ... In Whitman's poem, "Beat! ... Whitman thinks of what to do to honor Lincoln. He says, "O how shall I warble myself for the dead one there I loved?" He has so many ways to honor him and he has to figure out what song to sing and what pictures to hang "to adorn the burial-house of him I love." ...

  • Word Count: 348
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