1. Lesson 3 Walt Whitman & Leaves of Grass

2. Claims to Fame “The father of free-verse poetry” Caught in the middle of Transcendentalism and Realism. Can anyone define Transcendentalism? Realism- interest in the actual and description of things how they truly are or appear.

3. Main Text(s) Whitman’s signature text is Leaves of Grass, which was published in 1855. Some popular poems are: Song of Myself, I Sing the Body Electric, Lilacs in the Dooryard Bloom’d, and O Captain, My Captain!

4. The Reaction? Emerson LOVED it. He even wrote Whitman a letter expressing his love. Whitman then used this letter, without permission and printed it as the preface to Leaves of Grass. As for the rest of the general public? OUTRAGED.

5. Some Themes to be Aware of: Sexuality Racism Slavery Death Religion Do these sound controversial to you?