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How Walt Whitman Uses Literary Devices to Create Miracles in His Poem

Walt Whitman was one of the most influential poets of the 19th century. He is best known for his collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, which he revised and expanded throughout his life. One of the poems in this collection is “Miracles”, which was first published in 1856 under the title “Poem of Perfect Miracles”. In this poem, Whitman expresses his awe and wonder at the everyday miracles that surround him. He challenges the conventional notion of miracles as extraordinary events that defy natural laws, and instead celebrates the ordinary and common aspects of life as miraculous. He uses various literary devices to convey his message and create an impact on the reader. In this article, we will analyze some of the literary devices that Whitman uses in his poem “Miracles”.

Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. Whitman uses anaphora throughout his poem to create a rhythmic and emphatic effect. He repeats the word “or” at the beginning of several lines to introduce different examples of miracles that he observes or experiences. For example:

Or I walk up my stoop, I pause to consider if it really be,
A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.
Or the day and night are for you and me and all,
Or I guess it is a uniform hieroglyphic,
Or I guess it is something more than I guess,
Or I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven.

By using anaphora, Whitman creates a sense of continuity and connection between the different aspects of his life that he considers miraculous. He also creates a contrast between the simple and concrete images that he presents and the abstract and complex concepts that he questions or rejects. He implies that he finds more meaning and satisfaction in the tangible realities of nature and human relationships than in the intangible theories of philosophy and religion.

Parallelism

Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical structures or patterns to express related or equal ideas. Whitman uses parallelism to create a sense of balance and harmony in his poem. He often pairs two clauses or phrases that have a similar structure or meaning with the word “or”. For example:

Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,

In these lines, Whitman uses parallelism to show that he sees miracles everywhere, whether in the city or in nature, whether he is active or passive, whether he is alone or with others. He also uses parallelism to show that he does not discriminate or judge between different types of miracles, but accepts and appreciates them all equally.

Imagery

Imagery is the use of descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. Whitman uses imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses and emotions. He uses concrete and specific details to describe the various miracles that he encounters or imagines. For example:

The snow-sleighs, clinking, shouted jokes, pelts of snow-balls,
The hurrahs for popular favorites, the fury of rous’d mobs,
The flap of the curtain’d litter, a sick man inside borne to the hospital,
The meeting of enemies, the sudden oath, the blows and fall,

In these lines, Whitman uses imagery to create a vivid picture of a winter scene in a city. He appeals to the reader’s senses of sight, sound, touch, and movement. He also appeals to the reader’s emotions by presenting a contrast between joy and sorrow, violence and peace, life and death. He shows that miracles can be found even in the most ordinary and chaotic situations.

Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close together. Whitman uses alliteration to create a musical and memorable effect in his poem. He also uses it to emphasize certain words or ideas. For example:

The city sleeps and the country sleeps,
The living sleep for their time, the dead sleep for their time,
The old husband sleeps by his wife and the young husband sleeps by his wife;
And these tend inward to me, and I tend outward to them,

In these lines, Whitman uses alliteration to create a soothing and peaceful sound that matches the theme of sleep. He repeats the sounds of “s”, “t”, “d”, and “w” to create a smooth and soft rhythm. He also uses alliteration to highlight the words “city”, “country”, “living”, “dead”, “old”, and “young”, which show the contrast and diversity of the people who sleep.

Personification

Personification is the attribution of human qualities or characteristics to non-human things or abstract concepts. Whitman uses personification to create a sense of intimacy and connection between himself and the miracles that he observes. He also uses it to show his admiration and respect for them. For example:

The stars that shine so quiet and bright,
The wonder of the wind’s speed in a still night,
The beauty of the moonlight falling through an open window,
The smile of a friend greeting me with a hello,

In these lines, Whitman uses personification to give human qualities to the stars, the wind, the moonlight, and the smile. He makes them seem like living beings that can communicate with him and share their feelings. He also shows his appreciation for their beauty and kindness.

