WaltWhiteman

1、logoWalt WhitmanContents目录lifeworkscommentsrepresentative workPart One0101family informationBorn in to a working-class family.poorsemiliterate(半文盲)parents.Unmarried all his life.The second of nine children,he was immediately nicknamed Walt to distinguish him from his father.Walter Whitman, Sr. named

2、 three of his seven sons after American leaders: Andrew Jackson, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. The oldest was named Jesse and another boy died unnamed at the age of six months.biographical introduction Born on 31,May 1819 near Huntington, Long Island, New YorkHe was almost entirely self-e

3、ducated, especially admiring the work of Dante, Shakespeare, and Homer.Apprenticed to a printer.Taught school at 17.Editor of The Brooklyn Eagle, a respected newspaper, but was fired for his outspoken opposition to slavery.Severed as volunteer nurse during civil war.Died in March 26,1892.Health decl

4、ine and death Walt Whitman died on March 26, 1892 and he was buried in a tomb that he had designed on a lot in Harleigh Cemetery.Walt Whitman spent his last years at his home in Camden, New Jersey. Today, it is open to the public as the Walt Whitman House.biographical introduction After suffering a

5、paralytic（中风的） stroke in early 1873, Whitman was induced to move from Washington to the home of his brotherGeorge Washington Whitman, an engineerat 431 Stevens Street in Camden, New Jersey. His mother, having fallen ill, was also there and died that same year in May. Both events were difficult for W

6、hitman and left him depressed. He remained at his brothers home until buying his own in 1884.However, before purchasing his home, he spent the greatest period of his residence in Camden at his brothers home in Stevens Street. While in residence there he was very productive, publishing three versions

7、 of Leaves of Grass among other works.Whitman died on March 26, 1892.An autopsy（尸体解剖） revealed his lungs had diminished to one-eighth their normal breathing capacity, a result of bronchial pneumonia（支气管性肺炎）,and that an egg-sized abscess（脓肿） on his chest had eroded one of his ribs.Part Two0202Frankli

8、n Evans 1842 富兰克林埃文斯Plot overview: A Tale of the Times, the only novel ever written by Walt Whitman, is the rag-to-riches（破布向富裕） story of Franklin Evans. Franklin Evans starts as an innocent young man, leaving Long Island to come to New York City for the opportunity to better himself. Being young an

9、d nave, he is easily influenced by someone whom he befriended (Colby) and eventually becomes a drunkard. He tries many times to abstain from alcohol but does not succeed until after the death of his two wives. Franklin Evans takes you through a journey of a young man living and learning through his

10、mistakes, picking up life lessons along the way.Leaves of Grass 1855 草叶集 First published in 1855 with only 12 poems 9 editions and last edition includes more than 400 poems written in a new kind of versification called free verse Celebrates the ideals of equality, democracy, the dignity, self-relian

11、t spirit and joy of common people Grassthe most common thing with the greatest vitality, as a common of rising AmericanDrum-Taps and Democratic VistasDemocratic Vistas is a major work of comparative politics and letters published by the American poet and author Walt Whitman in 1871, who was then wor

12、king as a federal clerk.1871 民主的前景Drum-Taps is a collection of poetry by American poet Walt Whitman. The book was written during the American Civil War.1865 稃鼓集other works 1876 Memoranda During the War 战争回忆录1882 Specimen Days 典型的日子1.The use of a certain pronoun “I”2.Two principles Parallelism or a r

13、hyme of thought Phonetic recurrence ( the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of the line, in the middle or at the end)E.g. I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you3. The adopt of “free verse”-poetry wi

14、thout a fixed beat or regular rhyme scheme4. The use of colorful words and vivid imagesFeatures of Whitmans poetryPart Three0303a part of the transition between transcendentalism （先验论）（先验论）and realismthe father of free verse He believed the American poets would create both new forms and new subject

15、matter for poetry.He announced and instructed a complete new age.Whitmans ContributionsPart Four0404selected readingI think I could turn and live awhile with the animals . they are so placid and self-contained, I stand and look at them sometimes half the day long. They do not sweat and whine about t

16、heir condition, They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins, They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God, Not one is dissatisfied . not one is demented with the mania of owning things, Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago, Not one is re

17、spectable or industrious over the whole earth.我想我可以和这些动物们一起住一段时间 它们是如此的温和，自给自足有时候我可以大半天站着观察它们他们不出汗，也不抱怨生存条件 晚上他们也不躺下休息，而是为他们的罪过而哭泣他们向上帝陈述自己的职责，这一点都不让人讨厌没有谁是不满意的没有谁因为占有欲而发狂没有谁向谁屈尊下跪，或是盲目崇拜着他们几年前的祖先在这片大地上，没有谁是值得尊重或勤劳刻苦的1. Form 52 sections, 1346 lines2. LanguageThis poem is written in free Verse, and n

18、o fixed beat and rhythm. The lines are not balanced. It is the unique form of Whitmans poem.3.style of writing In this poem, the first person “I” is used throughout the whole poem. It shows Whitmans strong sense of self and self-confidence.From the poem，we can learn about the mystery of death and bi

19、rth. And from “the smallest sprout shows there is really no death”, we can say that Whitman obviously thinks that the soul is there, and is eternal. The poet is aimed at grasping the perennial eternal life of the universe with a brief life.Appreciating “Song of Myself”4. ThemeThe poem reveals a world of equality, without rank and hierarchy, and celebrates the dignity, the self-reliant spirit, and the joy of the common man.5. Social refe