ipl-logo

Stylistic Devices Used In Walt Whitman's Leaves Of Grass

769 Words4 Pages

Stylistic devices can be practical tools to authors in their writing. The consistent use of stylistic devices helps authors convey ideas they deem to be crucial. By using elements of style, authors can make their critical ideas clear. One particularly useful device utilized by authors is repetition. In the collection “From Noon to Starry Night” in Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman consistently utilizes repetition in order to emphasize his important ideas. Various outside critics have taken note of Walt Whitman’s constant use of repetition. James Perrin believes that Whitman utilizes three basic types of repetition: “Anaphora (or epanaphora) refers to the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of lines. Epistrophe (or epiphora) refers …show more content…

Nell Wiley observed that “in "Excelsior" ten lines out of twelve begin with ‘And who’” (Wiley). Therefore, “Excelsior” is a perfect example of epanaphora, as seen with the repetition at the beginning of each line. Whitman repeats “And who...” at the beginning of each line in order to create questions. After each question, he gives an answer beginning with “for I…”. This style of repetition, which is arguably parallel structure, emphasizes his main idea, which is the importance of having confidence in oneself. For example, Whitman questions, “And who possesses a perfect and enamour’d body? for I do not believe any one possesses a more perfect or enamour’d body than mine” (10). In this line, Whitman is showing a great amount of confidence by affirming that he has the most desirable body. In another line, Whitman asks, “And who has been bold and true? for I would be the boldest and truest being of the universe,” (7). Again, Whitman shows that he believes himself to be the most bold and true person of all. Whitman emanates this same confidence throughout the poem by repeating this same question and answer …show more content…

Again, he uses epanaphora by beginning each line with “Of the…”. This structure gives the effect of Whitman stating thoughts. For example, Whitman states, “Of the President with pale face asking secretly to himself, What will people say at last?” (3). In this line, Whitman is explaining not only his own thoughts but also the thoughts of the President. By using the epanaphora “Of the…”, Whitman shows that he is thinking of the President, who is also having his own set of thoughts. In another line, Whitman simply says, “Of public opinion” (1). This quote simply shows that Whitman is thinking about public opinion. Throughout the poem, the use of repetition helps the reader to understand that they are reading Whitman’s own personal

Show More
Related

William Dickey's The Lumbar Executive

966 Words | 4 Pages

There are several components necessary to make a poem both understandable and engaging. William Dickey’s short poem, or chant as he calls it, The Lumbar Executive, possesses two of these components, persona, who is speaking in the poem, and repetition and rhythm, the repeat of words or lines and how it helps with the flow of the poem. William Dickey titled his poem, The Lumbar Executive, already telling the reader that the poem is in the point of view of some sort of big boss, to be more exact a lumbar executive. The typical, somewhat stereotypical, characteristics of a man in charge is seen throughout the poem. Within the first line of what Dickey calls a chant, the unnamed lumbar executive is giving orders, “The sacred direction: down.

Read More

Walt Whitman's A Noiseless, Patient Spider

871 Words | 4 Pages

In “A Noiseless, Patient Spider,” Walt Whitman suggests that to survive and achieve emotional fulfillment, connections must be present. In stanza 1, the author mentions a spider trying to make a web on a “promontory” over the sea (1.line 2). The spider is personified in the first stanza and described as “noiseless [and] patient”, which helps the reader discover the spider’s initial personality and instinct. In lines 2 and 3, the writer uses the repetition of the word “mark’d” to signify the importance of the next lines, in which he parallels the speaker to the spider through word-choice and further repetition. The words “vacant” and “vast” provide the reader with a sense of the spider’s precarious nature and the words’ alliteration add emphasis to the magnitude of the setting and

Read More

Compare And Contrast Learning To Read And Write By Frederick Harriet Jacobs

1686 Words | 7 Pages

For example, when talking about a plethora of lessons he’s learned in his lifetime, Whitman asks “Has any one supposed it is lucky to be born?” and “Do you guess I have some intricate purpose?” as a way to directly connect with his audience. This analytical strategy allows us, his audience, to form a connection with him by thinking critically about every idea he lays upon us. As such, this forces readers to engage with the author’s questions and continue being intrigued with his messaging and underlining points.

