Dylan thomas
1. Intro Paragraph
Thesis Statement: Think about multiple similar poems that address a universal theme.
a. Biographical information on poet (who, what, when, where, why?)
b. Walt Whitman was born on Long Island, New York in 1819. He worked as a teacher and journalist in addition to writing poetry. Much of his poetry was influenced by nature and the American frontier. At first, readers didn’t care for his poetry because it didn’t follow the traditional structure and his subject matter was considered risque/vulgar. He didn’t gain popularity and influence until after his death in 1892.
c. Walt Whitman uses elaborate lists, rich imagery, and his unique style of free verse poetry to convey the theme of the freedom of the human body.
2. First, the elaborate lists that Walt Whitman uses in his poetry have a repetitive effect on the reader. It broadens the scope of his poetry.
Throughout the poem, the audience may get lost and wonder whether it qualifies as “true poetry.” This effect, I submit, is intentional.
a. For example, in section nine of “I Sing the Body Electric”, Whitman lists human body parts like an anatomy book’s glossary. It never rhymes or uses a fixed meter. But the effect it creates is a structure much like a poem (beginning, middle, end, head, body, legs, arms, feet). In fact, the final lines of the poem insist “O I say these are not the parts and poems of the body only, but of the soul, O I say now these are the soul.” Whitman uses this extended metaphor of body imagery to compare our selves to how poetry is shaped and structured purposefully to have a
beginning, middle, and end just as one would describe a person: starting with the
head, face, eyes, and then move downward in order. That’s what Whitman is
convincing his audience of: beauty, order, human dignity.
b. Citation/Text evidence from a poem. Introduce the poem’s subject with a paraphrase or summary. Then quote directly (unless very long lines).
c. Explain the significance of this example and why it is important.
3. Next, Whitman’s rich imagery provides the senses with intense visuals throughout his poetry.
a. For example, in section three of “I Sing the Body Electric”, he describes a farmer in a short narrative or characterization sketch. This section contrasts with the rest of the poem as it is the only section that focuses on a specific person and isn’t dominated by lists of the human body. The man he describes is “of wonderful vigor, calmness, beauty of person…” The effect this section has on the reader is to teach the audience what humans are capable of. Later in that section, he continues to describe the man as “six feet tall” and “over eighty years old” as well as “the most beautiful and vigorous of the gang.” This anecdote provides a more personal, specific image that might change the audience’s mind about the endurance of the human body.
b. Citation/textual evidence from another poem (same poem?)
c. Explain the significance of the quote. Why does it matter? What effect or impact does it have on the audience? What is the poet teaching his/her reader?
d. Compare and contrast? Why is this important?
4. In addition, his style of free verse poetry does not rely on a fixed meter or rhyme scheme. Therefore, the audience isn’t restrained by a specific word choice or syllables in each line. For example, in every section of the poem, the lines vary anywhere from a few words to as many as 15 words. This may seem disorganized and chaotic to some readers who are used to a sonnet or limerick’s phrasing. However, the free verse style sets one
free from those strict rules and allows a better focus on imagery and the overall message. Whereas in the traditional poems, one might have to cut back on word choice or find synonyms to accommodate meter or rhyme, Whitman’s free verse liberates us to say what is most meaningful. And liberation is exactly what Whitman fought for in his era: abolition, freedom, humanity, the love humans have for one another.
5. In conclusion, Walt Whitman’s poetry is most certainly a diversion from tradition. Thus, my thesis exists to show how poetry, as an art form, can influence public opinion about social matters. When the majority of Americans clung to traditions or refused to accept a progressive philosophy about emancipation, his poetry affected attitudes enough to contribute to major changes. In short, words have power.
