Walt Whitman Research Paper

Walt Whitman is a landmark in the history of American literature but do you really know who he is? Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York. Whitman is an American poet, journalist, essayist and a man that loves to read. Whitman was self-taught and became a very great reader, in fact at one point in time he became a teacher. Why did Whitman start to write poems? Whitman got the inspiration to write from Ralph Waldo Emerson who sent Whitman a letter that expressed what Emerson admired about Whitman's writing. Emerson is the most respected essayist, philosopher, and lecturer of Whitman's generation, so it’s a huge deal and appreciation to Whitman that Emerson loves his work. Emerson describes Whitman’s work as “the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed.” [LibraryOfCongress] The letter from Emerson really boosted Whitman’s career in writing. Whitman’s inspiration didn’t all just come from Emerson but it was Whitman's love of writing in general. Whitman has the talent and the obsession of writing poetry.

Whitman wrote collections of poems, the most famous collection that Whitman had wrote is called “Leaves of Grass”. This collections first edition was published in 1855 but Whitman spent most of his life writing and re-writing the collection, revising it multiple times until his death. The most famous individual poem that Whitman wrote is called “Song of Myself”. This poem is a mixture of romance and realism, this poem also serves as a biography of Whitman and is referred to as the most praised and influential poem that an American has wrote. When the poem was first published it caught the attention of the public and critics very quick. “ This poem remains among the most acclaimed and influential poems written by an American.”