A New American Poetry Walt Whitman If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles Emily Dickinson I am nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?

The Two Greatest American Poets of the 19 th Century Broad strokes on a broad canvas Broad strokes on a broad canvas Social and gregarious; a traveler Social and gregarious; a traveler Public spokesman of the masses & prophet of progress Public spokesman of the masses & prophet of progress Celebration of universal brotherhood and destiny of democracy Celebration of universal brotherhood and destiny of democracy Expected message to be carried to the world Expected message to be carried to the world Walt Whitman

The Two Greatest American Poets of the 19 th Century Delicacy of a miniaturist Delicacy of a miniaturist Private and shy; remained secluded in one spot for entire life Private and shy; remained secluded in one spot for entire life Obscure homebody Obscure homebody Metaphors for the spirit in nature Metaphors for the spirit in nature Expected nothing but oblivion for her poetry Expected nothing but oblivion for her poetry Emily Dickinson

Essential Questions What were the innovative contributions of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson? What were the innovative contributions of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson? What are the differences between the backgrounds of these two poets? What are the differences between the backgrounds of these two poets? What are the stylistic differences of Whitman and Dickinson? What are the stylistic differences of Whitman and Dickinson?

Essential Questions What is the relevance of each poets work to contemporary culture? What is the relevance of each poets work to contemporary culture? What is the value of poetry and what role should poetry place in modern life? What is the value of poetry and what role should poetry place in modern life? How does one read a poem for both style and meaning? How does one read a poem for both style and meaning?

Two Seams in the Fabric Whitmans career = American success story Drifter into thirties, going from one job to next Drifter into thirties, going from one job to next Published Leaves of Grass (1855) at own expense Published Leaves of Grass (1855) at own expense Made him famous around the world during his lifetime Made him famous around the world during his lifetime Dickinsons career = Secret genius Only publishes a handful of poems during life Only publishes a handful of poems during life Family finds poetry after Dickinsons death Family finds poetry after Dickinsons death Fame after death when poetry is published in 1955 Fame after death when poetry is published in 1955

Two Seams in the Fabric Whitmans poetic style Extravagant with words Extravagant with words Careless repetition and self-contradiction Careless repetition and self-contradiction Aimed for large, overall impression Aimed for large, overall impression Filled pages with catalogs or long lists Filled pages with catalogs or long lists Used cadence and free verse Used cadence and free verse I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you

Two Seams in the Fabric Dickinsons poetic style Precision of a diamond cutter Precision of a diamond cutter Meticulous choice of words Meticulous choice of words Aimed to evoke feelings, not just list them Aimed to evoke feelings, not just list them Searched for right phrase Searched for right phrase Economical technique with neat stanzas controlled by rhyme and hymn book meters Economical technique with neat stanzas controlled by rhyme and hymn book meters This is my letter to the World That never wrote to Me The simple News that Nature told With tender Majesty

Models for Future Poets Whitman Poetry as public speech, statements Poetry as public speech, statements Written in cadences of free verse Written in cadences of free verseDickinson Poetry as private observation, experiences Poetry as private observation, experiences Crafted carefully in rhyme and meter Crafted carefully in rhyme and meter

Poetry in your life What are your thoughts and feelings about poetry? What are your thoughts and feelings about poetry? What do you think about the value of poetry? What do you think about the value of poetry? What roles can poets and poetry serve in contemporary life? What roles can poets and poetry serve in contemporary life?

How to Read a Poem Most readers make three false assumptions when addressing an unfamiliar poem: Most readers make three false assumptions when addressing an unfamiliar poem: That you should understand the poem on the first reading, and if you dont, that something is wrong with you or with the poem. That you should understand the poem on the first reading, and if you dont, that something is wrong with you or with the poem. That the poem is a kind of code, that each detail corresponds to one, and only one, thing, and unless you can crack this code, youve missed the point. That the poem is a kind of code, that each detail corresponds to one, and only one, thing, and unless you can crack this code, youve missed the point. That the poem can mean anything you want it to mean. That the poem can mean anything you want it to mean.

How to Read a Poem Understanding poetry is difficult, because poetry is difficult. Understanding poetry is difficult, because poetry is difficult. Reading poetry is a challenge, but like so many other things, it takes practice, and your skills and insight improve as you progress. Reading poetry is a challenge, but like so many other things, it takes practice, and your skills and insight improve as you progress. You have to tear a poem apart before you can start to understand it. You have to tear a poem apart before you can start to understand it. "A poem is an artistic representation of what it feels like to experience the emotional life of a human being." -- Linda Sue Grimes "A poem is an artistic representation of what it feels like to experience the emotional life of a human being." -- Linda Sue Grimes

How to Read a Poem First reading First reading Read the poem out loud Read the poem out loud Dont try to interpret what the poem means Dont try to interpret what the poem means Just get a feel for the poem and the way it sounds Just get a feel for the poem and the way it sounds Try to follow the punctuation cues to help you read it well Try to follow the punctuation cues to help you read it well

A Pact by Ezra Pound I make a pact with you, Walt Whitman I have detested you long enough. I come to you as a grown child Who has a pig-headed father; I am old enough now to make friends. It was you that broke the new wood, Now it is time for carving. We have one sap and one root Let there be commerce between us.

How to Read a Poem Second reading Second reading Read the poem again, slowly, a line or two at a time, trying to figure out the concrete (literal) meaning of the lines Read the poem again, slowly, a line or two at a time, trying to figure out the concrete (literal) meaning of the lines Dont try to interpret what the poem means Dont try to interpret what the poem means Underline or circle words or phrases that you dont understand Underline or circle words or phrases that you dont understand Try to determine what just those words or phrases mean literally with the help of a dictionary or online research Try to determine what just those words or phrases mean literally with the help of a dictionary or online research

A Pact by Ezra Pound I make a pact with you, Walt Whitman I have detested you long enough. I come to you as a grown child Who has a pig-headed father; I am old enough now to make friends. It was you that broke the new wood, Now it is time for carving. We have one sap and one root Let there be commerce between us.

How to Read a Poem Third reading Third reading Now, try to start to make sense of the poem and interpret the meaning Now, try to start to make sense of the poem and interpret the meaning Try to identify the speaker and the situation of the poem and the plot of the poem Try to identify the speaker and the situation of the poem and the plot of the poem Paraphrase the poem into your own words Paraphrase the poem into your own words Ask yourself, what is the poet trying to say about the subject, about human nature, about the world? Ask yourself, what is the poet trying to say about the subject, about human nature, about the world?

A Pact by Ezra Pound I make a pact with you, Walt Whitman I have detested you long enough. I come to you as a grown child Who has a pig-headed father; I am old enough now to make friends. It was you that broke the new wood, Now it is time for carving. We have one sap and one root Let there be commerce between us.

How to Read a Poem Following these steps will allow you to read a poem with more understanding and deeper appreciation. Following these steps will allow you to read a poem with more understanding and deeper appreciation. When you are able to do that, you are on your way to becoming a skillful reader of poetry and a better critical thinker. When you are able to do that, you are on your way to becoming a skillful reader of poetry and a better critical thinker. You may find that you can read a particular poem for a whole lifetime and still discover additional meaning every time you read it. You may find that you can read a particular poem for a whole lifetime and still discover additional meaning every time you read it. Remember, poetry is dense and contains more meaning than we can figure out at once. Remember, poetry is dense and contains more meaning than we can figure out at once. Also, you will change as time passes, which changes what the poem means to you. Also, you will change as time passes, which changes what the poem means to you.