Christopher Spates

COL. Ball

ERH 421WX

4/30/15

421WX-Leaves of Grass

            This course Leaves of Grass has been very intriguing. It offered many challenges yet offered me as a student the opportunity to learn about 19^th century American culture. From the very beginning of the class I was clueless about Walt Whitman, and finishing this course I feel I have learned a lot not only about his life but the meaning behind his poetry.  Whitman’s poetry discusses topics such as war, nature, jobs and politics which all tie together to describe America separating from England, the civil war, and even the daily struggles of poverty. Our class discussions, paper’s written and also the virtual scrapbook allowed me to gain insight into the motives for Walt Whitman’s poetry, and how it directly correlates to the true American culture that we still live in today.

One of the things Whitman is known most for is his organic form of poetry. This alone represents the American culture during the 19^th century. Whitman grew up in tough times when America was breaking away from England and was trying to establish itself. With that being something he experienced I believe his free verse of poetry represents freedom. It shows that Whitman was still able to describe his feelings and ideas without typical rhythm and meter. He was able to tell stories about nature, war, jobs, and politics while still focusing it on his idea for everything being unified under equality. More specifically in writing my research paper I learned that Whitman struggled keeping a job. He went through seven different newspaper jobs in four years. Also, throughout Whitman’s life he struggled to have success with his poetry. Having to publish his own Leaves of Grass is an example of the tough times faced by the lower middle class in America during this time.

A big component in Whitman’s poetry that we discussed is nature.  Our assignment in which we had to read Leaves of Grass out in the open air gave me the chance to relate more directly to what he spoke of. Whitman speaks of America and the nature of the 19^th century yet his imagery mirrors the present, and in a sense makes the future seem immediate.  Within my writing of my findings from reading Leaves of Grass outside one thing that stuck out to me is when Whitman says “…and the numberless unknown heroes equal to the greatest heroes known.” This to me represents American culture throughout history and more specifically during the civil war. There are heroes made every day, however, they may not be the famous Robert E. Lee’s or Stonewall Jackson’s of the 19^th century. Whitman made it very clear in “I hear AMERICA singing” that he felt every person had an importance to America regardless of their job. He speaks of the carpenter and the mason and how individually they create a unified country.  Personally, I believe Whitman offered the idea of unity which is one of the strongest characteristics of America even though in the 19^th century he saw the civil war and slavery right in front of his eyes.

The single most important part about this class for me was our in class discussions. It allowed me to broaden my view on what Whitman was saying in his poetry. Being able to hear many other classmates’ ideas of what was said in a specific poem allowed me to put our thoughts together which gave me a better understanding for what Whitman meant. Also, by interacting together and hearing different people read poems would give a different tone depending on the voice. Though reading in class really helped me gain a better understanding one thing I struggled with at times was Whitman’s vocabulary. Vary rarely throughout one of his poems did I not have to look up a word that held a significant meaning behind a sentence or phrase. Though this was a challenge, I believe it has allowed me to broaden my vocabulary and it also gives me more respect toward Whitman’s writing ability.

The main requirement for these civilization and culture courses is the ePortfolio. For me, it was interesting making my virtual scrapbook for the ePortfolio because you are trying to portray information on historical events through a much more advanced piece of technology. This alone shows the advances in the American culture overtime. We are becoming so advanced that we are able to use technology to better understand and describe historical people or events. The ePortfolio is becoming a tool for people to show their work across many different communities whether it be your group of friends, for business, or even for you to get your name out there publicly. I believe it is a great tool that many of people are beginning to take advantage of.

Overall, this class has been interesting, enjoyable, and has allowed me to expand my knowledge about America’s greatest poet Walt Whitman. By doing the papers and virtual scrapbook I was able to further our in class discussions and learn many things about the 19^th century specifically relating to Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. Walt Whitman was so unique in his ability to make his poetry relate to not only the 19^th century, but also to the present. His imagination allowed him to turn so many stories into lessons learned through nature in his poetry.  Finally, throughout the course Leaves of Grass I was able to us my knowledge of the 19^th century to relate it to Walt Whitman’s poetry, and in the process I was able to learn how unique his poetry is and how well he connected with the American culture from the 19^th century and in many cases still today.

