This passage from 'Leaves of Grass' by Walt Whitman diverges from the mainstream of romanticism in that it does not deal only with Nature and her mysteries and beauty, but also with Mankind and it's works. There is a fixedness and a certainty that seems to be shared by man and nature alike, striding together in partnership. Wordsworth on the other hand, often dealt with questions, mysteries and the hidden menavce and power within Nature itself. Language such as 'plumb in the uprights' by Walt Whitman talk in the most direct and candid terms directly to and about the common working man - working 'with' Nature to perhaps harness and improve upon it. 'Braced in beams' shows the trees being used as building materials by man.
This passage from Walt Whitman is too self-assured and confident, assertive and straightforward to be typical Romanticism. The Romantic movement focused on the extreme...
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details of nature, of the more sentimental side of humans, and is much more elusive and mysterious, wordy and subtle. Romantics didn't focus extremely on self-analysis like Whitman did, who was more of a Transcendentalist. Rather, human nature was a beautiful mystery, one to be feared and even explored as a dark force. A lot of romantic literature focused on the unknown, the supernatural and the unexplained. It tended not to be autobiographical, but fictional, focusing on very cut and dry good or bad characters.
Whitman's declaration of strength, self-pride and independence is very autobiographical, straightforward, and dealing with what he can feel and touch, rather than the mysterious and unknown. It focuses on the good of human nature, and encourages us to relish and celebrate it. Instead of something to be frightened of or romanticized, human nature is a powerful force of strength and good in our lives. Whitman embraced a spin-off of the Romantics, the Transcendentalists, who shared the Romantic's love of nature and God, but were much more focused on the self as a conduit of good and enlightenment in the world. I hope that those thoughts helped; good luck!
How does this passage from Leaves of Grass reflect Romantic sentiment?
"Sure as the most certain sure, plumb in the uprights, well entretied, braced in the beams, Stout as a horse, affectionate, haughty, electrical, I and this mystery here we stand"
The overwhelming faith in nature is one particularly Romantic theme in the passage. The Romantics believed that if there was a conception of truth, or absolute meaning, it resided in the natural setting and not in one embodied by individuals or conformist social orders. The subjectivity of the quote is another Romantic theme. Romantic thinkers were not concerned with the objective or scientific nature of reality. Individual consciousness is of vital importance because through the subjective, a new form of truth is revealed. This is present in the passage's affirmation of self. Finally, the term "this mystery" helps to reveal the Romantic conception of negative capability, a condition where individuals are able to assert that there might be conditions of reality where absolute answers cannot be offered and there is a certain level of comfort within this condition.
Hi!
The outstanding characteristis that are notable in this passage and go in agreement with the aesthetics of Romanticism are:
1. The appeal to all five senses "well entretied, stout, affectionate, haughty, electrical"
2. The use of nature to convey literary techniques "stout as a horse"
3. The exploration of a netherworld, the supernatural,or a secret "the mystery" which with the narrator will remain.
4. The no metaphors, but complex and clear imagery.
5. Melodic, poetic and almost rhytmic language.
6. Strong emotion as part of the aesthetic psyche
7.Sublime, subtle, and poweful imagery.