Song of Myself 33

Whitman Whitman tries to feel what other people feel, to step into their lives, even to become the person or thing he is talking about. Perhaps you have experienced this blend of imagination and empathy—the ability to share in another’s thoughts or feelings—which is at the heart of Song of Myself. The poem juxtaposes a wide variety of scenes and emotions in movielike glimpses into the broad American scene. Each experience—whether real or fictional, or a bit of both—provides Whitman with an opportunity for empathy, a chance to feel joy (as in number 10) or to share in heroic suffering (as in number 33). As you read, look for words and phrases that reveal Whitman’s ability to feel empathy with people quite different from himself.

Parallel Structure repetition of phrases, clauses, or sentences that have the same grammatical structure

Assonance the repetition of similar vowel sounds

Cadence the musical run of words that rises and falls as the poet sings the song.

Homework Describe at least 3 scenes found within the poem. For each scene, explain the emotions that are attached to the imagery. This should include textual support for each scene!