Journal 30-Favorite Whitman Poem

POETS TO COME.

http://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1891/poems/23

I came across Walt Whitman’s poem Poets to Come while researching for a past blog assignment. At the time, I was in a hurry to find quotes as back up and just clicking on random titles from the novel, Leaves of Grass. Although only three short stanzas, Poets to Come has so much meaning and creates a sentimental scene for the reader. The poem covers the movement of generation to generation, in this case, in the field of writing. Whitman describes how he can give advice, but his work will soon have its end. He uses imagery to give a physical description of passing men on the street. Although they may not know of each other, the men are connected in the fact that they were poets of their generation. It was the older man’s responsibility to have a literary voice for his generation, and it is now the younger man’s turn.

There are differences in every generation of history. Parents didn’t necessarily believe in the actions of their children, yet, more likely than not, their own parents had the same negative appeal on their decisions. It’s a fact of life that as time changes, trends and beliefs change as well. Take the literary periods for example. From Romanticism to Transcendentalism, the values and beliefs contrasted amongst the periods.

I see a rather large generational gap between the age groups today. It has been an era of technology. Those older than say 50 aren’t necessarily up to date with all of the new tools. It’s much more difficult for a matured person to learn the new gadgets because they aren’t used to them. Similar to how Whitman has to look to the future with nothing but hope for the upcoming poets, the aged professionals can only have faith in the rookies. I can’t imagine it’s easy for them to move on seeing how they aren’t used to the new way of doing things. I guess that just means there’s a new generation.

Journal 28

 The author of the poem was ready for death. He or she had already made the preparations that come with dying and was ready to go. The speaker says, "Be witnessed in his power" and "I willed my keepsakes, signed away." I would imagine that preparing for death isn't an easy process. I'm sure it would depend on the age of the victim and their life experience. When you finally gets past the denial and bargaining, the acceptance of death is the next step. I would imagine that one who has accepted death is in a calm state. The speaker in Emily Dickinson's "I Heard a Fly Buzz" describes the feeling as a "stillness in the air". Said stillness was interrupted by a bumble bee. When I'm outside and being active, a bee is easy to detect when it's close to my face. The sound of the buzzing stills you. I find that standing still is the most effective way to avoid getting stung by a bee. The speaker of the poem most likely heard the bee coming from far away considering the still, silent state that he or she was in. The silent converstaion that the speaker had with the bee was the last they ever had. A connection of somesort that symbolized the pure freedom that the speaker's sole will soon partake in. The light and window described at the end of the poem is an example of imagery. The reader can picture what it would be like to see the light through a window then all of a sudden have that window closed, bringing darkness into the room. I think it was a great comparison to what death would be like. Since no living person knows what it is truly like to kick the bucket, one can only be creative when describing it. Dickinson's clever description and great explanation of the speaker's emotions allow the reader to grasp not only the poem but also the process of death.

Emily Dickinson- Tweener

Emily Dickinson used many characteristics in her writing that could classify as either Realism or Modernism work. She broke traditions with her writing, shocking outsiders with her modernism technique. She also wrote descriptive poetry about her surroundings, a common characteristic of Realism writing. Categorizing the work of Emily Dickinson into just one literary time period is not an easy task. “Her voice and verbal artistry are unique, and her themes are both ageless and universal,” said one literary criticism (Cornelius).

Emily Dickinson will forever be remembered for the years she spent isolated in her bedroom. The criticism explains, “Despite Dickinson's ever-growing literary popularity, many details of her life remain a mystery” (Cornelius). The isolation showed through her work. She was not bothered by society or worldly issues in her bedroom, so her literature rarely discusses political or social events. Instead, the major themes in her poems were simple ideas and nature. Looking out of the window in her bedroom proved to be inspiration for many of her nature pieces. She was able to use the images that she saw to describe in her work. “As with any individual, the time, the place, and even the atmosphere surrounding Emily Dickinson all influenced the ways she thought and acted and developed her natural talent,” writes the criticism (Cornelius). One effective talent that Dickinson had was the ability to truly understand humans. In one of Emily Dickinson’s most popular poems, “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?”, she shows her understanding of humanity. She bonds with the reader over their similarity of being a ‘nobody’. She says, “Don't tell! They'd advertise – you know! How dreary—to be—Somebody!” (Dickinson). Her ability to describe a person through emotions and feelings not only relate to the reader but also make her a great Realism author.

Dickinson came from a religious family. She had a strong Puritan background, but she often did not attend church. Although she didn’t praise God on a Sunday morning, she refers to a higher power in several of her poems. She also mentions the spiritual journey that she is on. One criticism comments, “As was the Puritan custom, Dickinson continually examined her inner life, engaging in a kind of dialogue with herself that forms the basis of some of her finest poetry” (Cornelius). The inner spirit, also considered a self reflection, was highly recognized in the works of the Modernism period. By not attending church, Emily Dickinson was breaking the rules of her society. A modernism writer was known for breaking tradition and finding new ways to interact with the world. 

