Lecture 4: Transcendentalism, Walt Whitman

Question 1

Transcendentalism Overview:

American literature post-Independence aimed at:

Answer 1

Rejecting European standards
Celebrating individual mind’s power
Endorsing nature’s regenerative power
Opposing institutional church authority

Emergence in the USA (1836-60) with Emerson and Thoreau
Emphasized unity of man, nature, and God (Oversoul)
Immanence - sacredness within man and nature

Question 2

Transcendentalist Ideals

Answer 2

Unity between man and nature, advocating for harmony and interconnectedness.
Rejection of reliance on social structures, promoting individual introspection for truth.
Belief in the divinity of human nature, encouraging self-reliance and self-discovery.

Question 3

Walt Whitman: biography

Answer 3

Celebrated American poet who responded to Emerson’s call to create a distinct American literary voice.

Self-published “Leaves of Grass” in 1855, a groundbreaking collection challenging conventional poetic norms.

Question 4

Analysis of “Leaves of Grass”:

Answer 4

The title reflects intimacy with nature and signifies life’s continuous renewal.

“Song of Myself,” a notable poem in “Leaves of Grass,” rejected traditional poetic structures.

Whitman’s free verse mirrored the irregular rhythm found in nature.

Emphasis on individualism and a strong belief in democracy characterized his work.

Question 5

Key Elements in Whitman’s Poetry:

Answer 5

Absence of rhyme, replaced by emphasis on alliterations and assonances.

Lack of traditional stanza structures, with thematic groupings providing unity.

Non-metrical rhythm reflecting the irregularity present in nature.

Question 6

Significance of “Song of Myself”:

Answer 6

Focused on celebrating the self and highlighting equality among all.

Showcased transcendental mysticism in ordinary, everyday occurrences.

Stressed the importance of observing and respecting nature’s creative and renewing force.

Question 7

Key Literary Concepts:

Answer 7

Metre/Meter: Patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.
Foot/Feet: Basic metrical unit in a line of poetry.
Symmetry: Balance or similarity in parts of a literary work.
Caesura: A pause or break within a line of poetry.
Assonance, Alliteration, Rhyme: Techniques involving similar sounds in poetry.
Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit in a poem.
Free Verse: Poetry with no fixed meter or rhyme scheme.
Amplification, Repetition: Literary devices emphasizing and repeating ideas for effect.