Modernity in Whitman and Dickinson's Poetry

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Questions and Answers

Which role did Whitman hold before becoming the editor of the Manhattan Daily called Aurora?

Carpenter

Office boy (correct)

Journalist (correct)

Poet

What major social conflict did Whitman believe the Mexican War initiated?

Labor unrest

Irrepressible conflict (correct)

Civil Rights Movement

Women's suffrage

What literary technique is prominently featured in Whitman's Leaves of Grass?

Iambic pentameter

Couplets

Free verse (correct)

Blank verse

Which aspect of Whitman's experience influenced the content of his poetry, especially in 'Song of Myself'?

His personal reflections Signup and view all the answers

In which year did the first edition of Leaves of Grass get published?

1855 Signup and view all the answers

What was Whitman's occupation after he gave up his journalistic career?

Carpenter Signup and view all the answers

What does Whitman emphasize in his late essay regarding the nature of his poetry?

It reflects a personal story rather than literary conventions. Signup and view all the answers

What community did Whitman observe during his youth that sparked his interest in local culture?

Fishermen of Long Island Signup and view all the answers

What profession did Whitman hold during his time related to the military?

Wound-dresser Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Whitman's elegy 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd'?

It commemorates President Lincoln's death. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following works was NOT written by Whitman?

Passage to India Signup and view all the answers

What influenced Dickinson’s literary education the most according to the provided information?

The poets she read Signup and view all the answers

Which literary figures did Dickinson read?

The Brontës and Tennyson Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant theme in Whitman's essay series Democratic Vistas?

The need for American literary independence Signup and view all the answers

How did Dickinson's life experiences limit her literary exposure?

Because of her lack of formal education Signup and view all the answers

What was Whitman's view on the state of American literature during his time?

It was dominated by superficial sentimentalism. Signup and view all the answers

What motivated Dickinson's decision to remain unmarried?

Her aim to preserve her inner self Signup and view all the answers

Which literary figure influenced Dickinson by encouraging her to write poetry?

Thomas Wentworth Higginson Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested by the imagery of 'broken porcelain' in Dickinson's poetry?

The fragility of life and relationships Signup and view all the answers

In her poetry, how does Dickinson employ half-rhymes?

To express existential seriousness ironically Signup and view all the answers

What does the figure of the husband represent in connection with God in Dickinson's poem to Wadsworth?

The conflict between spirituality and romance Signup and view all the answers

What characteristics define Dickinson's poetry style as developed in the early 1850s?

Short stanzas with irregular rhyme schemes Signup and view all the answers

Who is likely identified as the 'Sexton' in Dickinson's imagery related to death?

A caretaker of a graveyard Signup and view all the answers

What sentiment does the phrase 'Oh Sacrament of summer days' evoke in Dickinson's poetry?

The significance of ritualized communion Signup and view all the answers

What does 'the child' in Dickinson’s poem symbolize?

An unmediated view of the world of the senses Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of catachresis in Dickinson's poetry?

It reveals the illusory nature of sensory experiences Signup and view all the answers

How does Dickinson’s approach to poetic reality differ from that of modernists like T.S. Eliot?

She embraces language's role in creating meaning Signup and view all the answers

Which theme is NOT considered one of the great themes in Dickinson's poetry?

Human relationships and their complexities Signup and view all the answers

What does Dickinson suggest about the role of language in her poetry?

Language creates new realities and meanings Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of traditional values does Dickinson reject in her poetry?

The objective interpretation of sensory experiences Signup and view all the answers

In which poetic tradition does Dickinson's work resonate according to the content?

Metaphysical poetry from John Donne Signup and view all the answers

Which line from Dickinson's poetry suggests a reflective contemplation on the passage of time?

Slow tramp the Centuries Signup and view all the answers

What does Whitman's poetry notably reflect in terms of cultural influence?

An integration of various cultural elements, including Asian myths Signup and view all the answers

In which poem does Whitman suggest that his poetry is part of a cultural movement originating from India?

Facing West from California’s Shores Signup and view all the answers

What is highlighted as the greatest discovery of modern poetry according to the content?

The relationship between death and the everyday world Signup and view all the answers

How does Whitman redefine the concept of American otherness?

By connecting it to nature and human freedom in contrast to British tradition Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Deathbed Edition of Leaves of Grass?

It became Whitman's Collected Works including all his later additions. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of culture does Whitman’s later poetry suggest is still sought after?

The search for greater meaning amidst the cultural cycle Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Whitman’s view of American culture as seen in his poetry?

It is part of a grand, continuous cultural movement. Signup and view all the answers

Which poem illustrates the interconnection of life and death in Whitman's work?

Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking Signup and view all the answers

What does the symbolic figure of the self primarily represent in Whitman's poetry?

The collective identity of American society Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the motif of grass in Whitman's poetry?

It symbolizes the everydayness and accessibility of poetry. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the relationship between the author and the reader in Whitman's poetry?

They share a unified identity through the metaphor of the self. Signup and view all the answers

In Whitman's view, what role does poetry play in relation to personal and collective identity?

It acts as a vehicle for expressing common human experiences. Signup and view all the answers

How does Whitman portray the concept of identity in terms of gender?

He asserts that being a woman is equally valued as being a man. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements reflects the idea of universality in Whitman's poetry?

Thoughts and experiences are universally relatable and collective. Signup and view all the answers

How does Whitman describe the relationship between pleasure and pain in his works?

Both pleasures of heaven and pains of hell are integral parts of existence. Signup and view all the answers

What does Whitman imply about the concept of originality in thoughts and experiences?

Originality is less significant than shared experiences of humanity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction

Modernity is characterized by a paradoxical connection between universalism and subjectivity.
Subjective consciousness plays a significant role in modern literature and philosophy.
The individual self of writers, readers, and characters is often central, even in seemingly detached works.
Modern literature is sometimes wrongly labeled as anti-traditional, as it often revisits and reinterprets prior traditions.

Whitman's Poetry

Whitman sought to represent a uniquely American self.
His poem "Song of Myself" features the self as a metaphor for the entire nation.
Commonplace experiences are elevated to universal themes.
The theme of grass encompasses the entire spectrum of human life from childhood to death.
The poem embraces a wide range of experiences, emotions, and perspectives.
Whitman viewed his poetry as a response to the particular circumstances of the United States.

Dickinson's Poetry

Dickinson's poetry focuses on condensed meaning and a multifaceted exploration of the self.
Her poetry avoids philosophical references.
The use of figurative language is central (e.g., "their Completeless Show/Will entertain the Centuries").
Her poems often reflect on nature, death, and the passage of time.
Her personal experiences and emotions heavily influence her work.
Her poetry is known for its unconventional forms, and its unusual, fragmented style.

Overview of Modern Poetry

Modern poetry shifted from a focus on traditional forms to free verse.
A growing emphasis on language's role in creating imagery is observed.
Whitman's use of universal imagery and Dickinson's focus on personal experience both provide insights into the self's relationship with the broader universe.

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Description

This quiz explores the themes of modernity in the works of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. Through their poetry, these authors discuss the individual self, subjective consciousness, and the reinterpretation of traditions. Engage with the key concepts that illustrate how their writing reflects the complexities of American identity.