Walt Whitman Reflection Blog

Walt Whitman is an author that is said to not fit perfectly into neither the Modernism period nor the Realism period. Realism is when authors describe how life actually is, not how they want it to be seen, and realist authors choose careful details to describe reality (Werlock). Modernism is a rejection of traditional art forms and has a focus on "stream-of-consciousness" (Fargnoli). Walt Whitman published Leaves of Grass in 1855, which incorporated many new poetic forms that were unfamiliar with the rest of the world (Connors). Whitman's goal was to create a new way of writing poetry that eleminated the traditional styles of poetry (Connors). After Leaves of Grass was published, Whitman spent the rest of his life learning new ways to perfect this new poetic style (Connors). In Whitman's Leaves of Grass, he speaks directly to all American people in a way that he hoped would make people want to become more literate (Connors). In Leaves of Grass, he speaks about himself with "I" but he actually referring to all Americans (Connors). For example, in this passage from Leaves of Grass he says "I" but he is speaking to every American: "I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you" (Connors). It is said that Walt Whitman's poetry is revolutionary because of the emotions expressed within his writings and for its expressive words (Connors). These characteristics were especially prominent when he was discussing love and democracy, which are both themes that are reoccuring throughout the works of Whitman (Connors). Walt Whitmas was strongly influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and admitted that Emerson was even one of the biggest reasons he began writing poetry (Connors). Whitman broke away from the traditonal forms of poetry and paved the way for the modern writings and free verse (Connors). Walt Whitman is known as the pioneer of writng using free verse (Quinn). Free verse is writing poems without using any sort of meter or rhyme (Quinn). Free verse has become a popular way of writng poetry over the years, and we have Walt Whitman to thank for that. Although today Walt Whitman is known as a famous poet and is admired by many, it was not always like that. He did not achieve praise for his poems until years after his death (Connors).

I can see how Walt Whitman does not really fit into neither the Realism period nor the Modernism period because he sort of made his own way of writing poetry. I do not think that he necessarilty fits into one of these periods more than the other, but if I had to pick which one he was most similar to it would have to be Modernism. I think Walt Whitman fits best in with the Modernism period because that period is breaking away from traditonal art forms, which is what Walt Whitman did. He broke away from the normal way of writing poems with the same meter and rhyme scheme and out of this came free verse writing, which over time has become more and more popular.

Bibliography

Connors, Judith.
"Whitman, Walt." In Bloom, Harold, ed. Walt Whitman, Bloom's BioCritiques. Philadelphia:
Chelsea House Publishing, 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference
Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Fargnoli, Nicholas A., Michael Golay, and Robert W. Hamblin. "modernism and the works of William Faulkner." Critical Companion to William Faulkner: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Quinn, Edward. "free verse." A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "realism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.