Name: Leaves of Grass
Author: Walt Whitman
ISBN: 9780199539000

Leaves of Grass

Walt Whitman

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Author Description

Whitman is today regarded as America's Homer or Dante, and his work the touchstone for literary originality in the New World. In Leaves of Grass, he abandoned the rules of traditional poetry - breaking the standard metered line, discarding the obligatory rhyming scheme, and using the vernacular. Emily Dickinson condemned his sexual and physiological allusions as `disgraceful', but Emerson saw the book as the `most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed'. A century later it is his judgment of this autobiographical vision of the vigor of the American nation that has proved the more enduring.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

Walt Whitman’s seminal collection captures the expansive spirit of the American experience through a radical departure from traditional poetic form. The speaker acts as a democratic observer, cataloging the physical and spiritual interconnectedness of the individual and the nation. By discarding conventional meter and rhyme, the work establishes a free-verse framework that prioritizes the vernacular and the raw vitality of the human body. The narrative voice shifts between the personal and the universal, navigating the tension between private identity and the collective consciousness of a developing society.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Utilization of free verse to mirror the cadence of natural speech
Celebration of the human body and physiological experience
Emphasis on democratic ideals and the equality of all individuals
Integration of autobiographical elements with nationalistic themes
Use of catalogs and lists to represent the diversity of American life
Exploration of the connection between the soul and the physical world
Adoption of a prophetic and inclusive narrative persona
Rejection of traditional Victorian poetic constraints

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the work as a foundational text that redefined the possibilities of American verse. Discussion often centers on the tension between the author's candid exploration of sexuality and his broader philosophical aim to unify the American identity. Scholars note that the collection’s stylistic departure from European traditions remains its most significant contribution to literary history. The balance between intimate self-reflection and expansive social commentary continues to generate debate regarding the author's intent as a national poet. Many readers appreciate the accessibility of the language, which remains as vibrant and urgent today as it was upon its initial publication.

Page Count:
478

Publication Date:
2009-02-15

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199539006

ISBN-13:
9780199539000

Poetry

Classic Literature

American