I Hear America Singing 'And Chicago'

In both poems, parallel structure through the utilization of repetitions occurs which works to cultivate connectivity between individual workers to create larger ideas within society. For example, in “I Hear America Singing” Whitman connects the individual occupations within America by stating the “mechanics”, “carpenter”, “masons”, “boatman”, “deckhand”, “shoemaker”, “hatter”, “wood cutter”, “ploughboy”, “mother”, “young wife”, and “the girl” are all “singing” in unison while they work (2-10). Here, repetition establishes a relationship amongst all of the workers, which as a result cultivates an individual willingness that upholds positive attitude in unity. Similarly, in “Chicago” Sandburg utilizes repetition by beginning and ending the poem by listing the stereotypes of the city, “Hog Butcher, Tool …show more content…
For example, in the poem “I Hear America Singing” Whitman states, “at night the part of the young fellows, robust, friendly, singing with open mouth, their string melodious songs” (13-14). By utilizing the words “friendly” and “melodious”, the poet cultivates a positive façade of ease while workers naturally possess a sense of pride in their own Nationalistic spirit. In contrast, in the poem “Chicago”, Sandburg states, “they tell me you are wicked”, “they tell me you are crooked”, and “they tell me you are brutal” in reference to the city of Chicago (6-10). By utilizing the words “wicked”, “crooked”, and “brutal” while describing the city, the poet works to expose the façade of ease as not being a natural phenomenon, that pride in one’s naturalistic spirt derives from an individual’s ability to work past obstacles. Furthermore, Whitman and Sandburg use diction to create a tone of pride within the idea of nationalism that curates a façade in order to expose the reality in upholding