What Is The Tone Of I Hear America Singing

In the poem “I Hear America Singing,” Walt Whitman, in his traditional patriotic style, tells a story about America during the nineteenth century. At first glance, the poem seems simplistic—incongruous with the complex works of other poets of the day such as Emily Dickinson. Although the poem does not have a specific rhyming scheme or require a large amount of imagination, it still communicates a powerful story to its readers. The message that Whitman delivers in eleven short lines is one that many would have trouble articulating across pages. With a patriotic tone, an American theme, and a straightforward premise, this poem is undoubtedly the work of Walt Whitman. Not unlike his other poems, such as “America” or “Oh Captain My Captain,” “I Hear America Singing” captures readers by explaining fundamental parts of an American narrative. In terms of interpreting the poem, I posit that it is best to read this poem prima facie as there is little value to overthinking it. The carefully worded free-verse utilizes examples to help carry a simple tune across eleven …show more content…
It is a reinforcement of our faith in America. The underlying story about the importance of middle-class workers makes the argument sound: find your potential and you will have value regardless. Through the thought-provoking depth of this poem, a certain simplicity emerges. After reading it just once, readers can glean a sense of patriotism. After reading it a second and third time, more intricacies become apparent such as the individuality and purpose of Americans. This makes the reader dig deeper for a better understanding. This straightforward, yet stimulating, style makes this poem beautiful. And while some might argue that Whitman had ulterior motives when writing this poem, I think the way to obtain the most value from the text is by reading what is written, making logical connections, and assuming nothing. This allows us to see the full value of the