Overview
Walt Whitman's passionate writing style and bold subject matter have deeply influenced American poetry. Nearly all of his poems were published in Leaves of Grass, which Whitman obsessively expanded, edited, and republished throughout his life, ultimately leaving behind a powerful literary legacy. This volume features a compelling selection of essays from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that offer students historical insights into Whitman and his works.Synopsis
Walt Whitman's passionate writing style and bold subject matter have deeply influenced American poetry. Nearly all of his poems were published in Leaves of Grass, which Whitman obsessively expanded, edited, and republished throughout his life, ultimately leaving behind a powerful literary legacy. This volume features a compelling selection of essays from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that offer students historical insights into Whitman and his works.
Children's Literature
This updated version of Bloom's Modern Critical Views staple takes a closer look at Walt Whitman or as editor Harold Bloom calls him, "the American Bard." For those who have spent minimal time with Whitman's prose poetry or have never laid eyes on his work, this compilation of essays by renowned scholars will prove invaluable. Contributors delve into a variety of topics, from Whitman himself, to the order of his poems in Leaves of Grass, from his democratic values to his use of contradictory terms, i.e., "the joy of death." His work is analyzed from various perspectives: religious, feminist, even journalistic, all providing thought-provoking, new insight into this revolutionary poet. The essay written by D. H. Lawrence in Whitman's own style is probably the most enjoyable essay of the book. Best suited for those who are seriously studying poetry or Whitman specifically in an advanced high school English class or a college setting, the challenging text and concepts encourage further study.