Today:

IB ORALS

“Song of Myself”

“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”

Cantos 6: What does the grass symbolize?

In :Song of Myself” notice that Whitman begins the poem with “I” and ends with “you”. To what extent can this poem be seen as a transgression from an “I” (or an eye), to a “you”?

Can we see “Song of Myself” as a poem discussing American Identity? Why or Why not? How does Whitman contribute to the ongoing evolution of self-reliance, human freedom, and concepts of democracy?

Whitman/Lincoln

Both rose to greatness from humble backgrounds

Largely self-taught

Cultural TastesHigh

Low

Spiritualism

Lincoln’s Multifaceted Qualities

Face

Rural Origins

Inner Strength

Embodiment of the “I” in Leaves of Grass: “the greatest”, best, most characteristic, artistic, moral personality” in America

Lincoln’s Death

April 14th, 1865

Crucial moment in America’s cultural life

Personal Connections

Theatrical Event

Mourners are unifiedSouth and North Grieve

1,662 mile journey viewed by 7.5 million

“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”: an elegya) How does Whitman’s language (imagery, diction, etc.) express his sorrow over President Lincoln’s death?

b) What might the following symbols represent: the lilac, the star, and the bird (and the bird’s song)?

c) How is this poem thematically similar to other works we have read?

d) What is Whitman’s attitude towards death?

e) Review how literary elements contribute to meaning

“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”

What does the poem suggest about the nature of life, death, and human experience—in other words, what kind of universal message does the poem express, going beyond Lincoln or the Civil War?

Homework

Read and Annotate “Come Up From the Fields Father”