Renaissance

Renaissance Walt Whitman Born NY 1819 Father liberal, democrat—for farmers and workers Grew up with Quakers Formal edu. Ended at age 11 Worked as printers apprentice Worked as editor of a newspaper for several papers including one in New Orleans Fascinated with language, first encounter with wounded soldiers in war with Mexico Saw slaves being sold—“I sing the body electric” Attended lectures by Ralph Waldo Emerson—Harmony between nature in man, individualism, Non conformist Through 1840’s conventional poet—Similar to Bryant, Shelley, and Keats – Artificial for purpose CHANGE IN ATTITUDE Journalist—had been concerned with “white workingmen” Changed attitude about slavery, blacks become important to poetry, began educating himself. Deliberately wrote against those he had formerly imitated Changed from conventional poet into a radically different poet No conventional rhyme or meter written to be read by “masses of average Americans” Changed their way of thinking. Focused on the issue of slavery. HIS WORKS Strength of America -Not leaders -Hardworking patriotic citizens -Carried a Notebook where he wrote observations Self published Leaves of grass 12 Unnamed poems CIVIL WAR Brother enlisted and injured—Visited and tended to wounded soldiers Lincoln was elected --Stance on slavers --Encounters at hospital Lincolns Death --“Oh Captain! My Captain!” POETRY Uniquely American --Leaders Abe Lincoln --Working Men --Civil War WHITMAN’S “I” Main Character in Leaves of Grass --People of America --America Itself

This poem is about the different things Walt Whitman has experienced. It has a confusing feel to it because it jumps around to different events.
 * __Summary of "Song of Myself" -Brittany Bowling__**

 Song of myself Summary Kimmy Decker Song of myself is a very visual poem. It is very descriptive in what he is doing and how he feels about them.

=Song of myself summary - Adamli Haber= He hunts then camps out for the night; and is picked up on boat and sees a marriage between two Native Americans.

Song of Myself summary He's hunting and then camps, sails, spends time around a kettle with friends, witnesses a mariage between a Native American woman and a white male, and takes in and cares for a hurt captive.

Song of myself - Fil The person in the poem hunts in the mountains and then finds a safe spot to stay for the night. Then later he goes sailing, then watches a wedding between an Indian & a white man, he also watches a trapper lounge from a bank. He then witnesses a slave because the slave comes to his house, so he helps the slave, and remembers the slaves

