“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d ”

1. “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” Walt Whitman

2. Areas of Focus • The poem as pastoral elegy • The structure • The symbol of the lilac blossom

3. The pastoral elegy • This poem part of a series of pieces written after Lincoln’s assassination • A pastoral elegy is a poem of mourning uses certain conventions: • Conventions from the natural world • And from “rustic” human society • Famous examples • Virgil’s poetry • Milton, “Lycidas” • Shelley, “Adonais”

4. The pastoral elegy • Lincoln was the “shepherd” of the American people during wartime • His loss has left the flock without a leader • Nature mourns Lincoln’s death • The problems of modern times are mentioned • Natural order contrasted with human order • Those who die may be the lucky ones, since they are beyond suffering

5. Tripartite Structure • Part 1: Lincoln’s coffin on its way to burial • Part 2: The poet and his sprig of lilac, meant to be laid on the coffin • The poet ruminates on death and mourning • Part 3: The symbols of a bird and star used to develop the idea that nature is sympathetic to yet separate from humanity

6. What is the worth of a man? • Whitman asks this question in the poem • Are some men worth more than others? • The symbol of the lilac blossom is ambiguous • On the one hand, it symbolizes the loss of the dead • On the other hand, it is merely a futile, broken twig