Essays on A Noiseless Patient Spider

Abstract

The basic principle of Marxist criticism is that society is divided in social classes that are in an antagonist relation, wherein the rich and strong exploit the poor and weak. In this sense, Walt Whitman’s poem “A Noiseless Patient Spider” does not reflect the exploitative relation that Marx sees as representative for society, but he rather describes the society of one, hence an atypical society. The solitude, isolation and desolation are feelings that appear throughout the story, so the reader can understand that possession, or a high social status is not as important as companionship, or when one ...

Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman were both influential poets of their times, and they have each retained their popularity over the years since. Both poets often tackle the theme of spirituality, but their views differ; Dickinson approaches the topic from the position of the afterlife, whereas Whitman contemplates spirituality from the perspective of life on earth. The two poets differ in that Dickinson often writes from the perspective of someone who has already died, whereas Whitman uses speakers who are still alive on earth. The speaker of Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is a ghost, ...

Walt Whitman published A Noiseless Patient Spider (778) in 1891 and uses vivid imagery in every line to depict the story of a spider the author sees. This paper will explore the poem line by line to discuss how Whitman uses imagery and metaphor to convey deeper meaning. In line one, Whitman begins his use of imagery as he describes the spider as “noiseless” and “patient” (1). These words seem to be used to establish a somewhat somber tone, as the spider has no noise, which in the context of the entire poem, seems to mean the spider has no ...

Walt Whitman was a poet who combined transcendentalism with realism. This is apparent in his poetry. Below are four brief analyses of selected poems.

This poem offers an intimacy with the author. There is a disconnect between the speaker and the crow on the ferry, but an intimacy between him and the surroundings: “Crowds of men and women attired in the usual costumes, how curious you are to me.” The central imagery and theme of the poem is that of the speaker leaning over the boat with a changing view and shining sun.

When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer

This short poem develops an image of an astronomer ...