Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"
Which of the following statements best describes the effect of the long lines in "Song of Myself"?
They remind the reader of the speaker's liberty and self-confidence.
Read the quotation from "Song of Myself." I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. How do these lines reflect the poet's general style?
They show the poem's relaxed, candid tone.
How do the images of travel in part 46 of "Song of Myself" contribute to the poem's theme?
They suggest expansiveness, or extending one's reach outward.
What is the most likely reason the author chose a free verse structure for "Song of Myself"?
Free verse allowed for the expression of expansive ideas.
Read the line from "Song of Myself." For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. What is the effect of the word "atom" in this line and later in the poem?
It emphasizes the narrator's belief that every parcel of the Earth belongs to everyone.
Read the quotation from "Song of Myself." I know I have the best of time and space, and was never measured and never will be measured. How does this line support the theme of the poem?
It reflects Whitman's ideas about the capacity of the human spirit.
Read the excerpt from "Song of Myself." Long enough have you dream'd contemptible dreams, Now I wash the gum from your eyes, You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment of your life. Long have you timidly waded holding a plank by the shore, Now I will you to be a bold swimmer, To jump off in the midst of the sea, rise again, nod to me, shout, and laughingly dash with your hair. What theme is suggested by this excerpt?
People should be brave, take risks, and embrace all aspects of life.
Read the quotation from "Song of Myself." I have no chair, no church, no philosophy, I lead no man to a dinner-table, library, exchange, But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll, My left hand hooking you round the waist, My right hand pointing to landscapes of continents and the public road. Which statement best describes how these lines reflect the theme of the poem?
They indicate that Whitman is more interested in communicating with individuals than society.
Read the quotation from "Song of Myself." It is not far, it is within reach, Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know, Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land. Shoulder your duds dear son, and I will mine, and let us hasten forth, Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch as we go. In this quotation, the first stanza has a different style from the second section. What does this suggest about Whitman's overall style in the poem?
that Whitman's style allows for various kinds of language
Which characteristic makes "Song of Myself" a free verse poem?
the absence of a consistent rhythmic structure
