Animals
About the Poem
- Poem Title: Animals
- Poet: Walt Whitman
- Born: 1819
- Died: 1892
- Country: United States of America
- Famous For: Revolutionary poetry style called free verse (no rhyme or fixed pattern)
- Style: Broke traditional rules of poetry; expressed deep thoughts about life and nature
- Awards: No specific awards (as it was the 19th century), but highly respected in American literature
- Theme: Simplicity and honesty of animals vs. complexity and hypocrisy of humans
Poet’s Perspective:
- Walt Whitman expresses that he feels more comfortable with animals than with humans. He finds humans complicated, fake, and full of flaws, while animals are simple, peaceful, and content.
- The poem reflects Whitman’s admiration for animals’ natural qualities, which he believes humans have lost over time.
Main Ideas:
- Animals are peaceful and don’t complain about their lives, unlike humans who worry about their problems.
- Animals don’t lose sleep over guilt or sins, nor do they obsess over duties to God, which humans often do.
- Animals don’t crave owning things or feel superior to others, unlike humans who chase wealth and status.
- Animals are equal among themselves-they don’t worship or bow to others, even their ancestors.
- The poet feels animals reflect qualities he once had but may have lost, wondering if he “dropped” these virtues long ago.
Central Idea of the Poem
Walt Whitman feels animals are better than humans in many ways. They are peaceful, satisfied, and free from guilt, greed, and false values. The poet wishes he could live with animals because they show better behavior and values than many people.
1. Criticism of Human Behavior
- Humans often complain and whine
- They are never satisfied with what they have
- Many obsess over religion or material wealth
- Some humans are greedy (mania for owning things) and lack peace
2. The Poet’s Reflection
- The poet feels he has lost his natural virtues, which animals still have
- Animals remind him of what humans once had: purity, simplicity, and love
Important Points to Remember
- Whitman uses free verse to break from traditional poetry, making the poem feel natural and conversational.
- The poem contrasts animals’ peaceful, equal lives with humans’ stressful, hierarchical society.
- Whitman admires animals for qualities like calmness, independence, and lack of greed.
- The poet feels a personal connection to animals, believing they reflect virtues he might have once had.
- The activities encourage students to think critically, compare humans and animals, and appreciate poetry’s language and message
Key Vocabulary with Meanings:
- Turn: Transform or change into something else.
- Placid: Calm, not easily upset.
- Self-contain’d: Self-sufficient, independent.
- Make me sick: Cause disgust or irritation.
- Demented: Mad or crazy.
- Mania: Extreme obsession or craze.
- Respectable: (In the poem) Too satisfied or overly proud.
- Evince: Show or display clearly.
- Tokens: (In the poem) Virtues like innocence, simplicity, and contentment.
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