When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer by Walt Whitman by Connor Dang (Student FVHS)

ttle165 — 2024-02-15 20:31:01 UTC

ttle165 — 2024-02-16 19:49:46 UTC

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? (Trinity)

ttle165 — 2024-02-16 19:51:18 UTC

The images that Walt Whitman uses in this poem are the proofs, figures, columns, charts, and diagrams. By using these in the poem, Whitman creates a tie between the poem and the reader, helping create images in their head of what is going on. The narrator is listening to the astronomers talk about nature with science, "When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them..." (Whitman 2-3) It gives us an idea of how the astronomers are trying to explain nature instead of letting them personally experience nature.

6. What is the theme (the central idea of the poem) of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence? Elaborate on your idea. (Connor)

cmdang100_ — 2024-02-16 19:55:09 UTC

The theme of this poem is that science has a limit to nature. There is a limit to using science to understand nature, which is why you must personally go outside to nature to fully comprehend it. The narrator says, "In the mystical moist night air, and from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars" (Whitman 7-8) The narrator felt tired and sick after listening to the Astronomer talk about nature with science. But, once he stepped outside and saw the stars he immediately felt better.

4. What figures of speech are used? How do they contribute to the tone and meaning of the poem? (Trinity)

ttle165 — 2024-02-16 19:58:27 UTC

The figures of speech used in When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer are metaphors and alliteration. The text states, "In the mystical moist night air" (Whitman 7). This can pair with being an alliteration because of "mythical moist" and metaphor because it represents a foggy night outside. This

contributes to the tone and the meaning of the poem because the sky is vast and very scary. That even science cannot explain what it is and how we can experience it. It becomes non-monotonous and starts coming alive using metaphors.

1. What is the poem's tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic? (Connor)

cmdang100_ — 2024-02-16 20:00:02 UTC

At the beginning of the poem it is very monotonous and weary, "When I heard the learn'd astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me..." (Whitman 1-2) He repeats the words "when" in the first four lines and, creates a very monotonous tone. Though, near the end of the poem it starts to speed up and the narrator becomes happier. Astronomers are teaching about space like it is a classroom with science and, this is irony because the astronomers are trying to teach something big like space with simple math and charts.

ttle165 — 2024-02-16 20:00:44 UTC

Biography Analysis

cmdang100_ — 2024-02-16 20:03:00 UTC

During Whitmans career he created free verse, this poem is a great example of one of his free verses. He explains that no matter what you need to personally experience nature to fully understand it and feel it. You cannot use science, or charts, or diagrams to comprehend the nature of this world.