Peculiar Poets

Walt Whitman Emily Dickinson

In the early 1800’s, American literature was in the Romantic Period (1800-1855)

Romanticism is characterized by: use of taboo subjects, appreciation of nature, experimentation with new forms, and common man/hero.

In 1836, the Transcendentalist movement began. This overlapped the Romantic movement and basically took the idea of an appreciation of nature and went further. Transcendentalists felt a spiritual connection to nature…literally.

Also, Transcendentalists believed in breaking the “unjust” laws of society: slavery, women’s rights, etc.

Ties to Romanticism and Transcendentalism

Whitman was born in New York (raised in Brooklyn). He quit school at the age of eleven to help out at home. He was a printer’s apprentice.

He spent his early years printing and writing. At age 27, he became editor of The Brooklyn Eagle. However, he was soon dismissed in 1848 (two years later) because of his opposition to slavery. Whitman had been writing editorials for slaves’ freedom…and they said he was abusing his power.

Whitman’s background

Jobless, he decided to travel the country where he observed the land and different types of people. He did this for the majority of two years.

  In 1850, he returned to New York and

decided never to return to printing. He decided to completely devote himself to writing poetry.

Changes in his life

In 1855, Whitman published the first edition of Leaves of Grass. This is one of the most important publications in American literary history because it threw out traditional poetry and rhyme. Whitman introduced new, unconventional rhyme schemes and meter. He called it “free verse.”

He incorporated risqué subject matter and was met with harsh criticism by many literary critics.

A poet is born…

He thought himself to be the poet to the “common man.” He devoted much of his poetry to the “working class hero” of America. This is truly what he is known for today.

Poet to the common man

The Civil War was another HUGE impact on Whitman. He became one of the official poets of the Civil War. One of his most famous poems is “O Captain, My Captain.” Lincoln was Whitman’s hero. The two never met, but Lincoln was aware of Whitman’s work and his contribution to the Civil War. The two did, however, pass on the street one day…and Whitman wrote a poem about it.

Whitman and The Civil War

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote Whitman a letter of congratulations and Whitman published it in the second edition of Leaves of Grass. Emerson became upset and the two were never friends again.

  For the third edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman was

paid $1000.00—an unheard of price at the time. Each time Whitman published Leaves of Grass, he revised old poems and added new ones. It was a constant work-in-progress.

  There were nine editions of Leaves of Grass published

in Whitman’s lifetime.

Why all of the publications and editions?

Emily DickinsonAn American Treasure

Born in Amherst, Mass. Her father was a lawyer (very active in politics, member of the House of US Reps.). At times, he was very tyrannical. Her family consisted of her brother, Austin, who was two years older than Emily, and Lavinia, her sister, who was two years younger.

Her mother suffered a stroke and became an invalid. The girls took care of her, rarely leaving her side. She died in 1882.

Background

Dickinson had a very normal childhood. She enjoyed cooking, playing and exploring the countryside.

She remained extremely close to her brother, Austin. They shared ideas of philosophy, religion, etc.

Childhood and confidants

Dickinson’s grandfather established Amherst Academy and Amherst College.

Amherst is still one of the leading Ivy League Schools in our nation.

Interesting Facts…

At age 17, Dickinson entered Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary- 10 miles from Amherst- she left after 10 months, and this marked the end of her formal education.

She left because she didn’t agree with all of the teachings that the school taught. At one point, during an assembly, they told everyone to STAND UP if you believe in God. Dickinson didn’t like the “pressure” of the situation. So she refused to stand at all. This marks her first act of independence.

Learning to stand on her own

Who needs school? Dickinson

continued to educate herself by reading Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Emerson and the Bible.

Contrary to popular belief, Dickinson DID have friends. She visited them in Boston, Washington D.C., and even in Philadelphia

Dickinson loved to travel by train and would write about it later.

Personal and Religious Life

Her father led the family in Bible studies, but he didn’t join a church until he was 47 years old (very unusual).

However, she wrote about religion and faith often in her poetry

Religious Life, cont.

During her mid-thirties, Dickinson completely withdrew from society. She stayed in seclusion for over twenty years. She would visit the yard out back, but that was all.

During the last ten years of her life, she didn’t leave the house AT ALL (not even the yard). Doctors examined her from a distance. Also, strangely, she only wore white during her last ten years.

Withdrawal from Society

Dickinson shared few of her poems with close family members (particularly Austin’s wife, her best friend). She published only 7 poems during her life.

She was a prolific writer, writing more than 1700 poems in her life.

Her sister found the poems after Dickinson’s death and published them posthumously.

Her works

Dickinson practiced random capitalization

She commonly put dashes in her works

Inventor of slant rhyme

Common themes: nature, death, love

Her unique style

Dickinson suffered a mental collapse at age 53 brought on by the death of Austin and her father during the same year or period.

She regained some of her composure, but was never the same after that. She died of natural causes at age 55.

How did it all end?