Walt Whitman and Leaves of Grass Quiz

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

• Born on Long Island, New York
• Began working at 11 as an office boy
• Later worked as a schoolteacher, writer, and editor
• Entered politics as a Democrat
• Traveled to New Orleans
• Returned to New York and published first edition of Leaves of Grass
• Financed publication himself
• Worked for the government and volunteered at hospitals during the American Civil War
• Deeply affected by Lincoln's assassination
• Retired in 1873 to New Jersey
• Continued to write poetry and essays
• Died in 1892 at age 72

Whitman's Works

• Published Leaves of Grass in 1855
• The work evolved and expanded throughout his life, culminating in nine editions
• Leaves of Grass became a collection of most of his poetry
• Drum Taps (1865) - including an elegy on Lincoln titled "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed"
• Memoranda during the War (1875) - a prose work

Leaves of Grass

• Described as an ever-expanding work
• Connected to Whitman's vision of himself as a voice and chronicler of American experience
• First edition had twelve poems
• Final edition had over 400 poems
• Praised by Ralph Waldo Emerson as a remarkable work of wit and wisdom

American Poetry

• During the Victorian period in Britain, poetic innovation declined
• The novel became a more effective way to address contemporary society
• American poetry of the time reinvented itself, with a focus on individualism
• Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson became prominent voices
  • Their styles and perspectives were contrasting

The Open Road of America

• Whitman's poetry was revolutionary for its time
• Viewed as an ongoing journey across America
• Aims to unify diverse American voices in a democratic way
• Initial response was mixed due to perceived rough manners and outspokenness
• Later gained praise in Britain, particularly from A.C. Swinburne and William Rossetti

Whitman's Language

• Whitman's poems were not only about politics and social ideals
• They also focused on linguistic experimentation
• Whitman sought to create a distinct American voice separate from European influences
• American language was seen as evolving and flexible
• The arrival of immigrants further enriched the linguistic landscape

Whitman's Style

• Whitman's poetry did not follow traditional metrical regularity
• Employed long lines and free-verse
• Used syllabic technique to create complex rhythms
• Created the illusion of everyday, informal speech