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A noiseless patient spider,

I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated,

Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,

It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,

Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you O my soul where you stand,

Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,

Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,

Till the bridge you will need be form’d, till the ductile anchor hold,

Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.

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question 7: How important is the role of sound effects, such as rhyme and rhythm? How do they affect tone and meaning?

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question 7: How important is the role of sound effects, such as rhyme and rhythm? How do they affect tone and meaning?

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Whitman uses short segments of rhyme and rhythm, not connecting or limiting the whole poem to a certain pattern.  He connects the lines that relate to each other with similar wording. On line two, three and four he uses words with a “d” ending on the first words “I mark’d…Mark’d…It launch’d” these all build up one cohesive image.  During the second stanza we see a start and ending with similar wording.  He uses “O my soul” showing the deepening connection between the two, intensifying the hurt the poet has for the spider.  Showing remorse, that's what the second stanza is related to.

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question 3:  What images does the poet use? How do the images relate to one another? Do these images form a unified pattern (a motif) throughout the poem?

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question 3:  What images does the poet use? How do the images relate to one another? Do these images form a unified pattern (a motif) throughout the poem?

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Whitman's characterization of “A noiseless patient spider” sets the tone, leading the reader to think of the spider as a creature of pity, and builds a sense of guilt. Soon continues the poem with isolation of the spider “where on a little promontory it stood isolated”.  The poem is discovery, desperation and loneliness, using this imagery he builds that loneliness, while continuing with the spider’s desperation of connection.  Using the spiders action of “Launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself, Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them”  It sets the spider looking for a way out thriving for a connection, so desperate that it’s just impulsively wastes its filament.  It continues with adding on “Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them” Whitman adds the spider's story by building on top of the base or original vision of the spider.

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Question #4 What figures of speech are used? How do they contribute to the tone and meaning of the poem?

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Question #4 What figures of speech are used? How do they contribute to the tone and meaning of the poem?

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Whitman uses metaphors to compare his soul to the struggling spider. Evident when he says “And You O my soul where you stand,” This furthers the meaning behind the spider’s struggle, as it serves as Whitman’s self insert, disguising his own battles and struggles as that of a spider spinning its web. Endlessly toiling and struggling while being patient and yet so alone at the same time. His efforts to send out parts of himself are seemingly in vain, as he is endlessly attempting to spin a web of connections, though his work is never done.

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Question #6 What is the theme of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence? Elaborate on your idea.

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Question #6 What is the theme of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence? Elaborate on your idea.

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The poem contains messages of struggling through isolation, working ceaselessly while being completely alone. This is best exemplified through Whitman’s line “ Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them.” The spider is used to enhance this message of being alone, and laboring for something without any knowing of whether or not one will achieve what they seek. The spider serves as Whitman's device to express his misery of being unable to find connections to give his work and struggles meaning.