american poets
Compare and contrast the work of at least two poets on the theme of American society and its values._________________________________________________________________________Walt Whitman (1819-92) wrote, "The chief reason for the being of the United States of America is to bring about the common good will of all mankind, the solidarity of the world" (Leaves of Grass). Walt Whitman, one of the most influential poets to come out of America was a true patriot. This loyalty to his country is clear in his poetry which continually praises the United States, and was born out of his belief that "The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem" (Leaves of Grass).Allen Ginsberg (1926-97), on the other hand, was one of the original American rebels. His hedonistic lifestyle and open rejection of the conservative American values of his time show him in sharp contrast to Walt Whitman. Much of his poetry blatantly throws commonplace norms back in the faces of the people of the 'Land of Hope and Glory'.These very different attitudes to their homeland create an obvious contrast between the two poets. Whilst Walt Whitman saw himself as a man of the people and a voice for America, Allen Ginsberg revelled in his outcast s
The Beats had little sense of collective politics, they felt oppressed but gifted with insights to share with the world. Whitman's desire for an amalgamated America and Ginsberg's call for the end to the oppresiveness of authoritarian America resonates throughout their work. This belief and the outcast status they were given by society caused the Beats to believe themselves to be beaten and also beatified and identified themselves with minority groups such as homosexuals, black Americans and women. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. In stylistic terms Whitman broke the mould in his time, these long, free flowing lines brought, for Whitman, a release from the former static styles of poetry and an expression of the freedom he wished to impress his poetry with. Midway through the poem, line 48, Ginsberg, in a parody of Whitman who saw himself as the American voice, claims "It occurs to me that I am America". Their work contains a passion and belief in their message that has been described as visionary. In line 61 he continues this abusive line of thought by claiming that the American public would have poetry churned out in mass production without thought or understanding "I will continue like Henry Ford my strophes are as individual as his automobiles". In line 2 he says "American ground that supports me, I will support you also". Whitman's "Song of Myself" is a lyric poem told through the joyful experience of the narrator. His disgust at the nuclear arms race, prevalent at the time, emerges early in "America".
Common topics in this essay:
Walt Whitman,
Gogh's Ear,
America Ginsberg,
Allen Ginsberg,
Leaves Grass,
Communism Russia,
Whitman Biography,
Whitman Ginsberg,
Beats America,
Americans Ginsberg's,
walt whitman,
allen ginsberg,
leaves grass,
american culture,
whitman biography,
ginsberg walt whitman,
whitman's desire,
poem line,
american voice,
modern american,
modern american culture,
ginsberg walt,
allen ginsberg walt,
yourself atom bomb,
little sense collective,
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Acceptance Essays
