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Published bySybil Dalton Modified over 9 years ago
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Walt Whitman “The Good Grey Poet” “The Bard of Democracy”
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Bio. Trained to be a printer Wrote for newspapers as well Editor of BROOKLYN EAGLE; fired for his opposition to slavery Hired in New Orleans; as he traveled, he observed the diversity of the American people.
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Poetic style Broke all traditional rules of rhyme and meter Celebrated America and the common man Innovator of free verse
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LEAVES OF GRASS First denounced Published 1855 Critics hated the subject matter and lack of traditional poetic devices and forms. Revised and reshaped until his death: #13, the “death bed edition”—contained 383 poems Captures the diversity of the American people and conveys intensity and energy of all forms of life. Published at his own expense
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“The Bard of Democracy” His poetry gave America her voice. LEAVES OF GRASS: one of the most highly regarded collections ever written.
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“The Good Grey Poet” Brother wounded in Civil War He went to help and stayed 3 years Attended the wounded and read to them Wrote of these experiences
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Terms Free Verse: irregular meter and line length. Re- creates cadences of natural speech; does not rhyme. Diction: word choice and syntax (arrangement of words and sentence structure); these play a key role in Whitman’s voice. Catalogs: long lists Parallel forms: repetition of phrases or sentences with similar structures or meanings
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