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One of the Greatest Poems in American Literature Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was considered by many to be one of the most important American poets of all time. He had a profound influence on all those who came after him. “Song of Myself”, a portion of Whitman’s monumental poetry collection “Leaves of Grass”, is one of his most beloved poems. It was through this moving piece that Whitman first made himself known to the world. One of the most acclaimed of all American poems, it is written in Whitman’s signature free verse style, without a regular form, meter, or rhythm. His lines have a mesmerizing chant-like quality, as he sought to make poetry more appealing. Few poems are as fun to read aloud as this one. Considered to be the core of his poetic vision, this poem is an optimistic and inspirational look at the world in 1855. It is exhilarating, epic, and fresh in its brilliant and fascinating diction and wordplay as it tries to capture the unique meaning of words of the day, while also embracing the rapidly evolving vocabularies of the sciences and the streets. Far ahead of its time, it was considered by many social conservatives to be scandalous and obscene for its depiction of sexuality and desire, while at the same time, critics hailed the poem as a modern masterpiece. This first version of “Song of Myself” is far superior to the later versions and will delight readers with the playfulness of its diction as it glorifies the self, body, and soul. “I am large, I contain multitudes,”
Complete set of the thirteen woodcut illustrations used in the 1924 edition of Song of the Broad-axe by Walt Whitman, published by Centaur Press in Philadelphia. Each woodcut is titled and numbered "16". The titles are (as they appear in the book): No.I, Ship struck in storm, Beauty of woodmen, building, the forger, hell of war, The great city, of the best-bodied mothers, the hammers-men, the headsman, solid forest, the liquor-bar, and No.II.
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. CliffsNotes on Thoreau, Emerson, and Transcendentalism explores in depth, but also in easy-to-understand terms, transcendentalism—the religious, political, and literary movement that captured the minds of such literary figures as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson in the first half of the 19th century. This guide helps you to understand the various tenets of transcendentalism, as well as how Thoreau and Emerson became the two most well-known figures associated with the movement and how the transcendentalist philosophy is reflected in their work. In addition to introducing you to the basics of understanding transcendentalism, this guide also gives you the following: Examinations of the lives of Thoreau and Emerson Detailed summaries of and commentaries on many of their transcendentalist writings, such as Emerson's Nature and Thoreau's Walden Critical essays on Emerson and Thoreau's reputation and influence A review section that tests your knowledge A Resource Center full of books, articles, and Internet sites Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes onThe Awakening you experience one woman’s desire to find and live fully within her true self. Her devotion to that purpose causes friction with her friends and family, and also conflicts with the dominant values of her time. Summaries and commentaries will help you understand events of the novel, as well as their meaning. You’ll also gain insight into the life and background of the author, Kate Chopin. Other features that help you study include Character analyses of major players A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Critical essays A review section that tests your knowledge A ResourceCenter full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.
Get the most from Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook with CliffsNotes—the original study guides Whether you've read the novel countless times or are a newcomer to Nicholas Sparks' work, this book is the perfect study guide companion to The Notebook. You'll fall in love with the story of Noah and Allie in a new way through the valuable insight and trusted guidance of CliffsNotes. Inside, you'll get: An author interview and comments throughout by Nicholas Sparks Author background Introduction to the novel List of characters Summaries and commentaries Character analyses Insight on underlying themes and Sparks' style and language Critical essays Discover more modern-day treasures and classic literature by visiting CliffsNotes.com.
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. CliffsNotes on Dracula digs into the story of a count who survives by sipping the blood from living (and unsuspecting) donors. Following the hauntingly frightful tale of vampires and victims, this study guide provides summaries and commentaries for each chapter within the nineteenth-century novel. Other features that help you figure out this important work include A look into the life of the author, Bram Stoker Character list and plot synopsis An essay exploring the influence of German Expressionism on the American horror film A list of Dracula film productions, with ratings for each Suggested discussion questions Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.
The CliffsNotes study guide on Emerson's Essays supplements the original literary work, giving you background information about the author, an introduction to the work, critical commentaries, and expanded glossaries all for you to use as an educational tool that will allow you to better understand the work. This study guide was written with the assumption that you have read Essays. Reading a literary work doesn’t mean that you immediately grasp the major themes and devices used by the author; this study guide will help supplement your reading to be sure you get all you can from Emerson's Essays. CliffsNotes Review tests your comprehension of the original text and reinforces learning with questions and answers, practice projects, and more. For further information on Emerson's Essays, check out the CliffsNotes Resource Center at www.cliffsnotes.com. IN THIS BOOK Learn about the Life and Background of the author Hear an Introduction to Essays Explore themes and recurring images in the Critical Commentaries Learn new words from the Glossary at the end of each Chapter Acquire an understanding of Essays with Critical Essays Reinforce what you learn to further your study online at www.cliffsnotes.com