Walter “Walt” Whitman
Bio
Walter
“Walt” Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in Long Island, New York and grew up in
Brooklyn. He contracted a love for writing when he was twelve years old. He
taught himself how to read and write through Homer’s, Dante’s and Shakespeare’s
work. Throughout Whitman’s life he worked as a printer, teacher, journalist,
editor, poet, and clerk for the Department of the Interior. In addition to these
jobs, he helped people who were wounded in the Civil War. He stayed in the
state of New York the majority of his life and died in Camden, New Jersey on
March 26, 1892. Some of his most noted works were Leaves of Grass (1855) and Good-bye,
My Fancy (1891). He is considered the father of free-verse. You can read more about
Walt Whitman at http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/126.
Summary
Section 1: Whitman is very observant about the ferry
itself, its passengers, and the surrounding scenery.
Section 2: Whitman senses a connection between all of
those going about their daily routines. People will continue to use the ships
as transportation over the river and will continue to enjoy them. Whitman
thinks the rivers and ships will be used for the rest of life in New York City.
Section 3: He describes the environment and atmosphere.
He describes how the water and birds in the sky look, as well as the kinds of
ships, their parts, and their laborers. He also describes how the ships move
through the ports and across the river.
Section 4: He states again the connection and unity
between himself and people around him. “Others the same…” meaning people in the
future will look back at the moment he is currently living. (They will learn
the history of the ferries.)
Section 5: He asks his readers what the connection is
between them despite the hundreds of years.
Section 6: Whitman starts writing about his darker
times, when he made less honest decisions. He knows he was among the worst
people, morally. Before he changed, his life was dull, monotonous, and had no
variety.
Section 7: Even though section 7 was very short, what
do you think Whitman was trying to portray to his audience?
Section 8: Whitman believes the nature of Manhattan
is the most majestic view and that no scenery could be better.
Section 9: Whitman wants to bask in the beauty of
nature around him. He wants the mind to be conscious and the city to provoke
emotion. He wants to see animation and liveliness in the objects around him,
such as the chimneys, birds, and sun.
Questions
1. What is the tone of section 3? What feelings does
Whitman convey?
2. Section 5 – Does he mean everyone is literally related
to one another and we share the same lineage? Or, does he mean that his
readers, however many years in the future, will still have a connection to
him? Is there another kind of connection?
3. Even though section 7 was very short, what do you
think Whitman was trying to portray to his audience?
4. Section 9, last stanza – “You have waited, you always
wait, you dumb, beautiful ministers" Why does he call them dumb? Who are
the ministers?
5. What are some archaic words throughout this poem? Was
there any repetition that you noticed?
6. What are some of your favorite images Whitman
describes?
7. Was there anything that confused you?
8. Do you think the purpose of this poem is to influence
your opinion of New York, or did Whitman just want to narrate his
experiences and emotions of New York? Do you think there is another
purpose?
