Leaves of grass

**Leaves of Grass** is a landmark poetry collection by American poet **Walt Whitman**, first published in 1855 and expanded through multiple editions until Whitman's death. This collection represents Whitman's attempt to create a distinctly American voice in poetry, emphasizing themes of democracy, individuality, nature, and transcendence. The work is celebrated for its free verse style, which was unconventional for its time, and its deep celebration of the human spirit. Whitman wrote about both everyday life and profound philosophical themes, exploring how the individual is connected to the larger cosmos.

### Key Poems in *Leaves of Grass*

- **"Song of Myself"**: Perhaps the most famous poem in the collection, this long, sprawling work features Whitman's philosophy of self-celebration and unity with the universe. It includes lines like "I celebrate myself, and sing myself" and "I am large, I contain multitudes," capturing Whitman's embrace of complexity and contradiction within the self.

- **"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"**: This poem reflects on the shared human experience, as Whitman contemplates the ferry journey and connects with generations of New Yorkers.

- **"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"**: A poem about a boy observing a mockingbird on the beach, this piece explores themes of love, loss, and the connection between nature and memory.

- **"I Sing the Body Electric"**: A celebration of the human body and its divine nature, this poem examines the physicality of existence and the beauty of human form.

- **"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"**: A tribute to Abraham Lincoln after his assassination, this elegy mourns the loss of the president and reflects on the cycles of life and death.

- **"O Captain! My Captain!"**: Another tribute to Lincoln, this poem is one of Whitman's more structured and conventional works and became popular as a patriotic elegy.

### Common Clues for *Leaves of Grass*

1. **"I contain multitudes"**: This line from *"Song of Myself"* is one of Whitman’s most famous assertions of individuality and self-acceptance, symbolizing his belief in the complexity of human identity.

2. **"Barbaric yawp"**: In *"Song of Myself,"* Whitman describes his poetry as a "barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world," a declaration of his free, unrestrained expression.

3. **"What is the grass?"**: A child’s question in *"Song of Myself"* prompts Whitman to reflect on the mystery of nature, calling grass the "beautiful uncut hair of graves" and a "uniform hieroglyphic."

4. **Tributes to Abraham Lincoln**: *"O Captain! My Captain!"* and *"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"* are poems mourning Lincoln's death, both written in response to his assassination.

5. **"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"**: This poem reflects Whitman's meditation on the shared experiences of humanity, particularly as seen through his journey across the East River.

6. **Calamus and homoerotic themes**: The "Calamus" section contains poems exploring Whitman's feelings of comradeship and affection, including homoerotic themes that were controversial for his time.

7. **Preface to *Leaves of Grass***: The preface to the first edition of *Leaves of Grass* famously begins with the assertion that "The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem."

### Related Quizbowl Facts That Appeared in Multiple Questions

- **Flood-tide below me!**: The line "Flood-tide below me! I see you face to face!" is from *"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,"* a poem that frequently appears in quizbowl questions about *Leaves of Grass*.

- **Beautiful uncut hair of graves**: Whitman describes grass as the "beautiful uncut hair of graves" in *"Song of Myself,"* an evocative metaphor connecting nature to life and death.

- **"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking"**: This poem, part of the "Sea-Drift" section, depicts a boy reflecting on the call of a mockingbird and explores themes of memory, loss, and the cycle of life.

- **I sing the body electric**: The poem *"I Sing the Body Electric"* celebrates the physicality of the human form, often noted for its embrace of the human body in both its physical and spiritual aspects.

- **"Salut au Monde!"**: This poem in *Leaves of Grass* is notable for Whitman’s global outlook, as he "salutes" the diversity and unity of humanity around the world.

### Fill-in-the-Blanks Practice

1. In *"Song of Myself,"* Whitman writes, "I am large, I contain ___1___," illustrating his embrace of complexity within the self.

2. In *"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,"* Whitman describes the "___2___-tide below me," capturing the imagery of the water as he crosses the East River.

3. *"O Captain! My Captain!"* is one of Whitman's elegies for ___3___, whom he mourned after his assassination.

4. A child asks, "What is the ___4___?" in *"Song of Myself,"* prompting Whitman to ponder the mystery and symbolism of nature.

5. In *"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking,"* Whitman reflects on the call of a ___5___ as a metaphor for memory and loss.

6. *Leaves of Grass* includes a section called ___6___, which explores themes of male comradeship and affection.

7. In the preface to *Leaves of Grass,* Whitman declares, "The ___7___ States themselves are essentially the greatest poem."

### Answers

1. Multitudes

2. Flood

3. Lincoln

4. Grass

5. Mockingbird

6. Calamus

7. United

This list encapsulates the core themes, iconic lines, and recurring images in **Walt Whitman’s *Leaves of Grass***, showcasing his innovative approach to poetry, focus on the self, and celebration of American ideals. Here’s an analysis of each clue with frequency noted:

1. **"Song of Myself" (26 times)**: Central to *Leaves of Grass*, **"Song of Myself"** exemplifies Whitman’s **celebration of the individual, universality, and interconnectedness**. Its famous lines, like “I contain multitudes” and “Do I contradict myself?”, capture Whitman’s belief in embracing the full complexity of human experience.

