Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 - March 26, 1892), American poet, essayist, journalist, and humanist.
He's in a period of change between transcendentalism and realism, and he has acquired the style of both. Whitman is one of the greatest poets in the American literary world and has a reputation as the father of free poetry. Although Walt Whitman was the man who revolutionized the American poetry, invented a completely new poetic form, his works were very controversial at the time, especially his famous poem "Leaves of Grass", which was classified as obscene because of his bold description of sex.
Life[]
Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, in New York and his parents are of modest means. He lived with people from the bottom class such as coachmen and dock workers during his childhood. At the age of eleven, Walt Whitman was pulled out of school to help support his family. He has been an apprentice, worked at printing factories and sold newspapers on streets. So, as a result, Whitman was mostly self-taught. He read widely, basically everything, especially novels. When he was seventeen, Whitman turned to teach at a small suburban school. He taught there for five years and at 1841, he went back to New York and threw himself in journalism.
He was an editor and writer and he focused a lot on women's right, immigration and the major issue back to the day-- slavery. After he witnessed a slave auction in New Orleans, he firmed his idea of the universal brotherhood. And From 1848 to 1855, Whitman began to write what was to become his greatest work, Leaves of Grass.
During the civil war, Whitman moved to Washington D.C. to visit his injured brother. He stayed there for several years, working in the hospital and volunteered to visit wounded soldiers and spoke with young soldiers who’ve been through the darkest time. The whole experience there greatly increased his depth of thought and helped to form his idea.
From 1855 to 1891, Whitman has 7 editions of the book Leaves of Grass. It began as a book with very few poems, but over the years it contained over 300 poems.
Whitman suffered his stroke in 1873, leaving him partially paralyzed. He moved to New Jersey and remained there until his death on March 26,1892.
Famous Poems[]
- A Noiseless Patient Spider 1868
- Beat! Beat! Drums!
- I hear America Singing
- O Captain! My Captain!
- Song of My Self
Reviews[]
Walt Whitman was, without doubt, a controversial figure back in the day. In his lifetime he never really received the attention he deserved during his lifetime. Leaves of Grass was once even classified as obscene because of his bold description of sex. Like a lot of other litterateurs and artists, it was only in the 21st century we know how to appreciate his poetry and understand what he’s accomplished.
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