Page:1 Paul Bednarz Research paper

Walt Whitman is known as one of Americas greatest writers incorporating both transcendentalism and realism in his writings. Whitman's collection of poems, Leaves of grass stands among the masterpieces of world literature. Whitman's poetry had such a big impact on American literature that one of his nicknames is "America's Shakespeare"( Encyclopdia Britannica). Walt Whitman showed American poetry by writing about the city, people, nature, and the energy felt in urban landscape. Whitman is called the father of free verse (Encyclopdia Britannica) even though he did not invent it . Mary Smith Whitall is right when she says that " you cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without Leaves of Grass.."
(Encyclopdia Britannica)

Transcendentalism are the ideas in literature and philosophy that developed in the 1830s and 40s as a protest against the general state of culture and society. Some major figures in this movement were Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and others. They were strong believers in the power of the individual and divine message. Transcendentalist are rebels against what they say needed to be changed for example women's rights or slavery.

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Realism is another literature movement that Whitman was involved in. Although American Realism was before Whitman's time period you can see some aspects of Realism in Whitman's writing. These works of literature show a view of what was happening and what was real. They were interested in showing urban works that reflected city life. One poem to me that seems to meet American Realism aspects would be " I hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman. The poet hears the singing of America's working class who contributes to the life and culture of America. He paints the picture of an American hard working class. Walter Walt Whitman was born at a farmhouse in West Hills, Long Island to parents with Quaker thoughts, he was one of nine children. At an early age he was an avid reader, reading works of Homer , Dante , Shakespeare, and the bible. Whitman worked as a printer until a fire destroyed the industry. After that Whitman was interested in teaching and he continued until 1841 when he turned to journalism as a full time career. The long-Islander is the weekly newspaper he founded he in 1848 he left to become editor of the New Orleans Crescent. This is where he first experienced slavery and instantly opposed it after viewing it first hand accounts. He founded a "free soil" newspaper and continued to develop his poetry that amazed and astonished Ralph Waldo Emerson. (poets.org) Whitman was also active in the civil war managing to do what ever he can to help. His brother George joined the union army and was always updating him with Page:3 letters. He spent time working at the hospital where soldiers who were injured from battle ended up.

Whitman was also against slavery. In 1856 he published the Eighteenth presidency. In the Eighteenth presidency he told people from the south that " you are either to abolish slavery or it will abolish you"(Grade Saver LLC). His concern with African-Americans in the legislature lead his opinion that African Americans should not be able to vote. Whitman had always had a hard time supporting himself. He spent any excess money to buy supplies for the patients he nursed. He also spent some of his money on his brother and mother. 1855 Whitman took out a copyright on the first edition of leaves of grass, the collection containing twelve untitled poems. He published it himself and sent a copy to Emerson. It was Emerson's positive feedback that resulted in many alterations of the book. Even though not everyone agreed with Emerson's view on the book. Poet John Greenleaf Whittier was said to have thrown his 1855 edition into the fire. Thomas Wentworth Higginson wrote " It is no discredit to Walt Whitman that he wrote 'Leaves of Grass' only that he did not burn it afterwards".(grade saver LCL) Walt Whitman didn't get the recognition he desired as many other American writers until after his death like Emily Dickinson. In 1865 he was even fired from his job

Page:4 because of Leaves of Grass. Whitman spent his whole life revising leaves of grass making eight different editions. Due to some of his literature ( leaves of grass) it is debated that he is homosexual. Rufus Wilmot Griswold suggested Whitman was guilty of "that horrible

sin not to be mentioned among Christians". There is some evidence of strange friendships Page 4he had with men and boys throughout his life.

In the 1870s Whitman move to NJ to visit his dying mother at his brothers house. Whiteman suffered a stroke soon after and found it impossible to return to Washington. He stayed with his brother until he had enough money to buy a house from his 1882 publication of leaves of grass. He spent his last years working on the new edition of the book calling it Good-Bye. Its sad how Whitman didn't get the respect he deserved until after his death even though his poetry was more popular in England than in the United States. As one of America's greatest and well-known writers, transforming literature with transcendentalism and realism in his writing. Whitman's work has always been under-rated. An early avid reader and teacher interested in the works of Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, and the bible. Whitman struggled to support him self and with out help from other writers he wouldn't be able to achieve his legacy of " America's Shakespeare". Producing a masterpiece, making many alterations and editions of leaves of grass. Whitman spending his dying years finishing his book with the last edition called good bye. Whitman amazed other great American writers, for example Ralph Waldo Emerson.

work cite page

-Miller, James Edwin. Walt Whitman. New York: Twayne, 1962. Print. -"Walt Whitman." Poets.org - Poetry, Poems, Bios & More. Web. 05 June 2011. -Canby, Henry Seidel. Walt Whitman an American. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1943. Print -"Transcendentalism (American Movement) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 05 June 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/602448/Transcendentalism> "Walt Whitman." Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica Online. Encyclopdia Britannica, 2011. Web. 07 Jun. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/642866/Walt-Whitman>.