There is no specific rhyming scheme or meter. The poem is written in free verse. Had I the Choice Summary
There is no specific rhyming scheme or meter. The poem is written in free verse.
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Had I the Choice by Walt Whitman explores the poet's profound reverence for the natural world, particularly the sea, and his reflection on the subject of true artistic inspiration. The central idea revolves around Whitman's hypothetical choice between emulating the greatest bards and poets in historRead more
Had I the Choice by Walt Whitman explores the poet’s profound reverence for the natural world, particularly the sea, and his reflection on the subject of true artistic inspiration. The central idea revolves around Whitman’s hypothetical choice between emulating the greatest bards and poets in history, with their epic tales and intricate characters or surrendering those ambitions in favour of the raw, unfiltered beauty of the sea. The poem reflects Whitman’s transcendentalist philosophy, emphasizing the spiritual connection between humanity and nature. He suggests that the undulating waves and breath of the sea possess a transformative power that surpasses the elaborate works of even the most celebrated poets.
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Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely positioned words. It can be seen in places like, “Its trick to me transfer” and ‘Homer with all his wars and warriors”. Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves an implied compariRead more
- Alliteration- Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely positioned words. It can be seen in places like, “Its trick to me transfer” and ‘Homer with all his wars and warriors”.
- Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech that involves an implied comparison between two unlike things, highlighting similarities without using “like” or “as.”Whitman also uses metaphors when he speaks of Shakespeare’s “woe-entangled” characters as if they were caught up in a web of grief and unable to free themselves. He speaks of the “trick” of a wave, suggesting a sleight of hand perhaps, some hidden magic in the motion of the sea.
- Personification- Personification is attributing human characteristics to non-human entities or abstract concepts. The sea is personified in the following lines, “Would you the undulation of one wave, its trick to me transfer,/ Or breathe one breath of yours upon my verse,/ And leave its odor there.”.
- Apostrophe- In poetry, an “apostrophe” is a figure of speech in which the poet addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a non-human entity as if it were present and capable of responding. It can be seen in the line, “These, these, O sea, all these I’d gladly barter,”.
- Enjambment- Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or couplet. It can be seen in this poem and it makes the poem flow like the sea waves.
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The transient nature of chance human encounters is the central theme in the poem. The poem shows how often one might catch sight of a stranger who evokes a sense of curiosity and yearning in us. Even though the encounter between the speaker and the stranger is fleeting and momentary, it significantlRead more
The transient nature of chance human encounters is the central theme in the poem. The poem shows how often one might catch sight of a stranger who evokes a sense of curiosity and yearning in us. Even though the encounter between the speaker and the stranger is fleeting and momentary, it significantly impacts the speaker as they yearn for a connection with the stranger. The speaker also interestingly comments how in another life, they could be very close to the stranger. And this highlights how in our lives, there are innumerable sets of possibilities that we sadly do not experience, even if we want to.
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There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter that the poem utilises. However, it is written in free verse and incorporates instances of internal rhyming which introduces musicality in the poem To a Stranger Summary
There is no specific rhyme scheme or meter that the poem utilises. However, it is written in free verse and incorporates instances of internal rhyming which introduces musicality in the poem
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The poem portrays the speaker's emotional state as they catch a glimpse of a stranger that they admire. The speaker yearns to develop a connection and a close bond with the stranger but they cannot do so, because of obvious reasons. Owing to this, the speaker imagines a life where they are close toRead more
The poem portrays the speaker’s emotional state as they catch a glimpse of a stranger that they admire. The speaker yearns to develop a connection and a close bond with the stranger but they cannot do so, because of obvious reasons. Owing to this, the speaker imagines a life where they are close to each other. The speaker imagines sharing cherished memories with the stranger, when in reality they can only perceive the stranger. Lastly, the speaker has a sense of anticipation for the future. Despite the present separation, they have a belief in a future meeting or encounter.
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Apostrophe- Apostrophe involves addressing an absent or imaginary person or entity. In this case, the speaker directly addresses the passing stranger. It can be seen in the first line where the speaker says, “Passing stranger!”. Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginniRead more
- Apostrophe- Apostrophe involves addressing an absent or imaginary person or entity. In this case, the speaker directly addresses the passing stranger. It can be seen in the first line where the speaker says, “Passing stranger!”.
- Anaphora- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. There is a repetition of the phrase “I am” from the tenth to the thirteenth lines.
- Simile- Simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words “like” or “as.” in the line, “it comes to me, as of a dream”, the speaker compares the realization to the coming of a dream.
- Enjambment- Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or verse. It creates a flowing and uninterrupted rhythm in the poem. This has been used in the poem.
- Metaphor- A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not applicable. It can be seen in the line, “your body has become not yours only, nor left my body mine only,” where the poet metaphorically shows how the speaker and the stranger share a small part of their life with their other.
- Alliteration- is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. An example of alliteration in the poem is “You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me, as of a dream” where the “e” sound is repeated.
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One of the chief themes highlighted in the poem is Individualism. The poem celebrates the existence of an individual self and also conveys the importance of singing about oneself as a unique and separate person. Whitman also incorporates a political perspective and highlights the individual’s signifRead more
One of the chief themes highlighted in the poem is Individualism. The poem celebrates the existence of an individual self and also conveys the importance of singing about oneself as a unique and separate person. Whitman also incorporates a political perspective and highlights the individual’s significance against a democratic backdrop. He goes on to discuss gender equality and fundamental values such as liberty which shows his views on the Modern Man living in a democratic society.
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There is no rhyme scheme used in the poem. The first line is written in iambic pentameter, but line 2 can be seen as set in accentual” or anapestic meter. The poem is written in free verse. One’s Self I Sing Summary
There is no rhyme scheme used in the poem. The first line is written in iambic pentameter, but line 2 can be seen as set in accentual” or anapestic meter. The poem is written in free verse.
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The poem delves into the theme of artistic inspiration and the choices a poet might face when seeking sources of creativity. Whitman contrasts the traditional subjects of great bards, including epic tales and tragic characters, with the more immediate and sensory inspiration from the sea. Hence, theRead more
The poem delves into the theme of artistic inspiration and the choices a poet might face when seeking sources of creativity. Whitman contrasts the traditional subjects of great bards, including epic tales and tragic characters, with the more immediate and sensory inspiration from the sea. Hence, the poem shows how deeply connected the speaker is towards nature, especially the sea. Whitman prefers the simple beauty of nature over the complex writings of famous people. The undulation of a single wave and the breath of the sea are valued more highly than the intricate and elaborate works of celebrated poets.
Had I the Choice Summary
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