Concetti Chiave
- Whitman celebrates American professions in "I hear America singing," portraying work as a fulfilling path to self-realization and expressing strong patriotic pride.
- "O captain, my captain!" mourns Lincoln's death, depicting him as a heroic and paternal figure whose leadership was pivotal for America's triumphs.
- "For you, Democracy" highlights themes of democracy, brotherhood, and Whitman's devotion to America, personified as a beloved woman.
- Whitman's poetic style often lacks a regular layout, using indented lines that can be read horizontally, as seen in "For you, Democracy."
- In "To the East and to the West," Whitman unites all Americans, emphasizing themes of national pride and comradeship.
I hear America singing
In this poem, Withman represents all American professions, such as the carpenter, the mason or the shoemaker. This text shows a strong patriotic spirit: Withman is proud of America and inhabitants “agree” with him. He takes into account the totality of American Society (e.g. Carpenter, boatman, wood-cutter but even the mother, who sings or the young girl, who works at home). Working is not seen as a boring or tiring activity, but it is considered as the way people can realize themselves.
O captain, my captain!
Whitman wrote this poem after Lincoln’s death, because he was murdered by a famous actor, John Booth.
Whitman considers Lincoln as a Captain, whose help has been really important, in order to improve the greatness and the importance of America and his history, which is compared with a ship; it has overcome a great number of obstacles but, now, people are exulting and they welcome their rescuer in a triumphant way, as one can see from the second part (For you bouquets and ribbon wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding). The Captain-President is considered as a Father.
At the end of the poem, there is a turning point: the Captain lies on the ground, he has no pulse and his lips are pale and still: he is dead but he saves his nation, showing courage and devotion.
People exult because of their victory, whereas the poet, sad, remembers his faithful captain.
For you, Democracy
This poem, written by Whitman, refers to a particular period of time, that’s to say the moment, when Pioneers decided to “Go west”, in order to improve their economical condition.
This poem consists of eleven lines, lines are indented and they can be read horizontally. Whitman’s poems have not a regular layout.
“For you, O Democracy” is important because of different aspects:
-The title: here, one can find the main point of Whitman’s poetics- the idea of Democracy
-Lines: there are two important lines, that’s to say “With the love of Comrades,/with the life-long love of comrades”- they show that Whitman believes in Brotherhood and equality among human beings
-“Ma femme”- these words lead us understand, that America is considered as a wife, as a woman, who has charmed the poet and now he feels that he has the duty of serving and protecting her.
- The principle of Comradeship (because of this idea of love among human beings, he has been charged of homosexuality).
To the East and to the West
This poem was written by W.Whitman. in this poem he delineates a geographic area including all American people. The main themes are America, which is glorified by the author, and the comradeship.
Domande da interrogazione
- ¿Cuál es el espíritu que Whitman transmite en "I hear America singing"?
- ¿Qué simboliza el Capitán en "O captain, my captain!"?
- ¿Qué aspectos importantes se destacan en "For you, Democracy"?
- ¿Cuáles son los temas principales en "To the East and to the West"?
Whitman muestra un fuerte espíritu patriótico, destacando el orgullo por América y sus habitantes, representando diversas profesiones y roles en la sociedad como el carpintero, el barquero y la madre.
El Capitán simboliza a Abraham Lincoln, a quien Whitman considera un líder crucial para la grandeza de América, comparando su liderazgo con el de un capitán de barco que ha superado obstáculos.
El poema resalta la idea de Democracia, la hermandad y la igualdad entre los seres humanos, y personifica a América como una mujer que el poeta siente el deber de proteger.
Los temas principales son la glorificación de América y la camaradería entre su gente, abarcando a todos los estadounidenses en un área geográfica amplia.
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