英语文学（广东外语外贸大学）Week 3.pptVIP

Song of Myself Walt Whitman Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the “father of free verse”. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality. Walt Whitman Whitman was born into a working-class family and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Son of a carpenter, Whitman left his schooling for good at eleven, ?and later he worked as a journalist, a teacher, a government clerk, and—in addition to publishing his poetry—was a volunteer nurse during the?American Civil War. Walt Whitman Before he was 17 years old he had already had his poems printed on a paper. Whitman is a poet with a strong sense of mission, having devoted all his life to the creation of the “single” poem, Leaves of Grass. Leaves of Grass Leaves of Grass?is a poetry collection by the??Walt Whitman. Though the first edition was published in 1855, Whitman spent most of his professional life writing and re-writing?Leaves of Grass,?revising it multiple times until his death.?This?resulted in vastly different editions over four decades—the first a small book of twelve poems and the?last?a compilation of over 400 poems. ? Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass?is a poetry collection by the??Walt Whitman. Though the first edition was published in 1855, Whitman spent most of his professional life writing and re-writing?Leaves of Grass,?revising it multiple times until his death.?This?resulted in vastly different editions over four decades—the first a small book of twelve poems and the?last?a compilation of over 400 poems. The 1855 edition is particularly notable for the inclusion of the two poems Song of?Myself and The Sleepers”. Leaves of Grass Walt Whitman I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belong to me