2. **"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (12 times)**: This poem reflects Whitman’s sense of **connection across time and space**. By addressing future readers and observing the ferry commute, Whitman explores unity in shared experiences, bridging past, present, and future.

3. **"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking" (9 times)**: A key poem in the **Sea-Drift** section, it portrays a young boy watching a pair of mockingbirds, introducing themes of **love, loss, and poetic awakening** as the speaker reflects on mortality and memory.

4. **"I Sing the Body Electric" (9 times)**: This poem celebrates **physicality, the human body, and the unity of spirit and flesh**. Through vivid imagery, Whitman presents the body as sacred, reflecting his admiration for the human form and sensuality.

5. **"When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d" (8 times)**: Whitman’s elegy for **Abraham Lincoln**, this poem combines **nature imagery with themes of mourning and renewal**. The lilac, star, and thrush are symbols of loss and remembrance, as Whitman reflects on collective grief and healing.

6. **"O Captain! My Captain!" (8 times)**: Another elegy for Lincoln, this poem adopts a more traditional form to convey **respect, sorrow, and admiration**. The metaphor of a ship returning after a storm represents Lincoln’s leadership through the Civil War, while his death symbolizes a bittersweet victory.

7. **Themes of self-celebration, "I contain multitudes," and contradictions ("Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself") (7 times)**: Whitman’s acceptance of **self-contradiction and multiplicity** reflects his belief in the complexity of identity. This theme is foundational in *Leaves of Grass*, as he asserts that each individual encompasses vast, often contradictory, elements.

8. **Child asking "What is the grass?" and responses ("beautiful uncut hair of graves") (7 times)**: In “Song of Myself,” Whitman uses this question to meditate on **life, death, and the cycle of nature**. His response, imagining grass as the “uncut hair of graves,” exemplifies his fascination with renewal and the unity of all living things.

9. **"Sea-Drift" section, often mentioning mockingbird or beach imagery (6 times)**: This section explores **love, loss, and the continuity of life**, with the mockingbird and seashore symbolizing the poet’s connection to nature and his grappling with mortality.

10. **Themes of unity, democracy, and interconnectedness in poems like "Salut au Monde!" (5 times)**: Whitman’s **celebration of democracy and interconnectedness** is evident in “Salut au Monde!”, where he envisions a world connected by common humanity, emphasizing unity across different cultures and nations.

11. **"Calamus" section, known for homoerotic themes (5 times)**: The **Calamus** poems delve into **intimacy, affection, and the camaraderie between men**, exploring themes of companionship and love that reflect Whitman’s complex views on sexuality and social connection.

12. **"Drum-Taps" section, often mentioning Civil War themes (4 times)**: Written during the Civil War, **Drum-Taps** captures the **trauma, sacrifice, and transformative impact** of the war, blending patriotic themes with sorrow and the harsh realities of conflict.

13. **"A Noiseless Patient Spider" (4 times)**: This short poem draws parallels between the spider casting out its web and the human soul’s quest for connection and meaning, reflecting Whitman’s **existential curiosity and exploration of the self**.

14. **References to the "Deathbed edition" or Whitman's continual revisions to *Leaves of Grass* (4 times)**: The **Deathbed Edition** (1892) represents Whitman’s lifelong commitment to *Leaves of Grass*, which he revised multiple times to reflect his evolving perspectives on life, democracy, and selfhood.

15. **"Flood-tide below me! I see you face-to-face!" from "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" (3 times)**: This line conveys Whitman’s visceral sense of **oneness with humanity** as he observes New York Harbor, capturing his fascination with the shared experience of city life.

16. **"I Hear America Singing" (3 times)**: This poem celebrates the **diversity and productivity of American workers**, presenting a vision of America united in the harmony of individual voices, each contributing to a greater whole.

17. **Themes of eroticism and sensuality ("the procreant urge of the world") (3 times)**: Whitman’s poetry often embraces **sensuality and the life-affirming aspects of physical desire**, underscoring his belief in the body’s role in personal and spiritual fulfillment.

18. **Line from preface: "The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem" (2 times)**: Whitman’s view of **America as a living poem** reflects his belief in the country’s democratic ideals and its potential as a vibrant, evolving work of art.

19. **Imagery of the body and physicality, as in "The Body Electric" (2 times)**: Whitman frequently uses **physical imagery to celebrate the human form and its divine aspects**, bridging the spiritual and corporeal in his reverent portrayals of the body.

20. **Whitman's "barbaric yawp" (2 times)**: This phrase, from “Song of Myself,” symbolizes **Whitman’s unfiltered expression of self** and his defiance of literary conventions, capturing his distinct poetic voice.

These clues reveal *Leaves of Grass* as a work that embraces **individuality, democracy, the physical and spiritual aspects of humanity, and an intense connection to nature**. Whitman’s poetic vision promotes unity, celebrates life’s complexities, and underscores his faith in the American spirit. Let me know if you’d like further insights on any specific theme or poem!