Whitman and Frost
- Submitted by: Alvina
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- Category: English: Poetic Works
- Date Submitted: 04/30/2011 08:06 AM
- Pages: 12
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“American poetry embodies a critical paradox. Each American poet is different and innovative to the extent of being idiosyncratically so and yet each is “essentially” and “consciously” representatively American at the core.”
This statement is applicable to all American poets, who have added excellent and reformed poetry, in typical American style, to the field of literature. I have selected two great poets of American Literature. Walt Whitman (the poet of democracy and freedom) and Robert Frost ( the nature poet) to discuss their work.
Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was a well known poet, writer and journalist. No writer has been more persistently condemned, and none more persistently and passionately praised, than Walt Whitman has been. He was a self educated man. It was believed that he was the first great poet of America.. He had a grand vision of speaking and explaining about America that’s why he was also known as American national poet. The idea of self is very important in his poetry. The vastness of territory of America, the splendour of natural scenery, the greatness of democratic institutions are the important themes of his poetry.
These are the inspirational words from Emerson which Whitman took to heart:
"Doubt not, O poet, but persist: Say 'It is in me, and shall out.' Stand there, baulked and dumb, stuttering and stammering, hissed and hooted, stand and strive, until at last, rage draw out of thee that dream-power which every night shows thee is thine own; a power transcending all limit and privacy, and by virtue of which a [poet] is the conductor of the whole river of electricity."
Whitman published first edition of “Leaves Of Grass”in 1855 with his own money, which consisted of twelve untitled poems and a preface. It was appreciated by Emerson and later he published multiple editions of leaves of grass. He celebrated the freedom of the individual and praised freedom enjoyed in America. Because the attitude toward individual...
This statement is applicable to all American poets, who have added excellent and reformed poetry, in typical American style, to the field of literature. I have selected two great poets of American Literature. Walt Whitman (the poet of democracy and freedom) and Robert Frost ( the nature poet) to discuss their work.
Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was a well known poet, writer and journalist. No writer has been more persistently condemned, and none more persistently and passionately praised, than Walt Whitman has been. He was a self educated man. It was believed that he was the first great poet of America.. He had a grand vision of speaking and explaining about America that’s why he was also known as American national poet. The idea of self is very important in his poetry. The vastness of territory of America, the splendour of natural scenery, the greatness of democratic institutions are the important themes of his poetry.
These are the inspirational words from Emerson which Whitman took to heart:
"Doubt not, O poet, but persist: Say 'It is in me, and shall out.' Stand there, baulked and dumb, stuttering and stammering, hissed and hooted, stand and strive, until at last, rage draw out of thee that dream-power which every night shows thee is thine own; a power transcending all limit and privacy, and by virtue of which a [poet] is the conductor of the whole river of electricity."
Whitman published first edition of “Leaves Of Grass”in 1855 with his own money, which consisted of twelve untitled poems and a preface. It was appreciated by Emerson and later he published multiple editions of leaves of grass. He celebrated the freedom of the individual and praised freedom enjoyed in America. Because the attitude toward individual...