3B+Zschunke


 * A Dramatic Reading**

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 * //When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer // Analysis **

 Through the poem //When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer //, Walt Whitman expresses many aspects of transcendentalism through the stylistic features of the poem. For the first half of the poem, each line began with the word “When” (Whitman 1-7). The repetition shows the boredom that is experienced while listening to the learn’d astronomer. The second half of the poem uses a variety of words and sentence structures. This change in structure indicates a change in the mood of the poem from bored to excited. In the second half, another change takes place. Instead of listening to the astronomer, now Whitman is looking at the stars and learning through experience. This idea of teaching yourself through experience and with nature is a key aspect of transcendentalism. Throughout the poem, Whitman uses slang words, such as “learn’d,” “wander’d,” and “Look’d” (Whitman 1, 9, and 11). The use of slang is irony because both Whitman and the astronomer are intelligent individuals, yet Whitman uses the slang words to mock the astronomer’s intelligence. This is just one way that Whitman expresses his personality in this poem. Another way Whitman does this is through the actions described. He thinks differently than others and prefers solitude, representing both his personality and transcendentalism. There is one word that captures the tone of the entire poem: “mystical” (Whitman 10). This word explains the mystery that is found in the night and all there is to be learned. Therefore, this word also can be used to describe aspects of transcendentalism. Overall, various stylistic features of the poem //When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer // contribute to the overall theme of transcendentalism.

**Original Poem:** //Nature is Full of Mysteries//

By listening to roar of the river, it's destination is unknown. By swimming in the ocean, it's depths are a mystery. By looking into space, it's planets cannot be seen. By walking through a forest, it's creatures are to be discovered. Nature is full of mysteries, left to be explored. Experiences lead to questions, that only books can answer. Working with oneself, leads to knowledge. Only through cooperation, can one begin to understand.