Free Verse

Free verse is a type of poetry that does not follow any fixed rules of rhyme, meter, or structure. Whitman uses free verse to create a natural and spontaneous expression of his thoughts and feelings. He also uses it to reflect the diversity and freedom of the miracles that he celebrates. He does not confine himself or his poem to any conventional form or pattern. He writes in long and irregular lines that vary in length and rhythm. He also uses punctuation and capitalization sparingly and inconsistently. For example:

Or I guess the grass is itself a child, the produced babe of the vegetation.
Or I guess it is a uniform hieroglyphic,
And it means, Sprouting alike in broad zones and narrow zones,
Growing among black folks as among white,
Kanuck, Tuckahoe, Congressman, Cuff, I give them the same, I receive them the same.

In these lines, Whitman uses free verse to create a sense of fluidity and flexibility in his poem. He does not follow any rhyme scheme or meter. He also does not use any commas or periods to separate his sentences. He uses dashes and capital letters to indicate pauses and emphasis. He also uses parallelism and anaphora to create some order and coherence in his poem.

Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of an object, person, place, or idea to represent something else that is abstract or complex. Whitman uses symbolism to create a deeper meaning and message in his poem. He uses various symbols to represent his views on life, nature, humanity, and spirituality. For example:

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
To me the sea is a continual miracle,

In these lines, Whitman uses symbolism to show his belief in the omnipresence and omnipotence of God. He uses the symbols of light and dark, space and earth, and sea to represent God’s creation and power. He implies that God is everywhere and in everything, and that everything is a manifestation of God’s will and grace.

Irony

Irony is the use of words or situations that convey a meaning that is opposite or different from what is expected or intended. Whitman uses irony to create a contrast and a challenge in his poem. He uses irony to question the conventional definitions and expectations of miracles. He also uses irony to show his unique and unconventional perspective on life and reality. For example:

Why! who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,

In these lines, Whitman uses irony to create a rhetorical question and a paradox. He asks who makes much of a miracle, implying that most people do not pay attention or appreciate the miracles that surround them. He then says that he knows of nothing else but miracles, implying that he sees everything as miraculous and worthy of attention and appreciation. He also lists some examples of ordinary and common things that he considers miraculous, such as walking, looking, and wading. He creates a contrast between what most people expect from miracles and what he actually sees as miracles. He also challenges the reader to reconsider their own views and values.

Tone

Tone is the attitude or emotion that the speaker or writer conveys through their words and style. Whitman uses tone to create a mood and a message in his poem. He uses a tone that is enthusiastic, optimistic, and awe-inspired. He expresses his joy and wonder at the miracles that he encounters or imagines. He also uses a tone that is confident, assertive, and defiant. He expresses his conviction and pride in his own vision and voice. He also uses a tone that is inviting, friendly, and inclusive. He addresses the reader directly and invites them to join him in his celebration of miracles. For example:

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
To me the sea is a continual miracle,
The fishes that swim- the rocks- the motion of the waves- the ships with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

In these lines, Whitman uses tone to create a sense of excitement and admiration for the miracles that he sees in nature and humanity. He repeats the phrase “to me” to emphasize his personal perspective and experience. He also uses rhetorical questions to challenge the reader to think about their own views and values. He creates a tone that is passionate, curious, and respectful.

Conclusion

Walt Whitman’s poem “Miracles” is a celebration of the everyday miracles that surround him. He uses various literary devices to convey his message and create an impact on the reader. He uses anaphora, parallelism, imagery, alliteration, personification, free verse, symbolism, irony, and tone to create a poem that is rhythmic, emphatic, vivid, musical, intimate, natural, meaningful, contrastive, and passionate. He challenges the conventional notion of miracles as extraordinary events that defy natural laws, and instead celebrates the ordinary and common aspects of life as miraculous. He shows his awe and wonder at the miracles of nature and humanity. He also invites the reader to join him in his appreciation and admiration of the miracles that he sees or imagines. He reveals his unique and unconventional perspective on life and reality. He expresses his joy and gratitude for the miracles that he experiences or envisions.

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Literary Devices In The Poem Miracles By Walt Whitman 🟡