Committee Chair
Guy, Matthew W.
Committee Member
Stuart, Christopher J.; Jones, Rebecca
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Place of Publication
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
Abstract
This paper seeks to examine the way that Walt Whitman’s perceptions about the American Civil War changed in Drum-Taps, his book of poems written about the war. The book attempts to capture the emotions of the Northern public throughout the war, without discussing any easily recognizable event of the war, thus creating an emotional record of it. The opening poems are jingoistic, declaring the justness of the war and the hope that it will be over soon with minimal casualties, but about midway through the tone of his poetry shifts into one of cautious optimism. After the shift Whitman’s loyalties to the Union are still very apparent, but he has begun to emphasize the toll that the war has taken both on citizens and soldiers as a way to remind the public of what they have been fighting for.
Degree
M. A.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts.
Date
8-2013
Name
Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892 -- Criticism and interpretation
Discipline
English Language and Literature
Document Type
Masters theses
DCMI Type
Text
Extent
vi, 100 leaves
Language
English
Rights
https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Recommended Citation
Pearcy, Andrew, "Walt Whitman's changing perceptions of the effects of the American Civil War and its impact on his poetry" (2013). Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations.
https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/361
Department
Dept. of English