Poetical Elements (Whitman and the Fireside Poets)

Some of the early popular American poetry was written during the Romantic period. The Fireside Poets imitated the poetic style of the British while infusing it with their own tones. But this style was later challenged by the more brash and stylistic free verses of Walt Whitman. The Fireside Poets stood out in popularity during the first part of the 19th century, and Whitman's status as a popular poet made his poems some of the most read American poetry. However, both styles of poetry generally explored natural elements while revealing themes about humanity.

In this topic, you will look at the work of four of the Fireside Poets along with Walt Whitman and practice analyzing poetry for meaning.

Essential Questions

• How can lessons about humanity via nature be conveyed in poetry?
  
• How do Walt Whitman's poems represent Romantic poetry, and how are the poems' themes applicable to contemporary society?