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Walt Whitman. Unconventional American Poet. Whitman’s Early Life and Career. He was born May 31, 1819 in New York. He was almost entirely self-educated and an admirer of Shakespeare and Homer. He was editor of The Brooklyn Eagle , but was fired for his outspoken opposition to slavery.
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Walt Whitman Unconventional American Poet
Whitman’s Early Life and Career • He was born May 31, 1819 in New York. • He was almost entirely self-educated and an admirer of Shakespeare and Homer. • He was editor of The Brooklyn Eagle, but was fired for his outspoken opposition to slavery. • He served as a nurse during the Civil War and his notes during the war inspired many of his poems.
Unconventional Poet • Whitman did not follow the traditions of the poets before him. • His collection of poems Leaves of • Grassdisplays these nontraditional elements: • Long lines to capture the rhythm of natural speech. • Vocabulary from everyday speech. • Based on reality. • Free verse.
Unpopular Poet • Other writers and critics were shocked by Whitman’s poetry and criticized him severely. • Traditional writers were shocked by his lack of regular rhyme and use of free verse. • His subject matter was also very shocking and he rejected conventional themes.
“O Captain! My Captain!” • “O Captain! My Captain!” is in memory of Abraham Lincoln and celebrates him as a great man.
“O Captain! My Captain!” O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.
“O Captain! My Captain!” cont. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills; For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head; It is some dream that on the deck, You’ve fallen cold and dead.
“O Captain! My Captain!” cont. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won; Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.
“When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer” INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the following questions about Whitman’s poem and its relation to Dead Poets Society. Use complete sentences to respond. • What is the theme of this poem? • How does the theme of this poem connect to Mr. Keating’s teaching style? • How is Walt Whitman embodied by Mr. Keating’s character in Dead Poets Society?