ipl-logo

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry By Walt Whitman Essay

622 Words3 Pages

Forever on the Ferry In the poem, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” written by Walt Whitman, he mentions the ferry several times throughout his poem. This is one of the main components in his poem, he focused on the ferry as much as he did because the ferry represented many things and one of those was change. Change in perspective and outlook of life. In the same way, the surrounding area and ferry are in constant motion, our thoughts are also in constant motion and changing. “Crowds of men and women, how curious you are to me” (Whitman. W. 1856). Whitman used words that showed how his thoughts and views may have changed through the passing of time. “Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt” (Whitman. W. 1856). Whitman painted a picture with his words. He spoke of the flood tides, rivers, clouds, and people in his poem. He was known to use sights, sound, and energy in a lot of his writing. Whitman wanted his readers to feel what he was feeling when he placed pen to paper. “Flood-tide below me! I see you face to face! Clouds of the west-sun there half an hour high-I see you also face to face” (Whitman. W. 1856). Whitman desired for his readers to connect with him not only in what he was seeing but also what he was feeling. …show more content…

He was known to reject conformality in his attire and his writing. Did this rejection in conforming lead him to allow his thoughts to go in all directions which in turn lead to some of his pieces that are still being studied till this day? In the poem, “Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry” he speaks of his life experiences. Whitman often used the ferry on the east river to cross from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Did standing there on the ferry, watching the sun and feeling the flood-tides lead him to become a prisoner of his thoughts? How did this experience and so many others change who he was to who he

Show More
Related

Walt Whitman's Allusion In Fahrenheit 451

692 Words | 3 Pages

Walt Whitman was an American poet and journalist born on May 31, 1819. Whitman was influenced by transcendentalism, which was an idea emphasizing that to understand nature, one must analyze the reasoning or process behind it. Whitman had done many writings throughout his life that had been inspirations for other poets. For example, in the spring of 1855, Whitman published “Leaves of Grass”, which was a collection of twelve unnamed poems. This writing was enticed by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who thought that the collection of poems were “the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom.”

Read More

The Outsiders Research Paper

565 Words | 3 Pages

Unfortunately, there is almost always crime at night. Regularly in “The Outsiders”, there are problems caused that the law must be included in. The article, “Are Public Curfews Fair?” assists the thoughts behind the novel. Although it is disagreed by many, a curfew may solve a majority of the issues in daily life.

Read More

When I Heard The Learn D Astronomer By Walt Whitman

640 Words | 3 Pages

He doesn't feel any connection towards the subject of what the astronomer is giving until he goes outside and sees the stars for himself, "When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick…" (Line 4-5). ). Whitman uses words like "glide" as a metaphor to symbolize the relief the narrator feels when leaving the lecture

Read More

Attitudes Toward America In Walt Whitman's Poetry

783 Words | 4 Pages

Walt Whitman was a man ahead of his time. He expressed different sorts of sexuality that were considered taboo in his time, his writing was erotic and democratic, it made people uncomfortable, and it was sensational. In Beat! Beat! Drum!

Read More

Summary Of Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

2326 Words | 10 Pages

By doing this Whitman introduces himself and at the same time identifies with the reader. He also states that he should be celebrated not only by himself, but also by the reader because they are the same. He also gives off a feeling that his writing is true and good, we get the feeling he is one of us and at the same time a poet. This leads to comparing Whitman with a preacher or public speaker of some sort, he wishes to be

Read More

Figurative Language In Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

525 Words | 3 Pages

It is strange to notice Whitman contradicting himself in the poem. He eulogizes self and tells others to do so too in first stanza line 2, “and what I assume you shall assume”. Later, contradicting himself by talking about oneness and unity in first stanza line 3, “for every atom belonging to you belongs to me” (Whitman). That line means that we are all the same. It is rather bold of him to make a statement because of the turmoil that went around at that time.

