Walt Whitman Research Paper - 1323 Words

Walt Whitman and the Civil War Walt Whitman is considered one of America’s greatest poets. During his lifetime, Whitman wrote hundreds of poems about life, love and democracy, among many others. In particular, Whitman’s poetry reflects the spirit of the age in which he lived, the Civil War. In taking a closer look at one of his most renowned and brilliant pieces, â€Å"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d†, three particular themes are observed; his love for nature, the cycle of life, as represented by both life and death, and rebirth. This poem was written around the end of the Civil War and after Abraham Lincoln’s death. As he was the president of the United States at that time, he is considered one of the most important leaders in†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d† is only one of many poems that Whitman wrote to pour out his feelings on the results of the Civil War. The poem was written as an elegy, which according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a style of writing of a song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation especially for one who is dead (Merriam-Webster.com). Whitman wrote this elegy on the death of Abraham Lincoln, though it never really mentions the president by name, as a dramatization of his feeling of loss. Whitman’s theme of nature in this poem is clearly represented by three different and very specific things; the star, the lilac and the bird, or hermit thrush. Throughout the poem, he uses these objects continuously as symbolic representations of how he truly feels, and these are also an indication of how close he is to nature. The Civil War, in contrast, was anything but natural, or nature-like. Whitman was obviously against war and saddened by all the suffering endured by all of those involved in it. In the first part of the poem, Whitman describes his grief and mourning through his vivid imagery of all three nature symbols. He mentions how as spring returns, the lilacs blossom, and the star nearly droppd in the western sky (â€Å"Lilacs† 2). The star is a symbol for Abraham Lincoln. Whitman mourns the loss of the powerful western fallen star now coveredShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Walt Whitman And Dylan Thomas On The Subject Of Death1117 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUC TION This research paper will discuss and compare specific poems written by Walt Whitman and Dylan Thomas on the subject of death. Whitman and Thomas have each written several important poems on the subject of death. Each poet describes â€Å"death† in diverse and different ways, although both convey the emotions and views of the loved ones left behind after a death. Both poets do so in a very individual and personal way such as their written style permits. Walt Whitman He was born onRead MoreWalt Whitman s Life That Changed The Way Of Life1690 Words   |  7 Pages Corey Haldiman Goulette Research Paper Walt Whitman Walt used creativity, personal experiences and different ideas in his writing. He moved various times through his childhood, and that may have moved his personality to become slightly neurotic. He has done a lot of things in his life that has changed the way that future poets will write. Walt Whitman entered this world on May thirty-first, eighteen-nineteen in West Hills, New York. He was the second son among nine other children inRead MoreAnalysis Of Walt Whitman s Works And Pieces1452 Words   |  6 PagesJustin Polkowitz Mrs. Ryan Academic English 2 26 April 2015 Social Change Research Paper These writers and activists are strongly opposed to slavery, and oppression and want to obtain the same rights, social status, and equality as everyone else. They have identical goals that they want to fulfill and are well aware of the controversy that they will not ignore that society has to collaborate to resolve problems and issues in order to unify the nation as one. It is important that all races areRead MoreEssay on The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids895 Words   |  4 PagesFor many students this process is a simple-natural progression through a linear educational track in which no extra preparation, beyond a paper application, is required. However, for many students college preparation can begin as early as conception. Alexandria Robbins follows the stories of nine students from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. Whitman is known for and could be summarized by a simple term in which Robbins’ book is also titled: Overachievers. The author e xplores the hecticRead MoreNaked Through The Eddies Of The Sea1780 Words   |  8 PagesJacqueline Bitetto Mr. Breig English 11H 9 March 2013 Naked Through the Eddies of the Sea â€Å"I feel ashamed to go naked about the world† (Whitman). Poetry, for many, is a comfort and a pleasure for the senses. But, for Walt Whitman, it was something much more. Poetry was a channel for his most profound emotions and a mass broadcasting of his entire being. In his beautiful words, he was able not only to convey both misery and elation to the masses, but absolute truth. His Leaves of Grass revealed soRead MoreStarry Night a Paint by Vincent Van Gogh Essay1823 Words   |  8 Pagesstruggles. My decision to research on Vincent’s painting, Starry Night (1889) came with the inspiration from Don Mclean’s Song, Starry Starry Night where his lyrics spoke about Vincent’s life that further intrigued me in writing this paper. In this paper, we will focus on examining Vincent’s painting, Starry Night. The paper will begin with a short introduction about Vincent where an analysis will be conducted to explore more into the painting. Subsequently, the paper will move on to explain howRead MoreEssay on Walt Whitman2286 Words   |  10 Pages Walt Whitman was looked upon as the forerunner of 20th Century poetry, praising democracy, and becoming a proclaimed poet of American democracy. He was known as the amp;quot;Son of Long Island,amp;quot; and he loved his country and everything about it. (Current, Williams, Freidel- page 292-293). Whitman lived during the time of the Civil War; a fact that increased his patriotism. Whitman was considered one of the most important American Poets of the 19th Century. (Encyclopedia of World Biography-Read MoreDavid Thoreau s Life And The Early Works Of The Poet2145 Words   |  9 Pagesthe poet William Blake all have tremendous importance to the development of Transcendentalism. These ideas and his contributions to the movement would also influence most markedly Henry David Thoreau’s short life and the early works of the poet Walt Whitman. Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25th, 1803, in Boston, Massachusetts to William Emerson and his wife Ruth Haskins Emerson. Emerson attended the Boston Latin School and then went on to graduate from the Harvard School of Divinity in 1821. EmersonRead MoreThe Gettysburg Address By Henry Wadsworth1548 Words   |  7 PagesNot only does Lincoln discuss that, but he also makes sure to thank the men who have fought in the war. He also reminded the people of what these soldiers fought for to give them the ideals that they take for granted I plan to use this speech in my research to talk about ideas that America associates and bases itself off of, and how those ideas influence the lives of Americans. Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. â€Å"Paul Revere s Ride.† Poets.org, Academy of American Poets, 9 June 2017, www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/paul-reveres-rideRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes s Poem I 1679 Words   |  7 PagesPoem Research Paper Langston Hughes’s poem I, Too published in 1926 speaks at great length about the American identity: to be an American is an issue that transcends race, and all Americans should be treated equally. Writing from the perspective of an initially subservient African American, Hughes presents a story that begins in oppression and ends in triumph. A throwback to the prior institution of slavery, the setting of I, Too is confined to a single slave owner s house; yet, it paints an image