What does Walt Whitman mean when he says I hear America singing? The overarching idea of the poem is that
each person has a role and a voice that belongs only to that person, but when added to the roles and voices of all other Americans, helps piece together the puzzle that is America
. All the singers, Whitman says, have a place; whether it's during the daytime or the night.
How does I Hear America Singing relate to the American Dream?
Poetic works such as “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman and “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes explore the theme of the American dream.
Both poets use the metaphor of the chorus and its singing to represent the collective efforts of Americans
.
What is the singing that the speaker hear in I Hear America Singing?
The speaker hears the mason singing as he makes ready for work or leaves off work, he hears the
woodcutter's song
, he hears each mechanism singing strong, and others are singing what belonged to them and none one else.
What does the singing represent in I Hear America Singing quizlet?
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, -America represents its people, especially its laborers; -they are “singing” because their spirits have been uplifted due to the Industrial Revolution, which inspired this poem. -In this poem, “singing” is also a metaphor for
happily laboring
.
What does I Hear America Singing the varied carols I hear mean?
Nope, the word “America” is a symbol for American people more generally. But the “singing” is not figurative. This poem is literally about Americans singing songs. Or, in the speaker's words, “varied carols.”
The speaker acknowledges that Americans sing all different kinds of songs in all different kinds of voices
.
What is most likely the poet's purpose for writing “I Hear America Singing”?
To share his idea of the view he has about America
. Also, to acknowledge people's hard work and efforts that builds into the place, “America”.
The tone of the poem is
cheerful, optimistic, upbeat
because it elevates the average American worker by enhancing their characters with such abstract expressions as “blithe,” “robust,” “melodious,” “friendly,” and “strong.” These adjectives are generally joyful, pleasant, and strong, suggesting the strength and delight …
The poem “America” by Walt Whitman has a
respectful tone
. Whitman appeared to have great respect for American Society. There are some words throughout his poem that contribute to the respectful tone. The first word that contributes to the tone is equal.
“I Hear America Singing” is a poem by the American poet Walt Whitman, first published in the 1860 edition of his book Leaves of Grass. Though the poem was written
on the eve of the Civil War
, it presents a vision of America as a harmonious community.
How does the structure of “I Hear America Singing” reflect the period in which it was written?
The poem creates an image of people who are rebelling against their bosses
. The poem creates an image of people too excited to focus on their work. The poem creates an image of people working themselves to exhaustion.
Lines Four and Five achieve a pleasing melody through alliteration, specifically the “m” of mason and makes and the “b” of boatman, belongs and boat. The repetition of the
“-ing
” sound of singing, sewing and washing helps to establish a sense of activities that, although performed individually, are harmonious.
He uses personification in
the first line
when he says, “I hear America singing.” America is not a living thing, and therefore cannot sing. But he gives “America” this human characteristic.
Whitman was deeply influenced by deism. He denied any one faith was more important than another, and
embraced all religions equally
.
Subjects of Whitman's poetry included
slavery, race, religion, and sexuality
. These were topics that were important to ordinary people, even if his ideas on these subjects were different from commonly held ones, and the fact that he wrote about them in first person made them even more meaningful.
Imagery: Imagery is used
to make readers perceive things involving their five senses
. The entire poem is imagery because it describes the activity of each working men and women. The reader can visualize each profession while reading.
He celebrates them and their
hard, often physical labor
. He celebrates the kind of hardworking peeps who don't usually make their way into poems. Walt Whitman loved the common man (and woman), and “I Hear America Singing” is chock filled Americans who are just like us.
The speaker reinforces in Line 9 the metaphor of “singing” to mean individualism. The idea that each character is unique and has his or her own song, that each by virtue of his or her profession is essential to the whole of American society and culture, is expressly democratic in nature.
