Whitman's Philosophical Thinking Reflected In The Main Images In Leaves Of Grass

Walt Whitman is one of the greatest poets in the history of American literature. He rose from obscurity to monumental fame, coming to be recognized as a national figure. His achievement is great, although it has been sometimes obscured by unfair, hostile criticism—or, conversely, by extravagant praise. He is essentially a poet, though other aspects of his achievement—as philosopher, mystic, or critic—have also been stressed.Taking an overall view of Whitman's studies and introductions in China, the researchers emphasize on several aspects as following: 1. Mainly emphasizing on Whitman's poetic identity as the guide of freedom and democracy; 2. The interpretation of his poetry from the angle of feminism; 3. The interpretation of his poetry from the angles of sex and reproduction; 4. The interpretation of the poet's thought on art and literature; 5. The analysis of Whitman's outlook on life and values. However, less people interpret his poetry from the angle of the imagery in Leaves of Grass. We know, Leaves of Grass, as an epic in the nineteenth century, covers everything. The poet uses the imagery in his poems to show his philosophical thought. In this thesis, the author intends to prove that the main images "grass", "I", "death" in Leaves of Grass show the poet's philosophical thought: 1.What is man? 2. What is "I"? 3. What is the relationship between finitude and infinitude..This thesis contains five chapters: Chapter One Introduction, in this chapter, the literature review of Whitman and the research results about him both in China and western countries and the research methods of the text will be introduced. Chapter Two the Source of Whitman's Philosophical Thought and His "Spatial Form," in this chapter, the author tries to dig the origin of Whitman's philosophical thought and interpret his "spatial form" in Pictures. Chapter Three Whitman's Outlook on Universe, in this chapter, the author uses some poems of Leaves of Grass to interpret Whitman's universal viewpoint.Chapter Four Whitman's Philosophical Thinking Reflected in the Main Images in Leaves of Grass. In this chapter, by way of analyzing Whitman's personality and his theory of imagination and philosophy, the author tries to interpret the main images in Leaves of Grass. Whitman seemed to keep his eyes on the whole society at large. So Whitman was a cosmic poet, he wanted to show his concerns about everything, which is the reflection of his philosophical thought. We can find out the meaning of the images of "grass", "I" and "death" through his universal viewpoint. In reading Whitman's poems, we know that his work is filled with the poet's concepts of freedom and the dignity of man, in fact, which is the basic philosophical question—what is man? He illuminates the meaning and significance of the universe and man's relation to it. Whitman also believed that an ideal poet is the one of man first, then of nature, and finally of god. The main images in Leaves of Grass reflect Whitman's philosophical thinking: 1. The image of "grass" reflects the poet's philosophical thinking—what is man? Factually, man is everything in his poems. 2. The image of "I" reflects the primary philosophical thinking—what is "I"? In Whitman's eyes, man is everything in the universe, then "I" is one of cosmic creatures. 3. The image of "death" reflects Whitman's dialectical viewpoint—the relation between finitude and infinitude. Whitman thinks that "death" is the beginning of the new lives.Chapter Five The Conclusion. From the analysis of the previous chapter, the author will have the conclusion naturally: As one of the great poets in America, Whitman's creation of Leaves of Grass is not accidental, his personality, his outlook on life, the age and social surroundings, especially his universal point of view are the combining influences on Whitman's poems. The main images: "grass," "I", "death" in his representative poem Leaves of Grass reflect the poet's profound universal point of view and philosophical thinking, answering the three questions: 1. What is man? 2. What is "I" ? 3. What is the relationship between finitude and infinitude?...