Tuesday, 9 November: Walt Whitman, introduction 2846-9.  “There Was a Child Went Forth” (handout), selections from Song of Myself (2863-2914)

Reader: Bonnie Napoli

Objective 2- To study the movement of “Romanticism,” the narrative genre of “romance,” and the related styles of the “gothic” and “the sublime.”

In both texts we see numerous references towards nature from beginning to end.  We can see the sublime with all of these nature references however,

Question:  Are there any references toward the “gothic” in either poem?

Objective 3- To use literature as a basis for discussing representative problems and subjects of American culture: GENDER, MODERNIZATION, TRADITION, FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL, COMMUNITY, NATURE.

“There Was a Child Went Forth” provides different outlooks on gender, tradition, family, and the individual along with others. 

“The mother with mild words, clean her cap and gown, a wholesome odor falling off her person and clothes as she walks by, The father, strong, self-sufficient, manly mean, anger’d, unjust”

This is the description of a mother and father.  Although this describes gender stereotypes, many still associate certain actions by gender.  Reading this poem in present time, could these descriptions be offensive?  On the other hand, could the descriptions of the mother and father be traditional?  How controversial are these words?

 On the flip side, in “Song of Myself” (21) Whitman says, “I am the poet of the woman the same as the man, And I say it is as great to be a woman as to be a man, And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of men.”  

Question: Does “Song of Myself” show gender differences or does the poem strive to equalize all humans regardless of gender, race, religion, etc.?

“The doubts of day-time and the doubts of night-time, the curious whether and how, Whether that which appears so is so, or is it all flashes and specks?  Men and women crowding fast in the streets, if they are not flashes and specks what are they?”

This gives the affect of is this real? Or is this me?  As an individual one may feel they are having an outer body experience.  In both texts Whitman describes the world around, including people, becoming a part of him. 

“Song of Myself”:   

“For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”

“My tongue, every atom of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air”

“Whoever degrades another degrades me”

Question:  From reading both texts, can all readers and walks of life identify with Whitman’s song of himself? What about the child in the poem?