American Literature

Many poets highlighted freedom and liberty but Walt Whitman has assigned a rather different way to freedom. Issues as slavery, freedom, and politics have been highlighted and put forward by Whitman in his journalistic tone with a touch of rhymes, very different from traditional poetry.

Introduction
Walt Whitman has been counted as Americas most influential poet of all times. Whitman in literary lobbies is referred to as father of free verse. Free verse is the kind of poetry, which lacks regular patterns in case of rhythms, rhymes and meters. Rhythms in free verse are created by using special poetic devices and these are inclusive of repetitions, alliterations, and some specific sound devices. Poetry written by Whitman has been observed to match the content.

Whitman in his poetry enjoys and celebrates the freedom of an American individual. Ways in which freedom of an individual is celebrated in United States is different from that in Europe and this difference was also reflected in European poetry. Ordinary people were Whitmans subjects. This is reflected in his poem, The British Romantics, which is observed to celebrate an individuals freedom. Whitman has evolved to write very differently from traditional ways of poetry. Another observation made in Whitmans poetry is that he celebrated and talked about the relationship of body and soul, as he believed that body is a gateway to the soul.

As a poet, journalist, essay writer and a humanist, Whitman is considered as a transition between two major themes, transcendentalism and realism well reflected in his works. Whitman breaking the boundaries of general poetry adopted a general pose like poetry. Unusual images that have been observed in Whitmans poetry include debris, tufts of straw and rotten leaves. It is obvious from his works that all his life he focused on politics. Whitman talked against slavery and he always supported Wilmot Proviso, one of the events that could have helped in abolition of slavery in America.  Whitman, making him a strong supporter of slavery by talking about abolishing slavery, held a strong egalitarian point of view on races. However, later in his life, he realized that abolition of slavery could be a threat to democracy. He believed that slavery is black tide that will one day drastically take over all White working class. Whitman believed that  if slavery is allowed in Western territories, White men will start fearing devaluation of their own labor.

Whitmans poetry is reflective of the beliefs that were held by him in his life. Whitman believed that as an individual absorbs and loves his country in a passionate manner, poetry should be absorbed by the country in the same manner. Whitman believed that there was a vital, poetic and a symbiotic relationship between a poet and his society. Thus, there seems to be an existence of journalism in all of his works reflected by an increased sense of patriotism and love for freedom of speech in his works. Titles of his works also reflect the same theme. One of the poems that he wrote was named as I Hear America Singing. This poem is evident of celebration of freedom of all American individuals thereby celebrating freedom of United States. Rights held by American individuals to enjoy free life and freedom are main themes in this poem. Patriotism, liberty and freedom have always been the main parts and constituents of Whitmans poems.

I Hear America singing, the varied carols I hearThose of mechanics--each one singing his, as it should be, blithe andstrongThe carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves offworkThe boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat--the deckhandsinging on the steamboat deckThe shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench--the hatter singing ashe stands.

Second poem that reflects Whitman connecting sounds of life with music is Beat Beat Drums. This poem was published in the beginning of American Civil War. Strongest forms of rhythm are reflected in this poem, designing music as related to the sounds of real life. As always, there is a strong element of patriotism seen in this poem as Whitman builds a connection between rhythmic sounds of drums and army men marching. This poem is an evidence of the fact that Whitman is considered a master of adding an element of freedom in his poetry. Thereby here it has been observed that being aware of basics of traditional poetry, there was a choice in the hands of Whitman to write in a traditional way but he chose to write in his own journalistic way.

BEAT beat drums--Blow bugles blowThrough the windows--through doors--burst like a ruthless force,Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregationInto the school where the scholar is studyingLeave not the bridegroom quiet--no happiness must he have now with his brideNor the peaceful farmer any peace, plowing his field or gathering his grainSo fierce you whirr and pound, you drums--so shrill you bugles blow.

Versification procedure that was up taken by Whitman was loose and this method has been observed to discard all forms of rhymes in his writings, along with some evidences of rhymes occurring at unequal intervals. Poems of Whitman can be defined as a harmonious flow of words.

Whitman seems to have never given up on his mission to speak about freedom and by doing this he stayed steady on his beliefs. Aggressiveness has been observed to be the main part of his writings and there is no middle ground observed. Thereby literary lobbies argue that Whitman can be considered a genius in massive proportions. There are certain contemporaries held by Whitman that do not let his work come under the critical attacks. On the other hand, it has been argued that there is an observation of a level of egotism in every verse written by Whitman and this egotism is associated with sublimity. It is argued that if Whitman is analyzed in all depths than the message that he transfers is take me or leave me. If taken and accepted than it should be in the form of a complete man. Thereby, this is the self-confidence in Whitman and his works that is not to be ignored. This self-confidence can be regarded as one of the main reasons of Whitmans genius. For some literary lobbies, Whitman has been considered as a disturber of poetic peace and harmony and a chaotic lunatic. Nevertheless, there is no doubt about Whitman being a remarkable and a genius poet in English literature.

In 1840, Whitman worked as a chief editor for The Long Island Star and during his career of journalism he published his literary work including poems and fiction. Other than this, he also criticized works of Carlyle and Emerson. As an editor and a journalist, Whitman obtained a platform where he had the power to highlight and to talk about issues that surrounded as politics, chaos, banking and poetry. It was believed by Whitman that promotion of opinions is not the goal instead, it is the presence of a special kind of sympathy that arises in the mind of a journalist serving for his public. As a journalist and as a poet he believed that there is a need to frame all issues in accordance to the interest of working class.

Conclusion
Whitman has been known as that journalist turned poet who have enjoyed American individuals freedom.  Disregarding slavery was because it was linked with the labor freedom of the white Americans and Whitman believed that slavery was a threat to labor of Whites.