Along with their own writing style, many poets often had their own punctuation style. As Walt Whitman would use capitalization for emphasis in his poetry, Emily Dickinson uses improper grammar in her work. The reasoning behind the technique is unknown considering Dickinson received a proper education and knew better. One can only assume that the misleading punctuation was to create a rhythm that Dickinson wanted in her poems. In some cases, readers became confused by her style and opted to not read her poetry.

Cornelius, Kay. "Dickinson, Emily." In Harold Bloom, ed. Emily Dickinson, Bloom's BioCritiques. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Dickinson, Emily. "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Web. 04 Apr. 2012.

Walt Whitman- Tweener

Walt Whitman was a poet during a transition in literary time periods. His work included many coinciding characteristics, so it was difficult to categorize him in just one time period. Was he a Realism author who used great descriptions to tell of nature and reality, or was he a Modernism author who found new ways of interacting with the world? With sources that fit each literary period’s criteria, Walt Whitman can be categorized in only one way: a tweener.

                Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, a collection of poetry, is considered one of the most studied books of American poetry. Before becoming an author, Whitman worked as a newspaper editor and printer, so he had a large part in the publishing of his book. In fact, he would change the design and reorder the poems over and over again before finally settling with the sixth published version of the novel. Whitman’s perfectionist quality, which some might consider unnecessary attention to detail, is what made him such a great Realism writer. Being able to describe something to a reader without straight up saying it is not easy. One must have knowledge in human psychology in order to create layered characters in their work. A higher level of writing would include characters that the reader can understand emotionally instead of just a physical image. These details were commonly used in Realism writing to give readers an accurate portrayal of the events that occurred. In Walt Whitman’s “Poets to Come”, he describes a scenario between two generations. He says, “I am a man who, sauntering along without fully stopping, turns a casual look upon you and then averts his face, Leaving it to you to prove and define it, Expecting the main things from you” (Poets). The subtle description of the scene gives off a powerful message with so much more meaning behind it. The reader is able to picture the scene in their mind, thanks to the use of imagery in the poem, and get a good understanding of the situation, the entire purpose of Realism writing.

Modernism writing can easily be summed up in one word: Individualism. The literary period broke tradition by creating new ways to view and interact with out surroundings. Inner self and reflections were a couple new ways people would interact. Walt Whitman was no stranger to self reflection, and he encouraged his readers to make decisions for themselves and no one else. In “Song of Myself” Whitman writes, “You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me, You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself” (Song).

Walt Whitman was known to have his own rhythm in his poetry. He would include punctuation such as capitalization or periods in odd places in order to create an effect. Any emphasis he puts on a word or phrase has a specific meaning. It may not be plainly stated, but Whitman’s special punctuation has meaning to his poetry. It is a rare characteristic that isn’t seen in every poet’s work.

Whitman, Walt. "Poets to Come." The Walt Whitman Archive. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." The Walt Whitman Archive. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.

Whitman-Square Deific

“Chanting the Square Deific”, a poem of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass collection, is very much a balance between good and evil, a fight that many endure in one way or another in their lifetime. The poem reflects on the idea of a square deity rather than the three sided trinity that is most commonly seen. Each side of the square is given it’s own stanza in the poem where the opinions and outlooks of each character is shared. In one literary criticism, the author explains, “There are four stanzas, each presenting one of the four sides to Whitman's "Square Deific," and each told from the speaker's point of view, first God, then Christ, then Satan, and, finally, the Soul ("Santa Spirita")” (Oliver).

The first side of Whitman’s Square Deific is a negative one. As if speaking from the point of view of God, Whitman explains, “Relentless I forgive no man—whoever sins dies—I will have that man's life” (Whitman). He imagines God as having no sympathy for his actions. The description of the adjacent side was easy enough point out its speaker. With knowledge from prophets, a helping hand for all, and an early death, the second side of the deific is Jesus (Whitman). He serves as a breath of fresh air, or a positive, to the cruelty that came before him in the poem. Opposite of God in not only views and plans but also in the square deific is Satan. He is continuously brooding and plotting against power and vows to never change. One Facts on File essay states, “Satan is opposite God in the Square Deific, creating, Whitman may be suggesting here, a balance between good and evil, both necessary, he believed, in the lives of human beings and in all of Nature” (Oliver). The final side of the square is the Holy Spirit, described as being “the most solid” of the four (Whitman).