Walt Whitman’s Legacy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWvLspIM_A8

Christopher Spates

COL. BALL

ERH 421WX

April 21^st, 2015

Virtual Scrapbook Narrative

As Walt Whitman once said “Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.” Walt Whitman is known as one of America’s greatest poets. He song of life while also singing of death. For if one is to examine life carefully then death should most certainly be included because to respect life is of the highest ethical order. Walt Whitman died on March 26, 1892 at the age of 72 which is believed to be due to tuberculosis. However, Whitman suffered several strokes and was partially paralyzed, but even though his body was restricted his mind was not.  Right up until his death he continued to work on Leaves of Grass, and had gone through seven editions totaling some 300 poems. He believed that “the proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he absorbed it.” Though during Whitman’s lifetime he didn’t receive the recognition he strived for he has certainly gained recognition over time.

Due to Whitman’s great work his life has been celebrated with many things named after him. Whitman’s home in Camden, New Jersey is now turned into a museum and is visited from people around the world to experience the last worldly surroundings of America’s great poet of democracy. Also, the Walt Whitman Mall located in Huntington Station, New York which is in close proximity to his birth place, a national historic site on Walt Whitman Road. Another thing named after him is the Walt Whitman bridge. The bridge is a major land mark located along the Delaware River stretching from south Philadelphia to Gloucester City, New Jersey. The bridge was opened in 1957 and is still used heavily today. Also, there is a high school named after Whitman in Montgomery County Maryland right outside of Washington DC.

Walt Whitman is buried in Harleigh Cemetery in Camden, NJ.  Whitman’s tomb cost him around $4,000 and the land was gifted to him by the Harleigh Cemetery Association. Whitman drew up the plans for his tomb before he began the contruction. With it he wanted an iron gate and a large bronze lock, inspired by an etching called “Death’s Door” by William Blake. The tombs ceiling is over a foot deep and was made with extremely heavy blocks. Whitman was so proud of his tomb that he would send pictures to his friends showing them where he would be buried.

“Love the earth and the sun and animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that ask, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others…and your very flesh shall be a great poem.” Walt Whitman’s work has influenced many people like, Puable Neruda a noble prize winning poet who was greatly inspired by Walt Whitman. He states “ I was barely 15 when I discovered Walt Whitman, my primary creditor. I stand among you today still owing this marvelous debt that has helped me live.” Neruda even wrote a poem called the Ode to Walt Whitman. Within it he states “you gathered for me everything; everything that came forth was harvested by you.”

Whitman asks and answers the great question and mystery of death. He says that if you have any doubt of mortality, I say there can be no more doubt of immortality than of mortality. This then calls for an ethical order to recall life as death and death as life and in both of them there is light and there is light in each of us, and there is that great symbol in the sky that gives light and life to everything and inside everyone is a sun. Unfortunately, Walt Whitman wasn’t alive to see all the light that his poetry shined across its readers. Though Whitman passed away a long time ago his light and peace still shines down on us today. As he said “O SUN of real peace! O hastening light! O free and ecstatic! O what I here, preparing, warble for! O the sun of the world will ascend, dazzling, and take his height–and you too, O my Ideal, will surely ascend! O so amazing and broad–up there resplendent, darting and burning!” Walt Whitman’s work will continue to inspire people throughout time as his poetry leaves a lasting impression on everyone it touches.

Works Cited

Leaves of Grass and Other Writings: Walt Whitman

“The Walt Whitman Archive.” Gallery of Images [Page ] 1-10. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

Velella, Rob. “Whitman’s Funeral and Burial.” The American Literary Blog. 30 Mar. 2010. Web.21 Apr. 2015.

“Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76).” Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76). Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

“Walt Whitman Quotes.” Walt Whitman Quotes (Author of Leaves of Grass). Goodreads. Web.21 Apr. 2015.

