Walt Whitman Research Paper

Walter Whitman, mostly known by Walt Whitman was an American poet, journalist, and essayist. Whitman is considered to be one of the most significant American poets of the 19th century. Whitman is still considered one of America's most influential poets today. Whitman’s parents were farmers with limited knowledge of formal education. Walt Whitman was born in May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York and died in March 26, 1897 in Camden, New Jersey. He was the second child of the family of nine children. As Whitman grew up he received very limited formal education. “Largely self-taught, he read voraciously, becoming acquainted with the works of Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, and the Bible” (Poets.org). “His occupations during his lifetime included printer,

“The book received little attention at first, though it did catch the eye of fellow poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote Whitman to praise the collection as "the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom" to come from an American pen” (Biography.com). In 1855, he self-published Leaves of Grass and could only afford to print out 795 copies. Whitman was also known for his political and realist works that he published during the Civil War. “He, too, has taken his stand on the exchange of all black soldiers, has persisted in it without regard to consequences, and has made the whole of the large and complicated question of general exchange turn upon that one item alone, while it is but a drop in the bucket” (Nytimes.com). “Whitman has a way of identifying with all Americans. Whitman sees himself in terms of others. He sees himself as a representative of America. He sees himself as universal”

In the poem, "O Captain! My Captain!" was written shortly after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The Captain in the poem whom recently had deceased represents Abraham Lincoln and the ship represents the United States. Lincoln has lead the United States to prosperity after enduring the harsh trials and the distress of the Civil War. He has succeeded in ending the practice of slavery, but lamentably the Captain, Abraham Lincoln, had to sacrifice his life. This poem contains literary devices such as onomatopoeia, repetition, and heavy use of metaphors. Whitman reflects on the American society to permit the poet and his readers to notice the nature of their American experience. Whitman had a crucial impact on society for many reasons for example he created the free verse for poetry. In the early 19th century, poetry rhymed and free verse didn’t exist yet, Walt Whitman changed that. Poets before him were heavily influenced by British poetry, while every poet followed the structure of poetry, Whitman decided to change the structure of poetry that doesn’t need traditional rhyme or meter. At first Whitman’s poetry wasn’t well received and he was frequently perceived to be arrogant beyond belief. Walt Whitman’s work had also influenced other novelist such as Bram Stoker and Allen