2.1 The Song of the Open Road
Title:
The title of the poem is very
significant as Whitman has used the word ‘Song’ with a definite purpose that he
enjoys to travel on the open road without any tension and worries of past,
present and future and face the life without any complaint against his life.
The poet wishes to move ahead on the road of life with his own will and
goodness. The Song of the open road also indicates Freedom.
New words and their meaning:
1. Afoot- going on foot, walking, in motion
2. brown path- bare land
3. postpone- to stop for few days
4. suffice- enough, adequate, sufficient
5. deliciuos burdens(here)- bad memories of the past
6. whimper - low voice of cry or agony, unhappiness, sadness
7. querulous - argumentative, complaining
8. constellations - Here it means group, collection, gathering of people 9.
light-hearted – cheerful, care-free
10.take to – begin
Introduction:
Song of the open road is
a poem by Walt Whitman. It is taken from the collection "Leaves of
Grass". It is written in 1856. Walt Whitman strongly advocated importance
of democracy & Freedom. The poem ‘Song of the Open Road’ is written in
the free verse and is in the form of a monologue by the poet. The poet intends
to express his open thoughts over journey of life taken on different
roads. The unrhymed and varying length of lines shows the complexities
and the ups and downs one faces in his /her life. It also indicates the poet’s
inner desire to enjoy life to its fullest without bothering about the tensions
and worries. It is an inspirational poem written in the form of narration. This poem is
an Ode to one’s self.
Poet: Walt Whitman:
Walt Whitman was an
American poet, essayist and journalist. He is often called the father of free
verse. He was born on Long Island in 1819 and grew up in the New York area. He
had very little formal schooling, but he considered himself to be a lifelong
learner. Whitman died at the age of 72 after suffering stroke in 1892. His poem
'O' Captain, My Captain' and his poetry collection 'Leaves of Grass' are his
remarkable literary works.
Figures of speech:
1) The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.......
Alliteration - Sound of letter ‘l’
is repeated.
2) Henceforth I as not good- fortune, I myself am good- fortune......
Repetition - Word ‘good
–fortune’ is
repeated.
3) I
carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go.....
Repetition - Words 'Carry them’ are
repeated.
4)
Still here I carry my old delicious burdens.....
Paradox- Delicious and burden express
opposite meaning.
5)
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticism.....
Tautology- ‘Complaint and Querulous’
expresses same meanings.
6)
Still here........burdens
Metaphor - Old sweet memories are
indirectly compared to something delicious.
7)
Henceforth I....need no more – Climax....Words are arranged in their ascending
order of importance
8)
Querulous Criticism
Alliteration-
Sound ‘k’ is repeated.
9)
Strong and content I travel the open road.
Inversion- The words are not in a correct
prose order. The correct prose order is – I travel the open road strong and
content.
10) I
am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return
Repetition- The word ‘fill’ is repeated.
11)
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.
Inversion- The words are not in a correct
prose order. The correct prose order is – I take to the open road afoot and
light hearted.
12)
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms.
Climax- Ideas are arranged is ascending
order.
13) Song
of the road –
Personification Non-living object road is
shown singing.
14)
Song of the Open Road
Metaphor-
15) I carry my old delicious burdens
Paradox-Burdens are described as
delicious. It is absurd.
A burden cannot be delicious. The poet
has used this combination of words to express that he has many sweet memories
of the people and places which he would
like to remember forever.
Paraphrase:
The poem begins with poet’s
journey on foot on the open road. Here the road means the road of life. He
expresses that he is very cheerful to take the journey in this healthy and free
world. In addition, the poet has a control over the journey as he is free to
choose the brown path wherever to travel.
Next, the poet continues the thoughts in earlier lines by saying that he does
not ask for good fortune and considers himself the creator of his own fortune.
He adds that he will not cry or hesitate to do anything without postponing it
and expects nothing. He is no longer satisfied being confined in the four
walls. He is strong and happy enough to travel on the open road having unlocked
himself from several complaints and arguments in his past life.
In the next lines, the poet tries to free himself from the worldly pleasures
and relations. Even though he has a great faith in them and knows that they are
doing well and happy with them, no more he likes to engage himself in friends
and other people as he thinks that the mother earth is now enough for him to
travel.
Special features:
The poem is written in very simple
and effective language which is easy to understand. As it is written in a free
verse, there is no rhyme scheme and meter. Length of the lines and stanzas are
not equal. It has four separate stanzas. The first stanza contains only three
lines, the other two stanzas contain four lines. In the last stanzas poet uses
parentheses to separate himself from the worldly needs. Phrases like
'light-hearted' and 'querulous criticisms' are interesting. Imageries such as
constellations and brown colour are noteworthy. Figures of speech such as
Alliteration, Metaphor, Repetition and Paradox are impressive.
Theme:
Freedom, joy of free life and
optimism are the major themes of this poem. Throughout the poem, the poet
encourages the readers to be true to themselves and live a free and enjoy the
freedom of life. Although his life is not free from obligations and troubles,
he encourages everyone to live their dreams, leaving the obstacles behind.
Moral/Opinion:
It teaches us to be optimistic and
happy. We have everything including freedom and opportunities. It encourages us
to enjoy the life in healthy and free world. It motivates us to fill our heart
with immense pleasure
