西北师范大学美国文学通史课件 Chapter 6 Colonial Period.pptVIP

Chapter Six Whitman and Dickinson --- Romantic Poetry Chapter Six Whitman and Dickinson Whitman and Dickinson Similarities: Both of them were distinctively American poets in theme and technique. Both of them were part of American Renaissance. A. Themes: both extolled in their different ways, an emergent America, its expansion, its individualism, and its Americanness. B. Techniques: breaking free of the poetic tradition and pioneering American modernist poetry with their poetic innovation. Differences: A. Whitman kept his eye on society at large while Dickinson explored the inner life of the self and individual. B. Whereas Whitman is national in his outlook, Dickinson is regional. C. In formal terms, Whitman is characterized by his endless, all-inclusive catalogs while Dickinson by her concise, direct, and simple diction and syntax. Chapter Six Whitman and Dickinson I. Walt Whitman (1819-1892) 1. Literary Status Father of American Poetry Precursor of Modern American Poetry Father of American Free Verse Celebrant of America as a Poem 2. Life Working-class background on Long Island, New York Five years of schooling, loafing and reading Rich life experience: office boy, printer’s apprentice, carpenter, schoolmaster, printer, editor (of 8 successive papers), and journalist Chapter Six Whitman and Dickinson 3. The Publication of Leaves of Grass – Whitman’s his lifetime literary endeavor A. It first edition of 12 poems in 1855 A stir – broke with the poetic convention – sexuality and exotic and vulgar language harsh criticisms on it: “noxious weeds”, “poetry of barbarism”, “a mass of stupid filth” B. Nine editions in all (1855, 56, 60, 67,71, 76, 81, 89, 91-92) Began to be celebrated with the fifth edition C. His deathbed edition containing all of his 400-odd poems Chapter Six Whitman and Dickinson 4. His ideas: “a catalog and great acceptor” A. Enlightenment, humanitarianism and cosmopolitanism C. Idealism and Transcendentalism D. German philosophy and