I Hear America Singing - 1834 Words

I Hear America Singing SUMMARY In the poem I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman, the reader envisions a country of people working for the greater good of mankind. These people come together as part of the whole society developing industry and production. Each person has a different occupation, but each job is important to the bigger picture. The bigger picture and theme being that of a country in which everyone is working together to create a successful and harmonious civilization. The mechanics keep the engines of the cars, boats, and machines in factories running operatively. The mason, deckhand, shoemaker, hatter, woodcutter, and ploughboy each play a vital role in their occupation. Each person is important to society. Each†¦show more content†¦The people in his poem are common folk without individual names, but in his celebratory verse they are all idealized. Each one finds joy in the dignity of his or her labor. In eleven lines of verse, the word singing appears eleven times, or twelve if you include the title. The word is used figuratively to reflect happy pride in performance of labor. This is a poem that voices American democracy. Its language is muscular, its pulse vibrant, its mood exultant. We will hear similar tonalities and exuberance in the free verse of Carl Sandburg, who was 14 when Whitman died. Free verse is not just prose written with irregular line endings. Free verse is poetry without regular patterns of rhyme, rhythm or meter. Note: free verse has rhythm and meter. The pattern, however, is irregular. Rhythm is often created through the use of other poetic devices, including repetition, alliteration, and other sound devices. Although it is free of metrical restrictions, it is still patterned and unified by the conventional poetic devices of repetition, assonance, and alliteration. The article the, ordinarily disregarded, begins seven of the eleven lines and establishes a pattern that is seen on the page and heard when the poem is given voice. Alliteration lends ear-pleasing melody inShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem I Hear America Singing 994 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican American’s life during the 1900s through his poem, â€Å"I, Too.† Hughes’ points out the injustice of bigotry or one’s beliefs in America, and his overall message is sayi ng that an African American’s hard work is just as noteworthy as any other American. In contrast, Walt Whitman, author of â€Å"I Hear America Singing,† speaks about the employed citizens of America. He gives honor to those who are living their lives and working to make America a better place. Despite the fact that both poems are similarRead MoreI Hear America Singing By Walt Whitman2049 Words   |  9 Pagespoem â€Å"I Hear America Singing†, one is exposed to an America seen by the eyes of a poet, essayist and journalist during the years of one of the most important times in American history, the Civil War. From 1819 to 1892, Whitman lived through many experiences, including the atrocities and successions of the Civil War, which not only lead to the establishment of his multiple accredited works, but also, the creation of the prideful, positive, jubilant image of America and its citizens in the poem â€Å"I HearRead MoreI Hear America Singing By Langston Hug hes991 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican American’s life during the 1900s through his poem, â€Å"I, Too.† Hughes’ points out the injustice of bigotry or one’s beliefs in America, and his overall message is saying that an African American’s hard work is just as noteworthy as any other American. In contrast, Walt Whitman, author of â€Å"I Hear America Singing,† speaks about the employed citizens of America. He gives honor to those who are living their lives and working to make America a better place. Despite the fact that both poems are similarRead MoreI Hear America Singing By Hongston Hughes Analysis1002 Words   |  5 PagesWhitmans writings. He also impacted many Americans in his time. Therefore, the two, though different, both were crucial in American poetry. When Whitman Wrote I Hear America Singing, many loved it, when Hughes reads it, he also found a passion for this poem. In many ways Hughes built on Whitmans poem, when he wrote I, T oo, Sing America. In three main ways did Hughes build on Whitmans poem; structure, theme, and word choice. Structures literal meaning is the arrangement of and relationship betweenRead MoreAn Analytical Comparison of I Hear America Singing and I, Too:708 Words   |  3 PagesAn Analytical Comparison of â€Å"I Hear America Singing† and â€Å"I, Too† Born ten years after the death of Walt Whitman, there was no possible way for Langston Hughes to ever meet or communication with Whitman, but that did not mean Hughes could not establish a connection to him, or at least his work. In 1925, Hughes wrote a poem titled â€Å"I, Too† was inspired by and directed in response to the poem â€Å"I Hear America Singing†, which was composed by Whitman much earlier. Whitman’s poem consisted of a varietyRead MoreLangston Hughes And I Hear America Singing By Walt Whitman940 Words   |  4 Pagesof the theme they are implying. In the contrast between the poems â€Å"I, too, sing America† by Langston Hughes, and â€Å"I hear America singing† by Walt Whitman it is clear that the two poets have very different point of views regarding American patriotism. Walt Whitman’s views on America’s joy and peace in his poems are very straightforward, while Langston Hughes poem--a response to Whitman’s--wan ts the reader to acknowledge what America should be like for everyone, including people of color such as himselfRead MoreCompare And Contrast Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing753 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica Singing Slavery was a time of despair and great pain for many African Americans. Americans today hold a much different view on slavery than all of their ancestors. Slavery is not only suggested but it is illegal completely and very immoral. Back then, blacks and some whites fought to end slavery. The 246 years of black enslavement finally came to an end on December 6, 1865. Many people used art, writing, and music as a way to express themselves during this hard time. Walt Whitman, an AmericanRead MoreThe Difference Between Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing998 Words   |  4 PagesIn this essay I will be talking about the differences between Walt Whitmans poem â€Å" I Hear America Singing† and Langston Hughes poem â€Å" I, Too, Sing America†. I will also be giving my opinion on whether or not Langston Hughes is responding to Walt Whitmans poem. Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and a columnist from Joplin, Missouri. Walt Whi tman was an American poet, essayist, and a journalist from West Hills, New York. This is all just background informationRead MoreComparing Walt Whitmans I Hear America Singing And Langston Hughes1628 Words   |  7 Pagescomparison of Walt Whitman’s I Hear America Singing and Langston Hughes I Too Sing America) Beginning after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the United Stated of America has yet to reach a time of unity like in years past. Why this is so is unclear, however it can clearly be seen that in the America today, unity is not a major theme in society. This was not always the case, as in 1880 Walt Whitman published a portion of his work entitled, I Hear America Singing (Hear.). Throughout this now famousRead MoreSimilarities And Similarities Between Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing835 Words   |  4 Pagesthis paper I will be talking about the similarities and differences in the two different poems. The two poems were written by two incredible poets and were probably one of the best in their lifetimes. The first poem is written by Walt Whitman and is called â€Å" I Hear America Singing†. The other poem is by Langston Hughes and is called â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† .Many people believe that Langston Hughes wrote his poem â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† in response to Walt Whitmans poem â€Å" I Hear America Singing†. Some