Walt Whitman Literary Devices

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Poems are a form of writing that appeal to the reader in the manner in which they are written. They can have a rhyme scheme or be free verse in which case, the poem will not rhyme. Poems possess many literary devices that help it illustrate the theme and mood it is trying to convey to the readers. The way poems are written depend on the poet. Poets like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman each are articulate in poetry and have some elements that can be compare and contrast. Initially, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem titled A Psalm of Life that has similarities from the other poems. Longfellow emphasizes, “Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal” (Longfellow online). The mood he writes …show more content…

Beat! Drums!” has some differences from the other poems. Whitman Expresses, “Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force, Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,” (Whitman online). The poem talks about ravages of war and how the drums beat and how things are exploding all around them. The mood is exciting, urgency, and energy unlike Emily Dickinson poem where she is calm and relaxed. Whitman recognizes, “Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! Over the traffic of cities—over the rumble of wheels in the streets: Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? No sleepers must sleep in those beds;” (Dickinson online). The structure Whitman used was free verse, unlike the other two poem it does not rhyme and does not contain a rhyme scheme. He uses sibilance by repeating the “S” sound, onomatopoeia when writing how bugles sound and how drums beat, and alliteration. To sum up, Whitman poem has several differences that distinguish his poem from the other poets. In conclusion, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman are all poets but they share similarities and differences. First, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow talks about living a productive life. Second, Emily Dickinson poems shows that she is comfortable with death and she is not afraid. Third, Walt Whitman poem illustrates how things sound during war. All in all, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, and Walt Whitman were all great poets who shared their love of poems but manage to express themselves

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