Walt Whitman was an American poet and journalist who combined views of transcendentalism and realism into his works. He is often titled as the father of free verse, despite not being the one who created it. He was born on May 31, 1819, near Huntington, New York. Whitman was twelve when he started to learn the printer’s trade and begin to love the written word. Whitman had multiple jobs over the course of his life, from volunteer nurse during the Civil War, to a teacher, to a journalist. Whitman only wrote one novel in his life time, and it was “Franklin Evans”. It followed a man named Franklin Evans throughout his journey of rags to riches. He later is embarrassed of the work, claiming he had written it over the course of three days. In
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The collection of fifty-three poems was heavily influenced by the Civil War. It conveys the suffering and death that occurred during the war and some poems uniquely show the perspective of the war from the hospitals. These poems, such as “The Wound-Dresser” and “The Artillery Man’s Vision”, express the consequences and affects the war had on the soldiers. Later, Sequel to Drum Taps, was published with eighteen more poems about the Civil War. This Sequel also contained two poems about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” and “O Captain! My Captain!”. These two poems were later included in Leaves of …show more content…
Today, he is acclaimed as one of America’s most important poets. His works have been translated into almost every major language. Allen Ginsberg, Hart Crane, and Wallace Stevens are some of the few who were heavily influenced by him.
Throughout Walt Whitman’s works his style is shown to have multiple traits making it unique to him. He places great emphasis on one’s self as an individual, physical and spiritual beauty, free verse, openness and freedom, and optimism.
Walt Whitman has been an influence for books, art, and film. He was a model for character of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s book, Dracula. More modern influences involve the hit television series Breaking Bad. One episode in particular, titled “Gliding Over All” after poem 271 in Leaves of Grass, holds many references to the book. In John Green’s novel Paper Towns, Leaves of Grass plays a major role through it. The film Dead Poets Society contains “O Captain! My Captain!” along with other references to Walt Whitman. American Singer Lana Del Rey has multiple references to Walt and Leaves of Grass in her song “Body
The collection of fifty-three poems was heavily influenced by the Civil War. It conveys the suffering and death that occurred during the war and some poems uniquely show the perspective of the war from the hospitals. These poems, such as “The Wound-Dresser” and “The Artillery Man’s Vision”, express the consequences and affects the war had on the soldiers. Later, Sequel to Drum Taps, was published with eighteen more poems about the Civil War. This Sequel also contained two poems about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” and “O Captain! My Captain!”. These two poems were later included in Leaves of …show more content…
Today, he is acclaimed as one of America’s most important poets. His works have been translated into almost every major language. Allen Ginsberg, Hart Crane, and Wallace Stevens are some of the few who were heavily influenced by him.
Throughout Walt Whitman’s works his style is shown to have multiple traits making it unique to him. He places great emphasis on one’s self as an individual, physical and spiritual beauty, free verse, openness and freedom, and optimism.
Walt Whitman has been an influence for books, art, and film. He was a model for character of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s book, Dracula. More modern influences involve the hit television series Breaking Bad. One episode in particular, titled “Gliding Over All” after poem 271 in Leaves of Grass, holds many references to the book. In John Green’s novel Paper Towns, Leaves of Grass plays a major role through it. The film Dead Poets Society contains “O Captain! My Captain!” along with other references to Walt Whitman. American Singer Lana Del Rey has multiple references to Walt and Leaves of Grass in her song “Body