One’s-Self I Sing
By Walt Whitman
One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person,
Yet utter the word Democratic, the word En-Masse.Of physiology from top to toe I sing,
Not physiognomy alone nor brain alone is worthy for the Muse, I say the Form complete is worthier far,
The Female equally with the Male I sing.Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power,
Cheerful, for freest action form’d under the laws divine,
The Modern Man I sing.
Summary of One’s-Self I Sing
- Popularity of “One’s-Self I Sing”: Written by the iconic American poet and writer Walt Whitman, this succinct and precise poem first appeared in 1867. It is perhaps the first poem written at the end of the phase of Leaves of Grass. The poet presents his ideas about the individual, individuality, and the power of an individual. The popularity of the poem lies in oblique and explicit reference to the beauty of democracy.
- “One’s-Self I Sing” As a Representative of Individual Power: Whitman sings in the first person showing that he sings about the “Self” which means individuality. He states that he sings in praise of an individual who is a complete person in himself and then supports or favors democratic norms or en-masse. He goes on to say that he sings in praise of physiology and physiognomy, but he supports the completeness of man. However, it does not mean the separation of the male from the female. It means it includes both. That is why he thinks that life is full of passion, power, and pulse which divine laws have dictated. And this complete form is the modern man. He means that modern man has achieved this through democratic norms.
- Major Themes in “One’s-Self I Sing”: Democratic attitude to the fulfillment of individuality, modern democracy, and independence of self are major themes of the poem. Although the poet asserts that he sings about the self or individuality, it is the product of majority rule or democracy that he highlights. Although every person has a different feature and different personality, the poet says that he sings in praise of physiology and not individual organs, and that counts much. Even male and female individuals have the same personality and same independence. Therefore, life is entirely free under divine laws when there is democracy. That is why he praises modern man, which means that modern democracy under the modern man grows and evolves.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in One’s-Self I Sing
Walt Whitman used various literary devices to enhance the intended impact of his poem. Some of the major literary devices in this poem are as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /a/ in “One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person” and the sound of /i/ in “Of physiology from top to toe I sing.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession, such as the sound of /s/ in “simple separate.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /s/ in “One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person” and the sound of /p/ and /t/ in “Of physiology from top to toe I sing.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Walt Whitman used imagery in this poem, such as “Of physiology from top to toe I sing”, “The Female equally with the Male I sing.” and “Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power.”
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The poem shows symbols, such as song, democracy, physiology, and Muse, to show the independence of an individual.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in One’s-Self I Sing
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: It means the type of language. The poem shows good use of formal and poetic diction.
- Free Verse: It means to write poetry sans rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This poem is a free verse poem.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are four stanzas, with each comprising a different number of verses.
- Tone: It means the voice of the text. The poem shows an optimistic, philosophical, and rational tone.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are useful to quote when talking about the pleasures of life.
Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power,
Cheerful, for freest action form’d under the laws divine,
The Modern Man I sing.