Collections Grade 11 Guiding Questions

Collection 3

“from Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

Read the selections from the poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. Then, reread
the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question, citing text
evidence.

1 I celebrate myself, and sing myself

1. Lines 1–5: Analyze Whitman’s style, looking for evidence that he is writing in free
verse.

6 A child said What is the grass?

2. Lines 1–11: Analyze how Whitman uses figurative language in this passage. What
figures of speech does he employ and how do they contribute to his theme?
3. Lines 13–20: What evidence of repetition is in these lines? What is the effect of this
device?
4. Lines 25–32: Which statements express Whitman’s thoughts directly? How do
these ideas relate to each other?

from 33 I understand the large hearts of heroes

5. Lines 1–11: Why might Whitman have begun six of the first ten lines with the word
How? How is this use of repetition particularly suited to free verse?
6. Lines 14–22: Analyze the choice of images in this passage. To what senses does
the imagery most appeal? Why might Whitman have relied more upon touch and
hearing in this instance than upon visual imagery? How do you think this vivid
description furthers Whitman’s purpose?
7. Lines 39–47: What effect is Whitman attempting to create in this passage?
Analyze how cataloguing helps achieve this effect.

52 The spotted hawk swoops by

8. Lines 1–3: What might the hawk symbolize? How does the speaker develop this
symbol?