“Welcome To Walt Whitman Shops® – A Shopping Center In Huntington Station, NY – A Simon Property.” Welcome To Walt Whitman Shops® – A Shopping Center In Huntington Station, NY – A Simon Property. Simon Property Group. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

“World Biography.” Walt Whitman Biography. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

Reflective Tag

Doing the virtual scrapbook was a very good experience. I was able to learn a lot of interesting facts about Walt Whitman that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t chosen the topic that I did. By choosing to look at Walt Whitman’s legacy I was able to look in many different areas like Pablo Neruda who admired Whitman, or even the many things named after Whitman himself.  Also, I was able to take a look into the death of Whitman. This was particularly interesting for me since death is talked about so heavily throughout Whitman’s poetry. It allowed me to gain a better understanding as to how Whitman speaks about death and his true meaning behind it. The topic of death became more evident in more of his poems once I started to look at them from Whitman’s idea of death. However, while working on the virtual scrapbook I was able to see that Whitman’s death has been celebrated just as he would have wanted with so many lively things placed under his name while also Leaves of Grass still being read across the world.

Christopher Spates

Col. Ball

ERH 421WX

April 14^th, 2015

The Critics of Walt Whitman’s Mind

Walt Whitman, one of America’s most famous poet and journalist is known for his controversial topics about the American democracy. Some view negatively of Walt Whitman’s writings and others praise and honor his influence on literature. People often disagree with his writings because it is considered offensive; however, he is not a man to be easily dismissed. Whitman created uproar among society, because of his disputed views and opinions on life. His writings caused people to reflect upon their own views on life and how society can affect an individual’s perception. By reflecting the American way of life, Whitman is able to capture and question the true understanding of human nature and the society around it. Some critics praised his work and believed “his voice will one day be potential or magisterial wherever the English language is spoken” because it is so unique.(Austin) However, other critics completely disagree and find that his writing irrelevant, and claims it barely makes since. Those reviews that critique his writings have helped to popularize his work by making it known to many people. The reviews have also allowed society to consider his beliefs and live a life that reflects Whitman’s views. At the time, his ideas were new and different. Many people had contradicting views on his writing. However, by considering the thoughts within his writing readers are able to apply his thoughts towards modern day society.

Whitman’s poems are not where the controversy started. Whitman’s beliefs have been disputed since he first entered the world of writing. Just like most of society, Whitman’s parents influenced his views and beliefs on America and democracy. When Whitman was seventeen years old he got his first job in a one-room schoolhouse. In 1841 he began his own weekly paper, called the Long-Islander. He moved to New-York city where he became an editor for another newspaper, called the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.(Whitman Bio)  Whitman’s jobs never lasted long. Even then his views and opinions were questionable and not accepted from his co-workers and bosses.  He lost his job from seven different newspapers in only four years.

Whitman’s critics, regardless of whether they offered positive or negative reviews, did not contribute any notable literary works of their own. As I researched works about Walt Whitman it was interesting to see how ready people were to judge the works of Whitman when they couldn’t truly relate to his talent. Without controversial subjects covered, poetry is merely restated material, and without the progression that people like Whitman offered, there can be no change.(WhitmanWiki) This is why to this point today Whitman is known as America’s poet due to his unique thoughts and writing style. More than likely most of his critics had a hard time understanding his writings because there had yet to be anyone else like him. Whitman is known for reshaping poetry, and obviously giving it an entire new identity.  As seen in all of his writings Whitman offered a style that lacked a popular rhyme scheme, typical line breaks, and even rhythm. (Guide to Walt Whitman)  However, many people felt that by doing that he wasn’t writing poetry anymore, rather he was throwing together random thoughts onto paper. Though the critics of Walt Whitman have never grown to be as well-known as his work there are still interesting critical analysis on his work.

