Walt Whitman

14 5.6

An American poet who celebrates people and nature in Leaves of Grass

proper noun
/wɔlt ˈwɪt.mən/

Literature

: Walt Whitman

The works of Walt Whitman reflect the spirit and diversity of America during the 19th century.

Examples

Walt Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass' broke new ground in poetic form and subject matter.
Walt Whitman is celebrated as one of America's greatest poets, best known for his collection 'Leaves of Grass'.
Many literary critics regard Walt Whitman as one of the most influential American poets.
The poems of Walt Whitman celebrate individuality and nature in innovative ways.
The famous poet Walt Whitman wrote 'Leaves of Grass'.
Many consider Walt Whitman a pioneer of free verse.
Many consider Walt Whitman a key figure in American literature for his unique style and themes.

Surface Forms

Walt Whitman main

Morphology

Walt + Whitman

This is a proper name composed of two surname/given-name units rather than semantically compositional words; knowing the forms 'Walt' and 'Whitman' does not allow a learner to infer the meaning 'United States poet' or the biographical information. Recognition of a specific person requires world knowledge or prior exposure, so the expression is not derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Walt Whitman published the book 'Leaves of Grass' himself in 1855 and used long, natural lines to celebrate ordinary people, nature, and the young United States. So, Walt Whitman is remembered today as a major American poet who praised individuality and the country's spirit.