SONG OF MYSELF EXPLICATION
Walt Whitman's poem, Song of Myself, is one of his most famous contributions to American literature. He uses simile and metaphor, paradox, rhythm, and free verse style, to convey his struggle between the relation of the body and soul, the physical and the spiritual being. He continues to go against all social restrictions of the romantic time period. From the beginning, Whitman begins by stating, "What I shall assume, you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you", proposing that the reader listen to him, for he possesses all of the answers to life. The setting is somewhat naturalistic, and offers an image of the speaker, relaxing, philosophizing about life. As the poem later shifts in tone, and setting, Whitman starts to think about the answers to life he has come up with, based upon the past, and decides that the reader should hear him out, one final time, as his ideas have changed. Whitman's first stanza begins, "It's time to explain myself...let us stand up. What is known I strip away...I launch all men and women forward with me into the unknown. The clock indicates the moment...but what does eternity indicate? Eternity lies in bottomless reservoirs...its buckets are rising forever and ever, they
Nature will run its course regardless of the situations humans bring upon themselves. Hard work and determination runs through his blood, and that his ancestors gave him the power to accomplish greatness. In the third stanza, Whitman writes: Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you my brother or sister? I am sorry for you. All forces have been steadily employed to complete and delight me, now I stand on this spot with my soul. This poem was drastically liberal compared to previous and current writers of his time. As he learned, he progressed to the next level, taking his time, consuming all the knowledge around placed around him. My feet strike an apex of the apices of the stairs, on every step bunches of ages, and larger bunches between the steps, all below duly traveled-and still I mount and mount. Why should I feel the grief that you feel? I am a pinnacle of things achieved, and I still possess the ability to achieve more.
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