Robert Buchanan a Scottish poet, lecturer, and journalist wrote a very strong critical review of Whitman’s writing. Within the review he states that Whitman essentially has poems written about democracy, and general monotonous prophecies throughout Leaves of Grass.(Buchanan)  Buchanan displays Whitman as selfish and unintelligent, and says that all Whitman saw was the “perfect world” where everyone had equals of everything; however Buchanan argues that Whitman’s stance is not realistic.  In his eyes he sees it in a way that Walt Whitman’s writing is for “daintier men” to follow calling Whitman a plain pioneer.(Buchanan) Buchanan believes that young gentlemen followed Whitman’s writing simply because he was loud, massive, gross, and colossal rather than for the truth he was speaking.(Buchanan) Although Whitman is harshly criticized by Buchanan he makes several legitimate points throughout his critical review. At times Whitman’s poetry was inappropriate, however, in order to understand his stories you had to be intelligent and have a sense of how society was changing. Also, Whitman was very unique in ways that many people still to this day will never understand. He carries so many interesting ideals from topics such as death, life, nature, democracy, and love, which to this day can be easily misunderstood.(Guide to Walt Whitman)

Another critic of Walt Whitman is John Trowbridge. He says specifically that Whitman wrote with vigor, graphic force, and also had a strong since of human sympathy.(Trowbridge) Trowbridge sat down and spoke with Whitman in Boston in 1860. In is review he admires Whitman and says that it is amazing how someone can have such love and faith yet have such a large view on life with a strong since of curiosity.(Trowbridge) Whitman told him directly that he couldn’t have created his writings if he hadn’t found himself. He gave direct credit to Emerson for helping him find that and said that Emerson’s letter was seen as blazoned and a chart of an emperor.(Trowbridge) Trowbridge also spoke of Whitman’s physical appearance. Before he saw Whitman for the first time, he expected to see someone who was simple and well looking. When they met Trowbridge was shocked by his grey beard and rough physical appearance. Whitman was very quiet in person, but when reading his poems you would think he was outgoing and grandiose. Overall, Trowbridge saw Whitman as someone who demonstrated everything between nature and man. Many people have miss conceptions simply by reading Whitman’s poems yet never truly look deeply into his personal being to see that his work deserves a form of celebration.

Though Whitman’s work in Leaves of Grass is explained online by many scholarly sources as to what the meaning of his poems are how do we really know that is right? Personally, I see Whitman as someone with a mind of his own that can be easily misinterpreted, but I think that is exactly what he wanted. Though critics have some harsh words against Whitman they still all take his poems and place the circumstances he speaks of into their own lives. This is because Whitman offered up poetry that wasn’t directed particularly toward any one person rather he wanted to reach out to everyone. His poetry gives every reader the opportunity to place themselves into the story that is being told in order to feel the emotion, or even see the picture that he is trying to portray.

Works Cited

Austin, Alfred. “The Poetry of the Period.” The Poetry of the Period: [Review of Poems by Walt Whitman] –. The Walt Whitman Archive, 1 Oct. 1869. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Buchanan, Robert. “The Walt Whitman Archive.” Walt Whitman: [Review of Leaves of Grass (1867).and Drum Taps] –. The Broadway, 1 Nov. 1867. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

“Poets.org Guide to Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets,1 Jan. 2000. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Trowbridge, John. “Reminiscences of Walt Whitman.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 1 Feb.1902. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

“Walt Whitman.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 13 Apr. 2015.

“Whitman’s Critics.” WhitmanWiki. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Reflective Tag

While doing research on Walt Whitman’s critics I learned a lot about what people thought of him. It was very interesting to learn about his physical appearance and demeanor. I believe that Whitman was a very interesting person to interact with by reading about his personality.  His work is so unique and offers so many questions to his readers. The imagination he used throughout Leaves of Grass is incredible and makes you truly think. It relates not only to history, but to the present.  Even Whitman’s critics were able to see his ability to relate nature and society into one concept. Also, I was able to see how even back then people believed his work was very explicit and gruesome. However, I think that is what makes him America’s greatest poet. Overall, doing this research paper I was able to gain a better understanding for Whitman’s being and the true concepts of his poetry by learning what other people thought of it.