Small in theme – yet has it the sweep of the universe… ~Walt Whitman
Shaping an American identity
Objectives
- Students will analyze the effect of concrete and abstract language in creating poetic meaning.
- Students will analyze the use of literary elements and their purpose in poetry.
- Students will create poetry that represents their understanding of concrete and abstract language as well as learned literary elements.
- Students will demonstrate understanding of meaning through visual representation.
A noiseless patient spider
Step 1: Read the poem, A noiseless patient spider by Walt Whitman. Define concrete language. Define abstract language. Then answer the following questions:
- What is the concrete thing being observed in this poem?
- What is the abstract thing being considered in this poem?
Step 2: Reread the poem. This time through annotate the poem for meaning. Circle words with strong connotative meaning. Underline words that create vivid imagery. Star areas of action. Then answer the following questions:
- Describe the characterization of the spider?
- What do the words with strong connotative meaning suggest about the spider?
- How does the juxtaposition of the concrete and abstract provide the reader with meaning?
- What is Whitman suggesting about the soul?
- Relate this poem to one of Whitman’s charges in the preface of Leaves of Grass.
Pioneers! O Pioneers!
Class Analysis
Individual Analysis
- During 1: Timeless Themes in American Literature, we discussed how certain themes resonate throughout time and place in American literature. In this poem, Whitman paints the picture of pioneers. Do pioneers exist in today’s society? How is pioneering different today than in Whitman’s time?
- How is pioneering and the American Dream related? How does pioneering represent the ideals and beliefs of American society?
Student Lectures
Today you will be placed in a group of three or four. As a group, you will be assigned a Walt Whitman poem that you will master and then teach to the rest of the class.
Step 1: Read the poem out loud as a group. Annotate the poem. Discuss the poem. What does it mean? What is the imagery of the poem? What can you infer?
Step 2: Research the poem within your group. Answer the following questions:
- How does Whitman use concrete and abstract language in the poem?
- What imagery does Whitman use to construct meaning? Why is this imagery effective?
- What other literary elements does Whitman use in this poem? What does it help the reader understand? (He doesn’t use any is not an answer)
- What connotative language does Whitman use? What is the result of this language?
- What is the overall tone of the poem?
- What is the greater meaning of the poem?
Poems
All poems can be found at poets.org
- I Hear America Singing
- Beat! Beat! Drums!
- O’Captain! My Captain!
Poetry and art
For this assignment, you will mimic the poetry styling of Mr. Walt Whitman, founder of American poetry. Select a slip of paper from Ms. Degenhardt’s container. On this slip of paper will be a concrete object. You are to write a poem that connects the concrete object to an abstract idea. By supplying the reader with abstract language, you will provide your reader with a greater meaning. You are to also construct a physical rendering of your poem. Your drawing must contain a visual of both the concrete object and the abstract idea. Create your rendering on the clean side of the note card given to you by Ms. Degenhardt. Write your poem on the lined side.
Concrete objects:
- The moon
- The sun
- Stars
- Waves
- An ant
- A seedling
- An aging dog
- Bee
- Tree
- Leaves
Your final poem must demonstrate some of the literary elements we discussed in Whitman’s poetry. Select from alliteration, characterization, metaphor, imagery, apostrophe, connotative meaning, personification, and symbolism.
After the construction process, answer the following questions:
- What is the concrete thing being observed in your poem.
- Describe the its’ characterization?
- What is the abstract thing being considered in this poem?
- What literary elements did you utilize in your poem? Why did you choose these particular elements? What did you hope they would help your readers understand?
- How does the juxtaposition of the concrete and abstract provide the reader with meaning?
- How does your drawing portray the greater meaning of the poem? How are both the concrete object and the abstract idea represented?
- Relate this poem to one of Whitman’s charges in the preface of Leaves of Grass.