Read More

Walt Whitman's To The Sayers Of Words

271 Words | 2 Pages

In his poem, “To the Sayers of Words,” Walt Whitman recognizes the problems associated with language and its inability to fully convey meaning. As we have discussed in class, Whitman seeks to discover a natural, organic language, which can embody the living force of things on earth. “To the Sayers of Words” is Whitman’s renunciation of “audible words,” as he acknowledges his “tongue is ineffectual on its pivots” and that “the best of earth cannot be told anyhow.” Because we use to mediate or signify things, there is an implied distance between the object and our languages. In this poem, Whitman seeks a merger of “the presentation of the unspoken meanings of the earth,” or to bridge the gap of distance by making “dictionaries of the words that

Read More

Ralph Waldo Emerson And Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

1633 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout his poem, he constantly talks about the importance of coming together and merging. Whitman says, “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman 1). On the surface, this quote may appear to illustrate that Whitman thinks highly of himself, but it is more than this. The last part of this quote emphasizes that we are all connected and even though we are all individuals, we should not forget that we are connected to one another. Whitman also says, “Urge and urge and urge, Always the procreant urge of the world.

Read More

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry By Walt Whitman Essay

642 Words | 3 Pages

I watch you face to face; Clouds of the west! Sun there half an hour high! I see you also face to face” (1). He stated that the boat was riding very fast as most people wanted to be home quickly and also the sun was set in the west which he marked the “cloud of the west” (1). In fact, Whitman took this poem to illustrate the people repetition of life routine.

Read More

The Wound Dresser By Walt Whitman Analysis

914 Words | 4 Pages

One way that Whitman conveys his poetry is through the eyes of the everyday man. In this period of American history, the civil war was ongoing, and his poetry did not shy away from the everyday

Read More

Walt Whitman's View Of American Identity

1496 Words | 6 Pages

An iconic figure in the history of American literature, Walt Whitman was born on the 31st May 1819. Today his contribution and works in the poetic world have come to define sentimentalism, ambitions and some key experiences that Americans underwent in the 19th century. Even though he may have been politically inactive, his work had the will to display political views. Having survived through the civil war, he grew much affectionate perception on the nature and complexity of American polity. Whitman’s view of America was that of a culturally diverse society that we currently witness as such this vision was mainly expressed in his poetic works.

Read More

Romanticism In Walt Whitman's From Song Of Myself

973 Words | 4 Pages

To begin with, Whitman throughout the poem shows a lot about what he believes and what he's opposed to as the states that he is both the body and the soul. By providing the lines he provides, it reflects his individualism as well as gives ideas about the topic of his poem as the title says it clear that it is about himself. Whithmand in the poem relates to the Romantic era as he mentions nature a lot making it obvious of his love for it. Romanticism era shown by Whitman is expressed in the poem as he says ïn the beginning, second stanza ¨I loafe and invite my soul, I learn and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer

Read More

Vast Similitude Essay

1065 Words | 5 Pages

In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”, Whitman connects with the strangers through the use of the ferry, “ just as you stand and lean on the rail, yet hurry with the swift current, I stood yet was hurried.” Everyone else crossing the ferry is doing as he has done and others will do, they look at the same things from the same places. “These and all else were to me the same as they are to you, I loved well those cities, loved well the stately and rapid river, the men and women I saw were all near to me, others the same others who look back on me because I look’d forward to them.” The way he says these things he makes

Read More

Democracy And Democracy In Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

1125 Words | 5 Pages

In this grand poem, Whitman glorifies the unity of all people and life. He embraces the geographical diversity as well as the diversity of culture, work, as well as sexuality or beliefs. Whitman’s influence sets American dreams of freedom, independence, and self-fulfillment, and changes them for larger spiritual meaning. Whitman appreciates hard work as well as being simple and non-egotistical. His major ideas are things such as soul, good health, as well as the love of nature.

Read More

Critical Analysis Of Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

938 Words | 4 Pages

Secondly, Whitman’s use of imagery shows the power of his imagination and the extent of his sensory impressions. Line twenty-two for example brings forth the energy coming from nature and its spiritual affect on the self. In addition, Whitman uses the senses to draw a picture for the reader. Touch for example, is used in “a few light kisses, a few embraces…”(1150). Hearing is used in “the sound of the belch’d words of my voice…”(1150).

Read More

More about Crossing Brooklyn Ferry By Walt Whitman Essay

Related Topics

Open Document