1. American Poetry The New World Finds its Voice and Celebrates its Diversity

2. Poetry Techniques—A Review Figurative Language 1. Simile –Define/Example 2. Metaphor –Define/Example 3. Personification –Define/Example 4. Hyperbole –Define/Example Sight & Sound 1. Imagery –Sight –Touch –Taste –Smell –Sound 2. Rhyme –Example 3. Alliteration –Define/Example 4. Onomatopoeia –Define/Example

3. Poetry Annotation Symbols 1 Universal Symbols Main Idea (the poem is about this Main Idea (the poem is about this ! Something important or something you reacted to emotionally ? Question/I don’t understand Figurative Language symbols Si—SimileMe—MetaphorPe—PersonificationHy—HyperboleIm—ImageryRh—RhymeAl—AlliterationOn—Onomatopoeia

4. Walt Whitman 1819—1892  Born May 31, 1819 in West Hills, Long Island  Growing up, he spent weekends on the beaches and in the woods of Long Island  Influenced by Sire Walter Scott, the Bible, Dante, Homer, Shakespeare, the British Romantics, and ancient Hindu poetry  Never went to college; became a journalist instead  Fascinated by the written word and the “boomtown” atmosphere of Brooklyn

5.  At 30, he took a trip across America, getting a sense of both the crowded civilization as well as the wild vastness of the country  In 1855, he published his masterpiece “Leaves of Grass” and continued to revise the work throughout his life  Whitman created an “image” for himself, that of “America’s first poet” and the “everyman”, the embodiment of a bold new Democratic country  Whitman’s work was largely misunderstood during his lifetime  He was criticized for breaking away from traditional poetry and for including erotic elements in his writing

6.  Themes  The individual & the “everyman”— Celebrated himself as a unique individual but also celebrated the “oneness” of the group  Democracy—Democratic in both subject matter and language; capturing the new country growing around him  Body & Soul—The body is the vessel that allows the soul to experience the world; the body should be celebrated  Cycle of Life—All is born and reborn; we all return from whence we came

7. Emily Dickinson 1830-1886 Born into a religious, well- to-do New England family Born into a religious, well- to-do New England family It was expected that she would marry and become a housewife, but something happened… It was expected that she would marry and become a housewife, but something happened… At 24, her father took her on a trip because she had fallen in love with an older, married lawyer At 24, her father took her on a trip because she had fallen in love with an older, married lawyer

8. During the trip, she fell in love with Charles Wadsworth, the married pastor of the Arch Street Church in Philadelphia During the trip, she fell in love with Charles Wadsworth, the married pastor of the Arch Street Church in Philadelphia She saw him as a “muse”, someone who could inspire her, someone she could love passionately in her imagination She saw him as a “muse”, someone who could inspire her, someone she could love passionately in her imagination Dickinson withdrew from society and began dressing in white, representing the bride she would never become Dickinson withdrew from society and began dressing in white, representing the bride she would never become She wrote hundreds of poems, but had no interest in an audience, she wrote only for herself She wrote hundreds of poems, but had no interest in an audience, she wrote only for herself

9. She instructed her family to destroy any poems left behind after her death; yet hid bundles of hand written poems for her relatives to find She instructed her family to destroy any poems left behind after her death; yet hid bundles of hand written poems for her relatives to find Seventy years after her death, her work was published and she was recognized as one of America’s, and perhaps the world’s, greatest poets Seventy years after her death, her work was published and she was recognized as one of America’s, and perhaps the world’s, greatest poets Many critics note her strength was her ability to see the universal in the particular; the relationship between a drop of dew and a flood; a grain of sand and a desert, etc. Many critics note her strength was her ability to see the universal in the particular; the relationship between a drop of dew and a flood; a grain of sand and a desert, etc.

10. Themes Power of Nature—The beauty & perfect balance in nature is evidence of God’s existence Power of Nature—The beauty & perfect balance in nature is evidence of God’s existence Death—Seen as a doorway to truth, the beginning of a new journey Death—Seen as a doorway to truth, the beginning of a new journey Truth/Madness—A matter of perspective; the majority doesn’t necessarily determine the truth Truth/Madness—A matter of perspective; the majority doesn’t necessarily determine the truth “Alone Time”—Value placed on a solitary life in which only a few close relationships are allowed “Alone Time”—Value placed on a solitary life in which only a few close relationships are allowed