Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson                  The Romantic Poets

They are considered to be the two greatest poets of the nineteenth century! Be curious, not judgmental. Whitman If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain: Dickinson

Walt Whitman 1819-1892

Background He came from a large family (seven brothers and sisters)                                                  He came from a large family (seven brothers and sisters) Had the opportunity to live in both a country setting and the city of New York (Brooklyn) He attended school until he was eleven, then worked as a printer’s assistant and a teacher

Background Worked in journalism until the age of thirty Moved to New Orleans to continue journalism Eventually returned to New York as a journalist and part-time carpenter/contractor. He kept journals and diaries that became the basis for much of his literary work.

Poetry Based on cadence, which is the long, easy sweep of sound that echoes the Bible and the speeches or orators and preachers. Cadence was the base for free verse, which is poetry without rhyme or meter. In 1855, he published his most important collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. He revised it nine times before his death in 1892.

O captain! my captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the stead keel, the vessel grim and daring. Walt’s Style Frequently uses catalogs– the piling up of images or concrete details Example from “Song of Myself” “My tongue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air/Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same” (lines 6-7)

Style His catalogs here represent the spiritual unity among all forms of being. He frequently uses parallelism—the repeated use of phrases, clauses, or sentences that are similar in structure or meaning. Use of parallelism helps to create a sense of unity within his poetry and it also provides a structure, creates a rhythm, and emphasizes important ideas.

Style Uses free verse– verse that has irregular meter and line length Whitman was the first American poet to use free verse. His use of free verse allowed him to express himself without restraint

We never know how high we are Till we are called to rise; And then, if we are true to plan, Our statures touch the skies. Emily Dickinson 1830-1886 Hope is a thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without words And never stops at all.

Behavior is what a man does, not what he thinks, feels, or believes. Background Born into a wealthy New England family and had a happy childhood. Everyone assumed she would grow up to marry and have a family. At 24, her father took her on a business trip to separate Emily from a drastic situation…she had fallen in love with a married man she could never marry. Beauty is not caused. It is.

Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell. Background Ironically, while on the trip, she fell in love with another married man, Charles Wadsworth, a Presbyterian minister. She was once again separated from the man she loved. She then withdrew from all social life except involving her family.

Emily alone! Within a few years, Emily was dressing in all white and lived in total seclusion. Her only activities included writing her poems and household chores.

Emily’s Poetry She only printed a handful of her poems during her lifetime. However, she made sure that she left bundles of her poems to be found after her death. Family and friends edited her poems and published them in numerous installments. Her poems were brief and contained brilliant metaphors.

Emily’s Style Uses unconventional punctuation and capitalization Most of her lines and stanzas are very brief Most of her poetry is writing in quatrains Usually, only the second and fourth lines in her quatrains rhyme. She often uses slant or partial rhymes. She has a tendency to use figurative language to convey her ideas.