As a self reflection, “Chanting the Square Deific” exudes several lessons to be learned. One spotted in every stanza of the poem is to live with little fear. God may have treated sinners poorly, and he made quick judgments on people, but he did so without remorse (Whitman). He didn’t show the most positive of qualities, but he felt what he was doing was right, so he lived with little regret. In the second stanza, Jesus sensed that he would encounter an early death, but he continued to live his life for others (Whitman). Whitman writes, “And my sweet love bequeath'd here and elsewhere never dies.” (Whitman). He lived his life with the fear of death at his back knowing that the actions he made would never be forgotten. Satan, the next side of the deific, could easily be considered the bravest of brave. He brooded against the highest power with no regret. Although feared by many, Satan himself was never concerned with changing the nasty, rebellious soul that he was. Finally, the Holy Spirit, who served as a go to, or haven, for all permanent beings. With little fear, the Holy Spirit “leaped easily from Hell” to be a guide for all mankind (Whitman).

Oliver, Charles M. "'Chanting the Square Deific'." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 03 Apr. 2012.

　

Whitman, Walt. "Chanting The Square Deific." The Walt Whitman Archive. Web. 03 Apr.

Emily Dickinson-Partner Blog

Emily Dickinson had a passion for nature. It served as the muse for a lot of her work. In “Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup”, Emily Dickinson describes her excitement when waking up on a dew covered morning. She uses a very cheery tone for the rhythm of the poem which shows the readers how positively she feels for the time of day. The rhythm of a poem can have a huge impact on the story because the reader is given a emotion without the author straight up telling them the feeling in the poem. It is a literary tool that enhances the poetry and the mood of the story. Just as one would want to know more about their idol or passion, Dickinson has questions about nature. She strives to learn more about her muse and is quick to show her curiosity over the topic. She asks, “Who leads the docile spheres withes of supple blue?” (Dickinson).

Another commonly used literary technique in “Bring Me the Sunset in a Cup” was imagery. Her words are so beautifully described that they allow the reader to picture what is taking place in the poem. In line twelve, Dickinson says, “How many trips the tortoise makes, How many cups the bee partakes” (Dickinson). The reader can picture these creatures, and ultimately get the feeling of spring. Both are outdoor animals that come out in warm weather conditions. The reader can also imagine the slow moving tortoise and hear the buzzing of the bee. Dickinson uses imagery to point out the time of day because the story sets in the morning and dawns at the end of the day. She says, “Bring me the sunset in a cup, Reckon the morning’s flagons up” (Dickinson). The comparison of a ‘sunset in a cup’ refers to the coffee that most drink in the morning, and the raising of the flag is also a job for the early morning. To inform the reader that the day is coming to a close, Dickinson says, “And shut the windows down so close, My spirit cannot see? Who’ll let me out some gala day, With implements to fly away” (Dickinson). The closing of the windows shows how the residents are in for the night. She includes her want to be free from the enclosed house, showing once again her love for the great outdoors. The greatest part of the chronological imagery is that Dickinson used items that one might not necessarily consider when thinking of a specific time of day. Raising the flag is a brilliant way to describe the morning, but it’s not what first come to mind. The closing of windows gives readers a wonderful picture to imagine. One that they probably hadn’t considered with night time before. This clever technique of hinting to the reader the time of day by using hidden imagery is what makes Emily Dickinson such a great artist of her craft. She didn’t have to state on paper every point, and instead she allowed her audience to read between the lines.

Dickinson, Emily. “Give Me the Sunset in a Cup”. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Boston: Little, Brown, 1924; Bartleby.com, 2000.

Journal 29

I find that the greatest way for a person to get a true self reflection is to isolate themselves from all others and society. Ralph Waldo Emerson was known for loving nature, and he often took solo journeys into nature when he was in need of inspiration or self reflection. Keeping a journal or taking time to reflect are also great ways to find one's self. This journal requires me to find my own self portrayal. I think it is very important for a person to consider how they are being perceived because that will ultimately affect how another sees you. My personal self reflection is very much based on the values and beliefs that I have. I reflect on the decisions I make and the things I say and do. It is a great way to make sure I am living in the respectful manner that I want to live in. I see myself as a person that can respect others and appreciate the differences in every person. I often find myself saying "Hey, if it makes them happy" because it keeps me from negatively judging others. I would say I’m rather extroverted with some introverted tendencies. I say this because, yes, I know you and feel comfortable around you, I will be a very outgoing and somewhat loud of a person. However, if I’m in a room with a group of people I have never met before, I am more likely to be quiet and somewhat shy. I often reflect on the shy tendencies I sometimes have, and I don’t like them. I want to become a person with a well rounded personality who can walk into a room and chat it up with anyone and everyone without getting completely red in the face. This is an important task to overcome considering I will be leaving for college in a year, and, oh yeah, I want to major in journalism. Being a journalist requires that you are open and friendly because you will have to make a conversation with a person, and it’s more than likely, you just met. I'm happy with the 'self' I have come to be. I think there are other people who could use a good self reflecting to make sure they are being the person they want to be.