ext 1: “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
1 I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe
and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
5 The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off
work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the
deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing
10 as he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the
morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at
work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
15 Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young
fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
1. How does the structure of “I Hear America Singing” contribute to its overall meaning? (RL 8.5)
A. The gradual increase in line length accentuates the important role that women play in creating
America’s strength.
B. The inconsistent line length emphasizes the novelty of each worker’s contribution to America.
C. The repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in
American society.
D. The list of a wide variety of workers highlights the unique contribution each worker makes to
America
C. The repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in American society.
To determine the answer to this question, we need to analyze the structure of the poem "I Hear America Singing" and how it contributes to its overall meaning.
In this poem, Walt Whitman presents a series of descriptions of different workers in America singing as they go about their tasks. The poem consists of 15 lines, with each line presenting a different worker and their song.
By examining the options given, we can eliminate options A, B, and D because they do not accurately convey the structure of the poem. Option A suggests that the gradual increase in line length emphasizes the important role of women in America, but the poem does not focus specifically on women or their role. Option B suggests that the inconsistent line length emphasizes the novelty of each worker's contribution, but the poem actually presents the workers' contributions as similar and united by their songs. Option D suggests that the list of workers highlights their unique contributions, but the poem does not prioritize or emphasize individual uniqueness.
Therefore, we are left with option C, which states that the repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in American society. This is the most accurate interpretation of the poem's structure. The consistent reference to singing and songs suggests a sense of unity and shared purpose among the workers, emphasizing their collective role in American society.