This research paper is going to deal with the poem “Song of Myself“ by Walt
Whitman, which was published in the collection of poetry Leaves of Grass in
1855
and holds a central place in American literature.
Whitman himself is said to be one of the most revolutionary poets in America and
besides the most radical transcendentalist. He was a fighter for democracy and
especially stood up for the rights of oppressed and disadvantaged people.
His poems were an outlet of their suppressed feelings and drives.
By using free verse he also broke the conventional meter and introduced a new -
more natural - verse form.
Therefore I feel a personal interest in this fascinating man and his works.
A common subject of many of Whitman’s poems is sexuality. You can find a huge
variety of several images and symbols of sexuality in numerous poems like e.g.
the famous ‘Calamus-poems’ (“When I heard at the Close of the Day“ or “Trickle
Drops“) and also in the so-called ‘Enfans d’Adam (Children of Adam)-poems’
(Poem of the Body: “I Sing the Body Electric“ ; Poem of Procreation: “A Woman
waits for Me“; or the most bizarre one Bunch Poem: “Spontaneous Me“).
I have selected “Song of Myself“ as it is widely considered to be Whitman's
single most important and most personal poem. In “Song of Myself“ you can find
elements of three kinds of sexuality that often appears in Whitman’s poems:
heterosexuality as the ‘normal’ sexuality of this time, homosexuality as Whitman
is considered to be homosexual and autosexuality which was strictly considered as
something abominable and despicable at this time.
Due to the huge variety of sexual elements in “Song of Myself“ and the lenght of
the poem it is unavoidable to give only some selected examples acting for the
others.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Main part:
- The dealing with sexuality in 19th century
- Whitman's conflict concerning sexual topics
- Song of Myself
- Heterosexual elements
- Homosexual elements
- Autosexual elements
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper analyzes Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself," exploring its portrayal of sexuality within the context of 19th-century American society. The paper aims to understand Whitman's revolutionary approach to sexuality in his poetry and how it challenged the prevailing social norms of his time.
- Sexuality in 19th-century America
- Whitman's conflicted views on sexuality and societal norms
- Diverse expressions of sexuality in "Song of Myself"
- Whitman's challenge to conventional gender roles
- The significance of "Song of Myself" in American literature
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introduction establishes the focus of the research paper: an examination of sexuality in Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself." It highlights Whitman's revolutionary status in American poetry and his commitment to challenging social conventions, particularly concerning the oppressed. The paper's central focus is on the diverse expressions of sexuality found within "Song of Myself," encompassing heterosexual, homosexual, and autosexual elements. The vast scope of the poem necessitates a selective approach to examples.
The dealing with sexuality in 19th century: This section explores the social context surrounding sexuality in 19th-century America. It emphasizes the taboo nature of sexual topics and the lack of clearly defined sexual categories, highlighting the prevalence of euphemisms and the absence of widely accepted concepts of sexual orientation. The section contrasts the prevalent Puritanical views with the existing realities of prostitution and pornography, setting the stage for understanding Whitman's radical approach to depicting sexuality. Examples from polite society's language choices concerning sexuality are provided, illustrating how sexual themes were treated as scandalous and taboo subjects.
Whitman's conflict concerning sexual topics: This section delves into Whitman's personal conflict with the prevailing social attitudes towards sexuality. It examines his rejection of both prudish repression and explicit pornography, arguing that he sought to portray a more authentic and passionate expression of love, regardless of gender. His advocacy for a redefinition of gender relations and a liberation of women from societal constraints is explored. The section also acknowledges the ambiguity surrounding Whitman's own sexuality, highlighting his fluidity across various expressions of intimacy and his rejection of rigid categorization.
Keywords
Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 19th-century sexuality, American literature, homosexuality, heterosexuality, autosexuality, gender roles, Victorian America, social norms, free verse, transgressive poetry.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Sexuality in Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"
What is the overall focus of this research paper?
This research paper analyzes Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself," focusing on its portrayal of sexuality within the context of 19th-century American society. It aims to understand Whitman's revolutionary approach to sexuality and how it challenged the prevailing social norms of his time.
What key themes are explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including sexuality in 19th-century America, Whitman's conflicted views on sexuality and societal norms, diverse expressions of sexuality in "Song of Myself," Whitman's challenge to conventional gender roles, and the significance of "Song of Myself" in American literature.
What aspects of sexuality in "Song of Myself" are examined?
The paper examines the diverse expressions of sexuality in "Song of Myself," including heterosexual, homosexual, and autosexual elements. It analyzes how Whitman portrays these different expressions and their relationship to the social context of the time.
What is the social context of sexuality in 19th-century America, as presented in the paper?
The paper explores the taboo nature of sexual topics in 19th-century America, the lack of clearly defined sexual categories, the prevalence of euphemisms, and the absence of widely accepted concepts of sexual orientation. It contrasts the prevalent Puritanical views with the existing realities of prostitution and pornography.
How does the paper address Whitman's personal views on sexuality?
The paper delves into Whitman's personal conflict with prevailing social attitudes towards sexuality. It examines his rejection of both prudish repression and explicit pornography, and his attempt to portray a more authentic and passionate expression of love, regardless of gender. The ambiguity surrounding Whitman's own sexuality and his fluidity across various expressions of intimacy are also acknowledged.
What is the significance of "Song of Myself" in American literature, according to the paper?
The paper highlights the significance of "Song of Myself" as a groundbreaking work that challenged conventional gender roles and offered a revolutionary approach to depicting sexuality in American literature. Its impact on subsequent literary works and its contribution to the ongoing conversation about sexuality are implicitly acknowledged.
What are the main chapters covered in the paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a section on sexuality in the 19th century, a section on Whitman's conflict concerning sexual topics, a detailed analysis of "Song of Myself" (breaking down heterosexual, homosexual, and autosexual elements), and a conclusion.
What keywords are associated with this research paper?
Keywords include Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 19th-century sexuality, American literature, homosexuality, heterosexuality, autosexuality, gender roles, Victorian America, social norms, free verse, and transgressive poetry.
- Citation du texte
- Dirk Lepping (Auteur), 1999, Images of sexuality in Walt Whitman's Song of Myself, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16002
