常耀信美国文学史第三版Chapter6

In 1848, he traveled south to work in the New Orleans. In 1855, the first edition of his work, Leaves of Grass came out with his own money, which contained twelve poems. In 1856, his second edition of the book released , containing thirty-three poems, a letter from Emerson praising the first edition and a long open letter by Whitman in response. Whitman was buried in Harleigh Cemetery(公墓) after his death on March 26,1892.
Whitman’s poetry suggests, rather than tells; his whole Leaves of Grass is rather a dramatization of the idea that it is “a passageway to something rather than a thing in itself concluded.”
When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom 《当紫丁香上次在庭院中开放的时候》
Thematically, it deals with the typical Whitmanesque love-and-death motif. It was written in memory of President Lincoln. star — death lilac — a token of life for the dead bird — insight …death not as the end but as the beginning of new life. All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses.(song of myself)
Whitman and Peter Doyle, one of the men with whom Whitman was believed to have had an intimate relationship.
Enlightenment Science Idealism Pantheism
German philosophy Orientalism
Song of Myself 《自我之歌》
“Song of Myself” reveals a world of equality, without rank and hierarchy. In a general sense leaves of Grass is an Adamic song, and its author an Adamic singer.
Whitman's sexual orientation is generally assumed to be homosexual or bisexual on the basis of his poetry, though this assumption has been disputed. His poetry depicts love and sexuality in a more earthy, individualistic way common in American culture before the medicalization of sexuality in the late 19th century.
Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking 《走出永不休止地摇动着的摇篮》
It is a reminiscence of a childhood experience. Three subsections---sings of ideal love and bliss; bereavement and lonesome love; death as the spiritual fulfillment of lonesome love Two sets of symbols——the duality of nature and life the sun — the moon Life and Death and day — night the physical the spiritual land — sea the cycle of nature in its rhythmical evolution ends only to renew itself, with death as the beginning of new life.
Other works
Franklin Evans (1842) Democratic Vistas (1871)
Leaves of Grass
“This is the grass that grows whatever the land is and the water is .” 哪里有土，哪里有水，哪里就长着草。 The Leaves were called “noxious weeds ,” it’s poetry “poetry of barbarism ” and “a mass of stupid filth.” 邪恶的种子，野蛮的诗歌，一滩愚蠢的污 秽物。
Literary points of view
Whitman was a catalog of American and European thought. Influenced by Emerson, Whitman states that the greatest poet breathes into the world the grandeur and life of the universe. Art should be based organically on nature; the poet’s work grows out of nature and cosmic processes and derives its form from within. Whitman embraces idealism. He relies on insight and intuition.
First edition(1855)
It contained twelve poems and did not sell well, but it made a stir on the American literary scene. It broke with the poetic convention, and its sexuality and exotic and vulgar language brought harsh criticisms on it.
Whitman’s Life
Born in May 31, 1819 into a working-class family , the second son of a carpenter. Largely self-taught , read a lot of works of Shakespeare , Homer , Dante and the Bible. In 1836 , as a teacher in the one-room school houses of Long Island. Continuing to teach until 1841 , then turning to journalism as a full-time career.
Fifth edition(1871)
Whitman began to receive recognition in England and America.
Deathbed edition(1891-92)
It contained all of his 400-odd poems and became the single “poem”—his lifetime endeavor.
There Was a Child Went Forth《有个小孩走过来》 Crossing Brooklyn Ferry《过布鲁克林渡口》 Democratic Vistas《民主的前景》 Passage to India《向印度前行》 Proud Music of the Storm《骄傲的风暴之音乐》
Walt Whitman’s
Themes
in his poems Literary points of view Writing style Extensive influence
Themes in Whitman’s poems
Extols the ideal of equality and democracy celebrates the dignity, the self-reliance spirit, and the joy of the common man. Responds enthusiastically to the expansion of America. Emphasis on brotherhood and social solidarity. Expresses his pursuit of love and happiness, his ideas about death, and beauty of death. Attacks the slavery system and racial discrimination.
Individualism
Civil War Unionism
Transcendentalism
Main Works
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (1855) "Hush'd Be the Camps To-Day" (1865) "I Sing the Body Electric" (1865) "A Noiseless Patient Spider" (1891) "O Captain! My Captain!" (1865) "One Hour to Madness and Joy" (1860) "One's Self I Leaves of Grass Sing" (1867) "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" (1859) (1855—1892) "Patrolling Barnegat" (1856) "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" (1865) "Prayer of Columbus" (1900) "Song of Myself" (1855) "Song of the Open Road" (1856) "This Dust Was Once the Man" (1871) "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" (1865) Sections: Calamus Sea-Drift Drum-Taps
Whitman’s Major Works
Leaves of Grass 《草叶集》
A collection of poems Nine editions ( 12 poems — over 400 poems )
1855, 1856, 1860, 1867, 1871, 1876(two volumes , Leaves of Grass and Two Rivulets), 1881, 1889, 1891-92(or the “Deathbed Edition”)
Religion
Whitman was deeply influenced by deism(自然神论). He denied anyone faith was more important than another, and embraced all religioБайду номын сангаасs equally.
Sexuality