In 1920, Van Wyck Brooks wrote that Whitman was the “focal center” of American creative experience and literary expression. The poet combined within him elements of native realism and of New England philosophy which made him a truly national spiritual synthesis. But modern criticism does not view Whitman as the […]

Read more Critical Essays Whitman: The Quintessential American Poet

Whitman’s major concern was to explore, discuss, and celebrate his own self, his individuality and his personality. Second, he wanted to eulogize democracy and the American nation with its achievements and potential. Third, he wanted to give poetical expression to his thoughts on life’s great, enduring mysteries — birth, death, […]

Read more Critical Essays Themes in Leaves of Grass

Form Leaves of Grass belongs to no particular accepted form of poetry. Whitman described its form as “a new and national declamatory expression.” Whitman was a poet bubbling with energy and burdened with sensations, and his poetic utterances reveal his innovations. His poetry seems to grow organically, like a tree. […]

Read more Critical Essays Form and Style in Leaves of Grass

The poet bids a sad farewell to his fancy, his imagination: “Farewell dear mate, dear love!” He doesn’t know where he will go or whether he will ever encounter his fancy again. For a long time, the poet and his fancy “lived, joy’d, caress’d together,” and now comes the moment […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus Good-Bye My Fancy!””

The poet thinks of America as the “centre of equal daughters, equal sons,” who are “strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable,” and who identify themselves with “Freedom, Law and Love.” He salutes America as the “grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,” who is “chair’d in the adamant of Time.” This short poem […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus America””

The poet, approaching his seventieth year, wonders whether the “uncertain spectre” of the future will bring him life or death. Will it bring strength or weakness, activity or paralysis? Will it “stir the waters” even yet? Will it leave him “dull . . . and old”? Or will it happily […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus Queries to My Seventieth Year””

The poet remembers his promise that as his “Leaves” blossomed, he would raise his joyous voice at the “consummations” of his ideals and objectives. When “America does what was promis’d — that is, fulfills her promise — he will have a sense of fulfillment. In reviewing his work, he takes […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus So Long!””

As the time of death draws near, the poet is affected by “a dread beyond of/I know not what” that casts a gloom on his spirits. He will “traverse the States,” but perhaps his “singing voice” may “suddenly cease.” He asks: “O chants! must all then amount to but this?” […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus As the Time Draws Nigh””

The locomotive is hailed as the object of the poet’s declamatory song: “Thee for my recitative.” Its “black cylindric body” with the “head-light fix’d in front” contains its “fierce-throated beauty.” It is presented as the epitome “of the modern.” It is an emblem of motion and power,” and the poet […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus To a Locomotive in Winter””

This poem had no title in the 1855 edition, and was called “Night Poem” in 1856 and “Sleep-Chasings” in 1860. It was entitled “The Sleepers” in 1871. The changes in the title indicate a progressive change of direction in the meaning of the poem. The dominant symbolism of the poem […]

Read more Summary and Analysis: Calamus The Sleepers””