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1-Page Summary of Leaves of Grass

Overview

Walt Whitman wrote a collection of poetry in Leaves of Grass. He organized the poems thematically into sections, and revised it throughout his lifetime. The book was published shortly before he died in 1891. His goal was for the reader to see themselves through his words and themes as they read the book.

The opening section, “Inscriptions,” gives the reader an overview of the work and its scope. Whitman names the subject of his book – “One’s-self.” This is not only Whitman’s self, though he certainly identifies himself as a hero in this epic poem, but it is also the reader and all Americans. The themes are varied because they are just as numerous throughout this long poetic work. He writes poems about politics, society (including slavery), love and sex; these ideas later become more detailed in other sections.

“Starting from Paumanok” is a prelude to the entire book. Whitman begins with his own beginnings: he was born in Long Island, New York and became aware of himself as a boy. He catalogs people who will be on his journey with him, but they are not just physical beings; they’re also souls that will accompany him.

“Song of Myself” is a celebration of the individual. It’s one of Whitman’s original poems, appearing in the first edition although it did not take its final form until the 1881 edition. Whitman does not call on religious methods or traditional institutions to help create his self. Instead, he becomes part of nature and creates himself through his own journey of self-discovery—he encompasses both the basest desires and loftiest visions within himself. He describes this as becoming “multitudes.”

“Calamus” is a section that explores intimacy and the love men feel for each other. The author believes that this love can’t be fully realized until all facets of friendship are explored. This includes sexual love between two men, which is considered to be one of the purest expressions of democratic relationships.

In the poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” Whitman moves from a focus on his own personal experiences to a focus on the collective experiences of all people. He observes crowds of people crossing the river, and he sees how they are all unified as one through time. His vision is that future generations will feel the same feelings, ask the same questions, and contemplate similar thoughts that we have today while living in this moment. All people across time are united together by their emotions, thoughts, and actions; therefore we can learn something about ourselves from studying other cultures in history.

Whitman lived through the American Civil War which lasted from 1861 to 1865. He was a witness of and participant in this historic event, which he chronicles in his poem “Drum-Taps” and “Memories of President Lincoln.” The war began with an armed call to arms, but as it went on, Whitman’s tone became less celebratory. Death became reality, and Whitman laments at brothers killing brothers. The summation of all these deaths is the death of Abraham Lincoln who was killed by John Wilkes Booth. In his most famous poem, “O Captain! My Captain!”, Whitman compares Lincoln to a fallen captain of a ship that has come through much trial and tribulation. He encourages America to sing for its victory; however he admits that he can only mourn for the fallen leader.

The last section of Leaves of Grass reassesses the previous sections while continuing to explore the self. “Autumn Rivulets” and “From Noon to Starry Nights” mark a halfway point in Whitman’s life, both artistically and physically. He understands death now but also wants his work to be as inspired as it was in his youth. In all things, he sees that even death is a renewal of life, just as leaves fall from trees only to grow again in springtime. He ends with “Songs of Parting.” Although he says goodbye for now, he encourages readers not to see this book merely as a book but rather as an account of one’s own journey through life. When you read it this way, Whitman lives on within each reader who takes part in that journey—and so does the author himself.