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 What is the poem’s tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?

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 What is the poem’s tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?

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The poem’s tone is serene. Words that reveal this tone are “ease”, “harbor”, and “loaf”. When Whitman uses these words, he portrays a sense of calmness and serenity. “I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass” (Whitman, line 5). Whitman writes about himself relaxing while observing the scenery. I believe that through these words and within the poem, Whitman shares his feelings of tranquility with the readers.
- Angelina D.

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How important is the contribution of form, such as rhyme scheme and line arrangement? How does form influence the overall effect of the poem?

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How important is the contribution of form, such as rhyme scheme and line arrangement? How does form influence the overall effect of the poem?

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In this poem, the contribution of rhyme scheme and line arrangement is a key part of how the author expresses himself. Actually, it is the lack of these elements that contributes to the poem. Through the poem, there is not a specific line arrangement and barely any rhyming throughout. This gives the poem a free flowing feeling and the lack of form and rhyme contributes to the overall effect of the poem. The main theme of the poem is self acceptance and in the poem, Walt Whitman says “I permit to speak at every hazard,”. He is saying that he does not hold back and he always speaks his mind. We can see that the way Walt Whitman writes his poem is a reflection of himself in real life. The rhyme scheme and line arrangement adds to the theme and mood of the poem.
-Trina P.

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What heavily connotative words are used? What words have unusual or special meanings? Are any words or phrases repeated? If so, why? Which words do you need to look up?

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What heavily connotative words are used? What words have unusual or special meanings? Are any words or phrases repeated? If so, why? Which words do you need to look up?

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In the first stanza, Whitman repeats words like “myself”, “assume”, and “belong”. Whitman selects these words for the speaker in order to put emphasis on the connection to the reader. The speaker says, “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman, line 3) and I interpret it as the speaker talking about equality. The speaker talks about equality and how every atom belonging to the speaker can also belong to the reader and they should have equal access.
- Angelina D.

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What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? 

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What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? 

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The theme of the poem by Walt Whitman is very blatant. Through the word choice and the title, the theme that Whitman expresses is to love and accept every part of yourself, the light and the dark side. Towards the end, he says “I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,”. When Whitman says “I harbor for good or bad,”, he is referencing the fact that he does have a good and a bad side, but he accepts both because they make him who he is. In the second part of the line, he says “I permit to speak at every hazard,” which means that he allows himself to speak his mind and not hold back. This aspect of himself only adds to the idea that he truly accepts himself to the full extent. Another part of the poem where Walt Whitman expresses acceptance of himself is in the title “I celebrate myself, and sing myself.” The fact that he based his title off of self love shows the extent of the theme.
-Trina P.