Walt Whitman Biography

Walt Whitman was a great American because he was a patriot who was a voice for new American ideals and spoke for the people by defying aristocratic influence on the common mans life. Whitman’s story is a true American story. He rose from humble means, both financially and intellectually, and much to his own credit and determination became one of the America’s greatest literary achievers. He became America’s Poet long after his death through great study of his work by later generations who realized just how distinguishingly accurate his account of American life was. His first volume of poetry “Leaves of Grass” was heavily criticized for its vulgar and suggestive content along with forging a new style of writing, called Free Verse, that ignored traditional rules of poetry. Yet, he went on to produce 7 different revisions of the book to include some of the most patriotic poetry in American history. He was a poet making a plea to Americans to take decisive action in creating awareness of self and country. Whitman was opinionated about current issues like Slavery, and rights for women. Whitman and America blossomed simultaneously. Whitman’s growth as an emerging poet parallels America’s turbulent evolution, through civil war and the formative years of the country. Whitman paints a portrait of America with brutal honesty and his voice is so fresh and new, it cannot be ignored. (Zwonitzer, Wignot. Walt Whitman: Poet of Eternity)

In 1833 at just 11 years old, Whitman was taken out of school to go to work and help support his large family. He worked as an errand boy for a law office and later took an apprenticeship at a local printing press. Although he was no longer in school, his thirst for knowledge was ever present. Whitman was ...

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... the faces of the dead and dying, pierced the joyful heart that was Walt Whitman. These experiences Lead to a new book of poetry added to “Leaves of Grass”. “Drum Taps,” contains 43 poems of the glory and tragedy of war. When before he wrote of voices singing in unison, he now questioned, would this song of unity be stifled forever? “Year that trembled and reel’d beneath me! Your summer wind is warm enough, yet the air I breathed froze me, A thin gloom fell through the sunshine and darken’d me, Must I change my triumphant song? said I to myself, Must I indeed learn to chant the cold dirges of the baffled? And sullen hymns of defeat?(Leaves of Grass, 261)

After the assassination of Whitmans beloved President Lincoln, another book of poetry was added to “Leaves of Grass.” “Memories of President Lincoln” contains the ever famous “Oh Captain! My Captain!”