Rules of Engagement: 1 - You must ADD ON to discussion. Do not repeat either what was said in class OR what someone else already posted about the poem you are discussing. 2 - Please indicate WHICH QUESTION you are answering in your response. 3 - Answer only ONE question. 4 - Make sure you answer ALL parts of that question--i.e. If it asks you to identify a poetic device like alliteration and connect to meaning, make sure you connect to meaning. :)
"I Hear America Singing" (p.24)
1. What is this poem celebrating about America? Use quotes for support.
2. Describe how the poem is formatted on the page (what it looks like) and how that contributes to its meaning.
The poem “I Hear America Singing”, by Walt Whitman, is celebrating the workforce, and the American culture. The poem celebrates the workforce as it portrays them being happy and focused. The poem says, “The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam”. Singing is something all humans do when we are happy. Thus when it states the carpenter is singing, we can assume he is happy or content with his profession. The poem describes many other workers singing as they accomplish their respective task. This portrays the American workforce as content and passionate about their work. This also implicitly celebrates the American culture. By creating a perception that the American workforce is happy, it implies that America is a hardworking and productive country, thus celebrating the dedication of Americans. The poem also touches on the independence aspect of American culture as it says, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else”. This line acknowledges how Americans are focused on their lives, and ties back into the workforce as every worker is focused on his specific job. This line exemplifies how Americans strive for independence, and connecting back to the workforce idea, it symbolizes how the workforce is focused on themselves and their task portraying the country as productive and harmonious. In conclusion, the poem celebrates the American workforce and culture, as it portrays the workforce as content and the culture as independent yet unified.
Question 2: the layout of "I hear America singing" by Walt Whitman starts with Long lines to the multiple stanzas taking up the left half of the page. This works hand in hand with the actual text itself, being it talks about fellow Americans singing as they do their work or whatever tasks they may be doing. On the right side of the page there is a little sliver of bare lines to the thin stanzas. As this side of the poem mentions the authors point of view in how he too "sings America" just like the rest of them, however he feels cast away due to his Cold and unenthusiastic tone that comes from parts like "they send me to wat in the kitchen when company comes, but I laugh. And eat well. And grow strong..." which shows how he is separated from the others. He ties in his words with the layout of the poem to connect the two visually and mentally.
I want to add onto what Parth is saying. I agree that Americaa is celebrating the workforce and the culture but, the Poem is also suggesting on how far American has come in terms of the workforce. Ladies couldn't work before the 1920's and in the Poem it says " the delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work....". The Poem rejoices the freedom to work and how a day can be devoted to work know matter what gender you are and at night you can relax or party according to the Poem. To me this Poem shows how far America has come in the workforce by showing unity and equality for both men' and women.
When Walt Whitman was writing I Hear America Singing unlike other peers I believe he was celebrating the aspect of America being a diverse place. A melting pot for people of many different backgrounds and the many different opportunities for the people to pursue. Mr.Whitman, when describing what he hears when America sings he says, “ the varied carols I hear”. When Mr Whitman says this he is pointing out the beauty in coming together to form a glorious harmony. With the diversity that he's celebrating, Mr.Whitman is also celebrating the diverse opportunities in America. He mentions the different jobs one could have such as “the carpenter”, “the boatman”, and even “the shoemaker”. The Different people and different jobs all come together to from the beautiful diverse harmonious song of America.
The poem “I Hear America Singing”, by Walt Whitman, is celebrating the workforce, and the American culture. The poem celebrates the workforce as it portrays them being happy and focused. The poem says, “The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam”. Singing is something all humans do when we are happy. Thus when it states the carpenter is singing, we can assume he is happy or content with his profession. The poem describes many other workers singing as they accomplish their respective task. This portrays the American workforce as content and passionate about their work. This also implicitly celebrates the American culture. By creating a perception that the American workforce is happy, it implies that America is a hardworking and productive country, thus celebrating the dedication of Americans. The poem also touches on the independence aspect of American culture as it says, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else”. This line acknowledges how Americans are focused on their lives, and ties back into the workforce as every worker is focused on his specific job. This line exemplifies how Americans strive for independence, and connecting back to the workforce idea, it symbolizes how the workforce is focused on themselves and their task portraying the country as productive and harmonious. In conclusion, the poem celebrates the American workforce and culture, as it portrays the workforce as content and the culture as independent yet unified.
ReplyDeleteParth Tyagi (7th Period)
Question 2: the layout of "I hear America singing" by Walt Whitman starts with Long lines to the multiple stanzas taking up the left half of the page. This works hand in hand with the actual text itself, being it talks about fellow Americans singing as they do their work or whatever tasks they may be doing. On the right side of the page there is a little sliver of bare lines to the thin stanzas. As this side of the poem mentions the authors point of view in how he too "sings America" just like the rest of them, however he feels cast away due to his Cold and unenthusiastic tone that comes from parts like "they send me to wat in the kitchen when company comes, but I laugh. And eat well. And grow strong..." which shows how he is separated from the others. He ties in his words with the layout of the poem to connect the two visually and mentally.
ReplyDeleteI want to add onto what Parth is saying. I agree that Americaa is celebrating the workforce and the culture but, the Poem is also suggesting on how far American has come in terms of the workforce. Ladies couldn't work before the 1920's and in the Poem it says " the delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work....". The Poem rejoices the freedom to work and how a day can be devoted to work know matter what gender you are and at night you can relax or party according to the Poem. To me this Poem shows how far America has come in the workforce by showing unity and equality for both men' and women.
ReplyDeleteWhen Walt Whitman was writing I Hear America Singing unlike other peers I believe he was celebrating the aspect of America being a diverse place. A melting pot for people of many different backgrounds and the many different opportunities for the people to pursue. Mr.Whitman, when describing what he hears when America sings he says, “ the varied carols I hear”. When Mr Whitman says this he is pointing out the beauty in coming together to form a glorious harmony. With the diversity that he's celebrating, Mr.Whitman is also celebrating the diverse opportunities in America. He mentions the different jobs one could have such as “the carpenter”, “the boatman”, and even “the shoemaker”. The Different people and different jobs all come together to from the beautiful diverse harmonious song of America.
ReplyDelete