Walt Whitman – Democracy and the Poetic Self
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Reading and Writing Workshop
Walt Whitman – Democracy and the Poetic Self
Session 1: The Poet of Democracy – Introduction to Whitman
Session 2: The Poetic Self and Identity
Session 3: Democracy in Verse
Session 4: The Body and the Soul
Session 5: The Poetic Voice of the People
Session 6: War, Union, and National Identity
Session 7: The Poet’s Legacy – Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Session 8: Final Project – A Democratic Poetic Self
Session 1: The Poet of Democracy – Introduction to Whitman
- Focus: Explore Whitman’s vision of democracy, individualism, and collective identity.
- Reading: Preface to Leaves of Grass (1855)
- Writing Prompt: Write a response to Whitman’s claim that “The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.”
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass (1855 Preface) – Project Gutenberg
Session 2: The Poetic Self and Identity
- Focus: Analyze the concept of the “self” in Whitman’s poetry.
- Reading: Song of Myself (Sections 1–5)
- Writing Prompt: Describe your “self” in the style of Whitman’s free verse, using repetition and cataloging.
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass (1891–92 edition) – Project Gutenberg
Session 3: Democracy in Verse
- Focus: Examine how Whitman uses poetry to express democratic ideals.
- Reading: I Hear America Singing
- Writing Prompt: Write your own version of “I Hear America Singing,” focused on contemporary workers or community voices.
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass (1891–92 edition), “I Hear America Singing” – Project Gutenberg
Session 4: The Body and the Soul
- Focus: Discuss Whitman’s holistic view of the self, embracing both physical and spiritual dimensions.
- Reading: I Sing the Body Electric
- Writing Prompt: Reflect on how your physical presence connects to your sense of self.
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass, “I Sing the Body Electric” – Project Gutenberg
Session 5: The Poetic Voice of the People
- Focus: Look at Whitman’s celebration of common people and their lives.
- Reading: A Song for Occupations
- Writing Prompt: Choose a profession or daily task and celebrate it in verse, Whitman-style.
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass, “A Song for Occupations” – Project Gutenberg
Session 6: War, Union, and National Identity
- Focus: Investigate Whitman’s response to the Civil War and its effect on his democratic ideals.
- Reading: Drum-Taps (selected poems)
- Writing Prompt: Write a reflection or poem on how national crisis can affect personal and national identity.
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Drum-Taps (1865) – Project Gutenberg
Session 7: The Poet’s Legacy – Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
- Focus: Understand Whitman’s connection with future readers and poets.
- Reading: Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
- Writing Prompt: Write a poem to readers 100 years in the future. What do you want them to know about your world?
- Public Domain Source:
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” – Project Gutenberg
Session 8: Final Project – A Democratic Poetic Self
- Focus: Synthesize ideas from the workshop in a culminating piece.
- Assignment: Create a “Poetic Self-Portrait” combining elements of identity, democracy, body/spirit, and voice in a free verse poem inspired by Whitman.
- Optional Reading for Inspiration: Reread selected sections of Song of Myself.