Song of Myself: Summary
‘Song of Myself‘ is a very nice poem written by Walt Whitman. In this poem, the poet talks about himself. He enjoys himself and sings for the self.
According to the poet, every atom belongs to him belongs to every human being. The two human beings are made of the same soil. They are born from parents and their blood is the same. They take the same mind and breathe the same air.
Nature soothes everyone in the same way. The poet is 37 years old and he is quite healthy. He feels that his good health will be continued until his death. He is above castes and creeds.
The poet is ready at every danger in his life. He accepts that life is no bed of roses. It is full of difficulties and also happiness.
He feels that life is the finest gift given by God. The poet says that everyone should think that there is nothing in life. So, we should always be happy and try to make others happy.
Thus, the poet means to say that there is no difference between the two human beings.
Objectives
1. Who is known as the ‘peoples poet’.
- D.H. Lawrence
- Walt Whitman
- T.S. Eliot
- None of these
Answer:- Walt Whitman
2. Walt Whitman is …………. years old.
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
Answer:- 37
3. I celebrate myself and sing myself is written by ……………
- D.H. Lawrence
- T.S. Eliot
- Walter De La Mare
- Walt Whitman
Answer:- Walt Whitman
4. The poet is Song of Myself ………….. for himself.
- cries
- sings
- laughs
- shouts
Answer:- sings
5. Who says, “Every atom of blood is the same in all human beings”?
- Rupert Brooke
- Walt Whitman
- T.S. Eliot
- None of these
Answer:- Walt Whitman
6. The ………….. of death are the whispering neighbors.
- Messengers
- Friends
- Enemies
- God
Answer:- Messengers
7. Song of Myself is written by ………….
- Walt Whitman
- Walter de la Mare
- Rupert Brooke
- John Donne
Answer:- Walt Whitman
8. Walt Whitman belonged to ……………
- Britain
- Germany
- Ireland
- The USA
Answer:- The USA
Sweetest Love I Do Not Goe – John Donne
9. ……………. works include leaves of Grass and Drum taps.
- D.H. Lawrence
- Walt Whitman
- T.S. Eliot
- None of these
Answer:- Walt Whitman
10. Hoping to cease not till death is a line from ……………
- Song of Myself
- Fire Hymn
- The Soldier
- None of these
Answer:- Song of Myself
11. ‘I celebrate myself and sing myself’ …….. is written by:[2018]
- John Keats
- W.H. Lawrence
- W.B. Yeats
- Walt Whitman
Answer:- Walt Whitman
12. Walt Whitman was born in ………….
- 1820
- 1819
- 1815
- 1820
Answer:- 1819
13. Walt Whitman died in ………….
- 1872
- 1862
- 1892
- 1870
Answer:- 1892
14. What does the poet observe in summer?
- sunny days
- Girls playing
- Spike of grass
- Yellow flowers
Answer:- Spike of grass
15. The poet enjoys himself and sings for …………..
- Public
- Beloved
- Children
- Self
Answer:- Self
16. What does the poet discard?
- Mankind
- Nature’s beauty
- Beloved
- State
Answer:- Nature’s beauty
Subjective
1. What is the poet at the beginning of the poem ‘Song of Myself’?
Ans:- The poet, Walt Whitman, in the poem, is ‘observing a spear of summer grass’.
2. What does the image of grass represent in the poem?
Ans:- the imagery of grass in the poem explores the theme of death and rebirth in the poem.
3. What is the theme of the poem?
Ans:- The theme of the poem is universal brotherhood. While talking of himself, he embraces all selves.
He identifies himself with every atom of the universe. Nature and man are one. Even the simple grass throws open to him the gate of Heaven.
The poet celebrates the self of the poet, but his self awakens and mingles with the soul of the world.
4. Who is the speaker and how old is he?
Ans:- The poet himself is the speaker in the poem. He is thirty-seven years old.
5. What does he want to do with ‘creeds and schools’?
Ans:- He wants to do away with all the creeds and schools of the world because they create divisions among us. He has scant regards for them.
6. What has formed the speaker’s blood?
Ans:- The blood of the speaker has been formed by the same soil and the same air that everyone breathes. There is no difference between his blood and the blood of others.
7. What happens with his individualism?
Ans:- He sees himself in others. His individual ‘I’ becomes a whole entity inculcating the entire mankind within itself. While singing of himself, he signs the glory of all humanity.
Explanation
1. “Hoping to cease not till death”.
>>> The line belongs to ‘Song of Myself‘ by the famous American poet Walt Whitman. The poet says that he will continue to inspire the whole humanity for love and peace till the last breath. There is no difference between man and man in the name of color, creed, and race.
2. “I harbor for good or bad ……………… Nature without check with original energy”.
>>> These lines belongs to ‘Song of Myself‘ by the famous American poet Walt Whitman. Here the poet Walt Whitman welcomes life whether good or bad.
He does not want to remain silent. He will be speaking and celebrating life continuously. He will follow Nature that is a great source of hope and energy.
3. I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume.
for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
>>> These lines have been taken from the poem ‘Song of Myself‘ which is written by Walt Whitman. The poet expresses that he celebrates as well as sings himself. He hopes from other persons that whatever he adopts.
They should also undertake the same. He expects so because according to him that every atom which he possesses is present with them.