Can someone check my answer please?
Q: Read and analyze "When I heard the learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman. What romantic ideas does it express, and how does the structure of the poem reinforce the meaning?
-When i heard the learn'd astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When i was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When i, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room.
How soon, unaccountable, i became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the starts.
A: It is a representation because the stars that surround him can represent shining beauty and the tiredness and sickness he experienced earlier within the poem can represent the hard times within a relationship.
For how this all ties in:
It is a comparison to work and relationships and how they are alike and how they differ
I don't think so. While Whitman is not denigrating science, he is saying that he prefers the "mystical" night air and to look at the mysterious stars without knowing too much about them. He prefers a more emotional experience of nature. I don't see any metaphors here at all. Whitman was not given to metaphors. He was a very direct thinker and writer.
no thanks!
oh, ok I see what you mean. Thank you!
can u hlep me with a work sheet
To analyze "When I heard the learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman, we need to understand the romantic ideas it expresses and how the structure of the poem reinforces its meaning.
First, let's examine the romantic ideas present in the poem. The poem conveys a sense of disillusionment with the rational and academic approach to understanding the world. The speaker begins by describing their experience in a lecture hall, where they are presented with logical proofs, figures, charts, and diagrams. However, this structured, analytical approach leaves the speaker feeling tired and sick. The poem then takes a turn towards the romantic as the speaker wanders out into the night, finding solace in gazing at the stars in perfect silence.
This shift from the sterile, calculated world of the lecture hall to the awe-inspiring, mystical night sky reflects a romantic idea of the sublime. The speaker finds greater meaning and connection in the unexplainable and enchanting beauty of nature rather than the cold, detached analysis of the astronomer. The poem suggests that there is something more profound and inexplicable than what can be measured and quantified, emphasizing the importance of emotional and spiritual experiences.
Now, let's discuss how the structure of the poem reinforces its meaning. The poem is written in free verse, lacking a strict rhyme or meter. This form reflects the speaker's wanderings and lack of constraint, mirroring the freedom they find in embracing the romantic experience. The enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence without punctuation at the end of a line, creates a flowing and uninterrupted movement, allowing the ideas to flow freely.
Additionally, the poem's brevity and simplicity contribute to its impact. The concise lines and minimalistic language draw attention to the emotions and experiences conveyed, emphasizing the contrast between the rigidity of the academic world and the freedom of the speaker's wanderings.
In conclusion, "When I heard the learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman expresses romantic ideas through its contrast between rationality and emotion, and its structure reinforces this meaning by mirroring the speaker's journey from the lecture hall to the night sky. To analyze a poem, it is essential to closely read and interpret the text, considering both its content and the poetic devices used by the author.