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Poems by Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman - Essay Example

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The writer of this essay analyzes the similarities between the poems by Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman which prove the poets’ commitment towards the society/ social criticism, and the dissimilarities are symbolic of the individual differences between them…
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Poems by Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman
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 For instance, Ginsberg considers spirituality as an inseparable element of human life. Allen Ginsberg in his work Howl stated that “Who retired to Mexico to cultivate a habit or Rocky Mount to tender Buddha” (18). One can see that Whitman considers spirituality as the link between human beings and nature. B. Dissimilarities The difference in generations/genres in poetry: One can see that Ginsberg is deeply influenced by the Beat Generation in America. For instance, the poet’s references to drugs, sexuality, and rejection of materialistic outlook of life are symbolic of the fundamental characteristics of Beat Generation.

On the other side, Whitman is deeply influenced by Transcendentalism. On the other side, optimistic attitude towards the relationship between human beings and nature (say, the core concept of Transcendentalism) is inherent in Whitman’s work. Personal and general: The poem Howl consists of a number of biographical references which sheds light on the life of the poet. For instance, Ginsberg portrays his relationship with his friends and other people in his locality. On the other side, the poem Song of Myself does not provide ample importance to the personal life of the poet but extends to the wider context of human life.

Walt Whitman in his work Song of Myself stated that “What is commonest, cheapest, nearest, easiest, is Me” (18). Besides, Whitman tires to conceal personal information and deals with the general context of existence.. One can see that Whitman considers spirituality as the link between human beings and nature. B. Dissimilarities Difference in generations/genres in poetry: One can see that Ginsberg is deeply influenced by the Beat Generation in America. For instance, the poet’s references to drugs, sexuality, and rejection of materialistic outlook of life are symbolic of the fundamental characteristics of Beat Generation.

On the other side, Whitman is deeply influenced by Transcendentalism. On the other side, optimistic attitude towards the relationship between human beings and nature (say, the core concept of Transcendentalism) is inherent in Whitman’s work. Personal and general: The poem Howl consists of a number of biographical references which sheds light into the life of the poet. For instance, Ginsberg portrays his relationship with his friends and other people in his locality. On the other side, the poem Song of Myself does not provide ample importance to the personal life of the poet, but extends to the wider context of human life.

Walt Whitman in his work Song of Myself stated that, “What is commonest, cheapest, nearest, easiest, is Me” (18). Besides, Whitman tires to conceal personal information and deals with the general context of existence. Optimism and pessimism: From a different angle of view, Howl is a wasteland poem, which portrays the follies of human beings. Allen Ginsberg in his work Howl stated that, “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness” (9). So one can easily identify that the tone of the poet is pessimistic and the poet is not satisfied by the deeds of the human beings.

This pessimistic attitude proves that the poet is deeply interested in socio-cultural

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