4B+Kendall

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Walt Whitman wrote the __When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer__ portraying the theme of nature offering experiences with oneself as well as opportunities. This is portrayed by the tone Whitman uses. As more observations are described the softer the tone became, he starts off more bored and close- minded but when nature is introduced he is more intrigued and open- minded. Whitman shows the state of boredom when he says: "How soon unaccountable i became tired and sick," he no longer wanted to be lectured and stuck in a room full of charts and diagrams but to go out and see what the astronomer had been teaching. Whitman shows his softer side when he is able to go outside: "In the mystical moist night air, and from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence out the stars." He is now experiencing what it's like to look up at the night time sky full of stars and take it all in. The theme is also portrayed by the imagery that is used. Whitman describes the lecture room he is in, "When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them," what a typical classroom of this subject would look like, not all that exciting. When Whitman discovers the beauty of nature outside the classroom, "Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself, in the mystical moist night air," gives a sense of relief that he is now out in open air able to see all the opportunities nature can share. Walt Whitman uses many stylistic features to bring out the theme he portrays but tone and imagery were strongly used and affective.
 * Dramatic reading response:**

Oh to the learn'd astronomer, A room full of knowledge you spread and, lecture you speak, A great outdoors full of nature and adventure, guiding you to many places, A true sight to see the glistening stars in the deep dark night, But only with your naked eye can you see the true pure beauty, Nature holds opportunity unlike a closed room just like the man in the moon, Look'd up in the starry night sky and see a world full of opportunity jumping out at you.
 * Response poem:**