Week+8+Walt+Whitman

If you've seen the movie Dead Poet's Society, I'm sure the scene with Robin Williams's hand on his student's head urging him to release his inner-yelp had a great impact. And it's Whitman's portrait that hangs on the wall in the classroom in that movie.

Each day, read as much of Leaves of Grass as you can stand. For me, that's quite a bit (Whitman is one of my favorite poets). Students often see Whitman as disjointed, confusing, and wild. Remember this, as Whitman writes, "The of words of my book nothing, the drift of it every thing" (2210). I really believe that's the overall concept that drives Leaves of Grass, getting the jist of the whole. At the same time, however, there is much to be found in individual sections, stanzas, lines, specific images. We will discuss basic concepts of poetics like rhyme and meter and imagery and symbolism. We'll also explicate as much of his poems as we can.

Monday: "Inscriptions" + "Song of Myself"

Wednesday: "Children of Adam" + "Calamus" + "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" + "Sea-Drift" + "By the Roadside"

Friday: Remember, NO CLASS! (Like you're gonna forget...)

Monday: We'll finish our discussion of Whitman with "Drum-Taps"

PS. If you haven't seen Dead Poet's Society, and you plan on becoming a teacher, go see it. It will make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Then go to youtube and watch Taylor Mali's "What a Teacher Makes" and you will know you're on the right path.