Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, journalist, and translator. He is considered one of the most influential American poets of all time. His most famous work is Leaves of Grass, a collection of poems that he published in several editions throughout his life. Leaves of Grass is considered a landmark in American literature, and it has been praised for its innovative use of language, its celebration of the American experience, and its egalitarian vision of society.
Early Life and Education
Whitman was born in West Hills, Long Island, New York, to a working-class family. He had little formal education, but he was a voracious reader. As a young man, he worked as a printer, teacher, and journalist. He also traveled extensively throughout the United States, and these experiences had a profound impact on his writing.
Literary Career
Whitman began his literary career in the 1830s as a writer of short stories and essays. He also wrote for a number of newspapers and magazines. In 1855, he published the first edition of Leaves of Grass. The book was a critical and commercial failure, but it attracted the attention of a number of influential writers, including Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Whitman continued to revise and expand Leaves of Grass throughout his life. He published eight editions of the book, and he continued to add new poems and revise existing ones until his death.
Themes and Style
Whitman's poetry is characterized by its innovative use of language, its celebration of the American experience, and its egalitarian vision of society.
Innovative Use of Language: Whitman was a pioneer in the use of free verse, a form of poetry that does not use regular meter or rhyme. He also used a wide range of literary devices, including repetition, parallelism, and cataloging, to create a hypnotic and rhythmic effect.
Celebration of the American Experience: Whitman's poetry celebrates the diversity and vitality of American life. He wrote about the beauty of the American landscape, the strength of the American people, and the promise of the American experiment.
Egalitarian Vision of Society: Whitman believed in the equality of all people, regardless of race, class, or gender. He wrote about the importance of brotherhood and the need to create a more just and equitable society.
Legacy
Whitman is considered one of the most influential American poets of all time. His work has been translated into over 100 languages, and it has been praised by a wide range of writers, including William Carlos Williams, Allen Ginsberg, and Bob Dylan.
Key Works
- Leaves of Grass (1855, 1860, 1867, 1871, 1881, 1889, 1892)
- Democratic Vistas (1871)
- Specimen Days & Collect (1882–83)
Quotes
- "I celebrate myself, and sing myself."
- "The smallest sprout shows there is really no death, And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it."
- "I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise, regardless of others’ opinions or condemnations."
- "The smallest grain is as perfect as the sun, and the smallest atom is as perfect as the heavens."
- "Be present in the present and ignore the past."
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