Collections Grade 11 Guiding QuestionsCollection 3

“from Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

Read the selections from the poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. Then, reread the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question, citing text evidence.

1 I celebrate myself, and sing myself1. Lines 1–5: Analyze Whitman’s style, looking for evidence that he is

writing in free verse.2. In the last stanza, the poet refers to schools of thought that he has

considered in the past and has now left behind. What does the last line suggest about his poetic creed, or system of belief?

6 A child said What is the grass?3. Lines 1–11: Analyze how Whitman uses figurative language in this

passage. What figures of speech does he employ and how do they contribute to his theme?

4. Lines 13–20: What evidence of repetition is in these lines? What is the effect of this device?

5. Lines 25–32: Which statements express Whitman’s thoughts directly? How do these ideas relate to each other?

6. What deeper meaning, or symbolism, does the grass have in this section?

from 33 I understand the large hearts of heroes7. Lines 1–11: Why might Whitman have begun six of the first ten lines

with the word How? How is this use of repetition particularly suited to free verse?

8. Lines 14–22: Analyze the choice of images in this passage. To what senses does the imagery most appeal? Why might Whitman have relied more upon touch and hearing in this instance than upon visual imagery? How do you think this vivid description furthers Whitman’s purpose?

9. Lines 39–47: Free verse lends itself to cataloguing, the listing of things, people events, or attributes. Walt Whitman frequently used cataloguing as a literary technique.What effect is Whitman attempting to create in this passage? Analyze how cataloguing helps achieve this effect.

52 The spotted hawk swoops by10. Lines 1–3: What might the hawk symbolize? How does the

speaker develop this symbol?