Read More

Rhetorical Devices In The Gettysburg Address

744 Words | 3 Pages

Moreover, these three writers collectively used the rhetorical device, repetition, to connect with the audience. Lincoln constantly referred to the idea of the Declaration of Independence in which all men are created equal, while Pericles continuously emphasizes the value of a soldier’s death. Whitman’s recurring phrase “my captain” indicates the personal relationship between him and

Read More

Summary Of The Overachievers By Alexandra Robbins

1104 Words | 5 Pages

This was done to convey the thoughts of the students how they would talk naturally to each other. The run- on’s we placed to establish a stream of consciousness writing style in the mind of the students at Whitman. Rhetorical questions were used to help give an understanding to the students expect perspective of thought and how they would talk to themselves in the situations. Sam asks himself “if he could just boost his SAT scores just fifty points"? (Pg 24)

Read More

I Hear America Singing And I Too Essay

835 Words | 4 Pages

In the two poems the reader can see many examples of figurative language. In the poem, “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman

Read More

Walt Whitman Compare And Contrast Essay

1302 Words | 6 Pages

“Different Authors write different ways, have different relationships with their audiences, and those are all legitimate”(John Green).Authors Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman who lived and expressed Themselves through Poetry and Writing during the realism era, convey different style characteristics, write in very different ways and connect to their audiences through very different ways. Both authors have very contrasting writing, although both differences and similarities are discovered by such characteristics. The writing of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman shows many similarities and many differences through their backgrounds and themes, and the way both aspects affect their writing. Walt Whitman experienced a very different upbringing,

Read More

When I Heard The Learned Astronomer Figurative Language

564 Words | 3 Pages

Also, personification is used,”I loved the rattling of the cans and the whir of the compressor.” In this sentence the author gives the garbage a human characteristic. All the literacy devices is used to communicate his realization with science. Furthermore, the poem "When I Heard the Learned Astronomer", differs in the application of Walt Whitman literary devices such as syntax, repetition, and alliteration. For example, in the lines 1-4 the author begins with when, the author is expressing his ideas and emotions in an indirect matter.

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

The Wound Dresser By Walt Whitman Analysis

914 Words | 4 Pages

Whitman’s experience as a wound-dresser at the time of the war gave him a unique perspective of the men and women on the front lines. One way he shows the realism is through his free verse style that doesn’t have a rhyming pattern or many other traditional poetry rules. This gives his poetry sort of an edge that lets the realism come through. The way Whitman gets the audience’s attention in his free verse style is through repetition of words that rhyme but with no necessary order. One example of this is his use of the first-person pronoun I in “The Wound-Dresser” for example at the beginning of most stanzas Whitman starts out by saying “I dress a wound in the side, deep, deep, … I dress the perforated shoulder, … I am faithful, I do not give out” (Levine 78).

Read More

The Importance Of Grass In Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself

197 Words | 1 Pages

This explains how he believed that the stars and the grass should be thought of as equal and man should show appreciation for grass as well. Moreover, Whitman implies that because the grass is so close in terms of touch, humans should enjoy it more since stars are completely out of reach. As it is evident that Whitman appreciates

Read More

Walt Whitman Gender Equality

889 Words | 4 Pages

This poem was viewed as unorthodox when published because of its free discussion and exploration of the body. In the second stanza, Whitman clarifies that he is writing about both the male and the female body, saying, “that of the male, and that of the female is perfect” (Whitman 94). By joining the two clauses by “and”, it demonstrates equality since he is displaying the physical words, “male” and “female” on equal terms. This was a radical point of view during Whitman 's time, when women were accepted as socially, and sexually inferior to

Read More

Emily Dickinson And Walt Whitman Analysis

763 Words | 4 Pages

“Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is bonded with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words,”(Paul Engle). Poetry covers all spectrums of life, whether it encompasses morality, love, death, or finding ones true self. When reading poetry one may stumble across pure brilliance, words so powerful they have the ability challenge the mind. Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman have that such gift, and are nothing short of illustrious.

Read More

Literary Analysis Of Phenomenal Woman

1775 Words | 8 Pages

This example of repetition is carried throughout the poem for emphasis, and the reader’s recognition of the truth behind the words. There is also parallelism that plays a significant role within

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

More about Stylistic Devices Used In Walt Whitman's Leaves Of Grass

Related Topics

Open Document