Walt Whitman is known for his extensive use of metaphorical language in his poetry. One poem where he uses an extended metaphor is "Song of Myself," where he compares the self to the natural world.
In the opening lines of the poem, Whitman writes, "I celebrate myself, and sing myself, / And what I assume you shall assume, / For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you." Here, he uses the metaphor of the self as an atom to convey the idea that just as each atom is an essential part of the physical universe, so too is each individual an essential part of the larger human experience.
Throughout the poem, Whitman develops this metaphor further by comparing different aspects of nature to different aspects of the self. For example, he compares the grass to the human soul, writing, "Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord, / A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped, / Bearing the owner's name someway in the corners, that we may see and remark, and say Whose?" Here, he suggests that like the grass, the human soul is both individual and interconnected with the larger world.
Whitman also uses the metaphor of the self as a tree, writing, "I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, / The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me, / The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into a new tongue." Here, he suggests that like a tree, the self has both deep roots and wide-reaching branches, and that it can grow and change over time.
Overall, by using the extended metaphor of the self as nature, Whitman creates a sense of interconnectedness and unity between the individual and the larger world.
Walt Whitman, the celebrated American poet, frequently used extended metaphors in his poems to convey his ideas and themes. One of his most famous extended metaphors is found in his poem "Song of Myself," in which he compares himself to a grass blade.
Here are some other examples of extended metaphors that Whitman uses in his poetry:
In "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," Whitman uses the sea as an extended metaphor for the speaker's search for knowledge and understanding. The sea represents the vastness and mystery of the universe, and the speaker's journey to explore it is a metaphor for the human quest for meaning.
In "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," Whitman uses the sun as an extended metaphor for the continuity of human experience across time. The sun is a constant presence that has watched over the city for generations, just as the speaker's thoughts and experiences are part of a larger, ongoing human narrative.
In "I Sing the Body Electric," Whitman uses the human body as an extended metaphor for the interconnectedness of all living things. The body is a microcosm of the natural world, and the poem celebrates the beauty and complexity of the human form.
Throughout his poetry, Whitman uses America as an extended metaphor for the potential of human freedom and democracy. His vision of America is an idealized version of the country, one that represents the best of human values and aspirations.
These extended metaphors are just a few examples of the many ways that Whitman used figurative language to explore his ideas and themes. His poetry is rich with symbolism and imagery, and his use of metaphor is a key part of his unique style.
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