In the years leading up to the Civil War, Whitman hoped through his poem to unite the disparate peoples of America within himself.

In the years leading up to the Civil War, Whitman hoped through his poem to unite the disparate peoples of America within himself. Throughout Song of Myself Whitman is observing people; the poem is made up in part of hundreds of brief but hauntingly perceptive portraits of individuals, all of which are meant to add up to a definitive snapshot in words of contemporary America. Search for and find yourself, look for that place where Whitman recognizes and acknowledges you, among all these portraits. Then quote the passage in your journal and explain why you have chosen it and how it reflects who you are and/or what you believe in. Bring your copy of Song of Myself to class on Thursday, 3 November, and be prepared to share your passage with the rest of the class.2. Look through the Whitman Archive that I have posted here below. You will find there drawings and photographs of Whitman from throughout his long career. Whitman was one of the earliest “public celebrities” who made use of the modern technology of photography to control his public image. In your journal compare and contrast several of these portraits from different periods of his life and consider what the images tell you [or suggest to you] about the persona–rebel poet and, later, the good gray poet–that Whitman created over the years. How might that persona have influenced the way we read his poetry? In other words, what do these visual portraits tell us about the personality of Whitman and the image he sought to project? Be prepared to discuss in class the images you have chosen.