LESSON: Walt Whitman’s poetry/Civil War historical context

GRADE LEVEL: Grades 9-12 honors level

SUBJECT: American Literature

ESTIMATED TIME PERIOD: Approximately one school week.

WALT WHITMAN: A TRUE AMERICAN AND HUMANITARIAN POET

OVERVIEW: Whitman wrote during what is referred to as the American Renaissance. He was a man of the people and a true American patriot. Born in Long Island, Whitman was a school teacher for a time, and when the Civil War began, he became a journalist and eventual war nurse. The war affected him profoundly, as well as the death of the ultimate humanitarian—President Lincoln. Whitman immortalized Lincoln in his famous poem, “O Captain! My Captain!” His “Drum Taps” poems reflect on the war and the President’s assassination.The class will explore Whitman as a patriot and humanitarian, and will learn about the historical context of the Civil War and the literary period of the American Renaissance.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate and analyze Whitman’s poetry.

Evaluate and analyze the historical context and events during the Civil War.

Discuss and analyze poetry and writings specific to the American Renaissance.

Write effective essays that adhere to good grammar, argument, and length.

RESOURCES: Leaves of Grassby Walt Whitman

Movie clip, “Dead Poets Society”

School library-online catalog and books

REVELANT STANDARDS: This lesson addresses the Illinois Learning Standards for teaching.

SOCIAL SCIENCE STANDARDS

Making Connections

  • Understand the underlying causes of the Civil War and framing it in an interdisciplinary approach i.e., within a literary and historical context.
  • Understand the characteristics of American life during the mid 19th century.
  • ConnectWhitman’s life and his characterization as an “American” poet and humanitarian to the context of the Civil War.
  • Connect Whitman’s role as a poet with thehistorical documents of the American Renaissance.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS

Communicating and Using Technology

  • Students will demonstrate competence in the strategies of writing for a diverse audience.
  • Students will demonstrate competence in stylistic, creative, and rhetorical analysis in their writing.
  • Students will gather and use critical sources including web-based materials for research purposes.
  • Students will demonstrate competence in reading a variety of literary and informational texts.
  • Students will demonstrate competence in speaking effectively about their interpretations—both individual and group interpretations—of a text or philosophy.

Working in Teams

  • Students will effectively work in smaller groups to make connections and discuss themes inherent in the subject material.
  • Students will cooperate in order to present numerous shared ideas to address to the rest of the class about the text to which they are assigned.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS STANDARDS

Monday

  • Explain the literary movement of the American Renaissance. Make sure students have a full comprehension of its concepts.
  • Explain and discuss the history and causes of the Civil War. Keep it brief, but make sure to place it in the appropriate context.
  • Introduce students to Whitman and his poetry, and let them give insights as they read several of his poems.

Tuesday

  • Thoroughly analyze as a class, “O Captain! My Captain!” and make sure students bridge the connection between the poem and its historical context. Make sure students have a full understanding of Whitman’s purpose in writing the poem.
  • Students will visit the library to do individual research on Whitman.

Wednesday

  • Divide the classroom into smaller groups to discuss a different “Drum Taps” poem.
  • Discuss how Whitman’s poems about President Lincoln symbolize personal grief and national grief.
  • Read and share different historical accounts of Civil War battles. Compare them to that of Whitman’s accounts.
  • After discussing Whitman as a war nurse, discuss as a class, the concept of humanitarianism.

Thursday

  • Explore other poetry from Leaves of Grass, such as “Song of Myself” and “I Hear America Singing”. Discuss the theme of individualism and collective pride in both poems. Have plenty of examples from the poetry to support your ideas in class.
  • Analyze the style and conventions of Whitman’s poetry. Discuss the concept of “cataloguing”.

Friday

  • After viewinga movie clip from “Dead Poets Society” discuss how Whitman was a man that celebrated life and humanity.
  • Short essay quiz about week’s lesson.

ASSIGNMENTS

There will be three assignments for the subject addressed.

MONDAY: After being introduced to Whitman, individually, find your favorite poem by Whitman and write a one page essay that discusses his style, conventions, and themes. Use examples from his poetry in your essay!

WEDNESDAY: Summarize a small article that you have found in the library written about Whitman’s poetry. Be sure to cite the article correctly. A written one page essay for the article is sufficient.

FRIDAY: I would like a thorough discussion of the concept of humanitarianism. Using the Civil War, Whitman’s life, and his poetry from Leaves of Grass, type a one to two page essay that addresses those issues. Be sure to connect humanitarianism to our discussion of the American Renaissance.

EXTRA CREDIT!!!

Using “I Hear America Singing” as your inspiration, write a poem no less than a double spaced page celebrating some aspect of life, like work, recreation, charity, or nature. Remember, be creative!

*Due no later than one week from assigned date.

20 November 2005