Leaves of Grass 2

As [the attributes of the poets] emit themselves facts are showered over with light....the daylight is lit with more volatile light....also the deep between the setting and rising sun goes deeper many fold.

Importance
The beginning of this book is dense, containing long sentences of an almost surreal nature that can be difficult for the reader to comprehend. This sentence, however, is relatively short, compared with the others, that makes it more noticeable. The reader is almost startled by the relative simplicity of the sentence and that shows its importance to the text. In addition, the content of the sentence shows Whitman's own adoration and reverence of poets and really exemplifies the overall theme of the book so far.


Analysis
The most obvious of the rhetorical devices in this line is the repetition of "light" and other light-related words. The image of light conveys purity, goodness, and positivity. These words, in this quote, are being associated with poets and their work, so Whitman does not hide his love for his occupation. Since "facts are showered with light", Whitman believes that poetry serves as a vehicle to articulate and critique human truths and the human condition. Without poetry, Whitman argues, humans would not see their true nature or in fact themselves. However, the "deep between the setting and rising sun" deepens, meaning the nighttime gets darker. This could mean that, during times without poetry or important literature, the social climate is much worse than it would have been had poetry never existed.

Leaves of Grass: 1

Liberty relies upon itself, invites no one, promises nothing, sits in calmness and light, is positive and composed, and knows no discouragement.

Importance
This quote emphasizes the importance that Whitman gives to the freedom of speech. The first 30 or so pages of Leaves of Grass are filled with seemingly strange, almost stream-of-consciousness sentences about the inherent poetry in human nature, and Whitman, by addressing liberty in such a way, shows that liberty is equally inherent in people. That being said, he also is explaining that in order to keep liberty, one must actively want it because it "relies upon itself"; it must be fought for to be readily available. He wants to stress the fact that Americans must be actively involved in government and their natural rights.

Analysis
Whitman uses personification in this quote to give liberty a human quality to it, which exemplifies the fact that it is indeed a natural part of humanity. By giving liberty a personality that is not passive ("promises nothing," "invites no one") Whitman states his opinion that in order to maintain their natural rights, Americans cannot just expect to have them but instead show their desire for them. This desire, however, must be expressed peacefully because liberty itself is calm and positive. The qualities that Whitman gives liberty are qualities that he wants to see mirrored in the American people, because in this case, he believes that liberty and Americans are one in the same.