Poetry for Fiction Writers: A Close Reading of Walt Whitman

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Reading Like a Writer is a crucial skill for every writer to learn and practice. We need to read closely, developing our writer's eye for detail, picking up tricks and techniques from every piece we read. And, ideally, we should read broadly, as well. Close reading a wide variety of genres and styles will add to our writer's toolbox and help our work grow steadily better.
Here I show you how I do 'reading like a writer' with a close reading of Walt Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." Hopefully it'll help you out, as well. (Take notes!)
Creative Writing Corner is all about helping YOU become a better word-slinger and storyteller. CWC host Luke J. Morris is a published author and full-time English and Creative Writing teacher with a Master's degree in Creative Writing, and on this channel he shares what he's learned over 30+ years of writing and study. Enjoy and engage!
If you'd like to support the channel (and judge if the host walks his talk), you can pick up a copy of Luke's short story collection 'Bad Art' here:
www.amazon.com/Bad-Art-Galler...
Thanks for watching! If you enjoy this video, Please click "like" and subscribe, and hit the little bell icon so you don't miss a video. And leave your comments, questions, and suggestions below!
Good luck... and good writing. Peace!

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Опубликовано:

2 фев 2024

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Комментарии : 19

@anthonyw2931 6 месяцев назад

reading Whitman is like reading a straight up story in prose. But the tricky part is recognizing the subtle shifts, words and line structures. My favorite is crossing Brooklyn Ferry. My favorite is Emily Dickenson ,kinda similar, but she pulls my strings in ways no one else does. I never looked at a poem in the way you explained it, though. Another very valuable lesson. As always, thank you.

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

Oh yeah, I love Dickinson, too. I'll have to do a close reading video for her sometime soon. Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for watching!

@stevengrapes3874 4 месяца назад

This is my favorite poem. I screamed when you said the title. Good taste.

@creativewritingcorner 4 месяца назад

Glad to hear it! What's that they say about "great minds"? 😉

@franceshaas8255 6 месяцев назад

I think Whitman shows in that poem that, yes, rational thought reduces wonder. Going outside into nature is the "song of the answerer," which is, I think, another of his poems. Direct experience can become lost. Your lecture was thoughtful. Subscribed.

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

Good point! It's definitely easy to see the Romantic in him leaning that way, especially in the tone shift between the dry, almost lifeless description in the first half vs. the emotion-laden imagery towards the end. Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for watching!

@michaelsimpson3139 6 месяцев назад

The shape of the stanza ⬆️ points to where your eyes should look too. Awesome video. Got to get back into reading this. ⚡️ 🧨 💥

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

Heck yeah. Thanks for watching!

@SOOH27 6 месяцев назад

dammit i knew I should have taken the poetry workshop instead of nonfiction

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

Hey, both are good!

@SteveJubs 6 месяцев назад

You always look like you’re in detention with me, Sir. Wait what

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

Who's to say I'm not? 🤔

@Khatoon170 6 месяцев назад

Happy belated new year mr Luke . Thank you for your wonderful cultural educational channel about creative writing. Actually i studied English both language and literature till second year and left college it’s will of god not mine . Thank god I am only Arabic lady subscriber in several British and American RU-vid channels. I study essay it’s branch of creative writing as I think . English literature as British poets as John Milton, Shakespeare. When we were kids we watched Tom Sawyer adventures cartoon dubbed into Arabic by mark Twain. Iam subscriber last two months to American poet Adam walker channel and songwriter and poet from Arkansas Greg brownderville channel. I just found out there are great American poets such as walt Waite man ( 1829 - 1892) he was American poet , essayist, journalist. He is considered one of most influential poets in American literature. Waiteman incorporated both transcendentalism and realism in his writing and he is often called ( father of free verse ) . His work was controversial in his time , particularly his 1855 poetry collection leaves of grass , which was described by some obscene for it overt sensually.

@Khatoon170 6 месяцев назад

Sorry imean I studied.

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

Yep, you got it! Great research there. I'll have to check out those poetry channels you mentioned. Thanks, as always, for watching!

@Khatoon170 6 месяцев назад

I gathered main theme of poem you chose of Walt Waite man learned as astronomer it’s first published in 1865 in poetry collection drum - taps . In this poem Whitman conveys his belief in limits of using science, understanding nature . Whitman suggests , one needs experience nature for true understanding, instead of measuring . The poem consists of eight lines and each line is part of single. Whitman poetry themes about self , mysteries of life and death, nature , time , democracy and patriotism. The tone of whim poems it’s inclusive and celebratory of American spirit. I read article about how to read like writers written by mark beaver author of subrban gospel ( April 2017 hub city ) . He shares 7 steps process for reading to improve your writing. Choose story and re - read . Annotate means as you read underline or highlight and fill margins with questions. Think big by examining story overall structure means select plot structure that makes most sense to you and apply it to story . Think smaller by breaking down story scene by scene. Look closer at story climax. Identify how protagonist is different as result of events in the story . We appreciate your great efforts . I hope you like my research. Best wishes for you your dearest ones .

@creativewritingcorner 6 месяцев назад

@@Khatoon170 Very well done! I'm impressed that you dug so deeply on the subject. If you're interested in poetry, I'd suggest you also try another great American poet, Emily Dickinson. She was writing in roughly the same time period as the later Whitman, and she's been just as influential on American literature, but her approach to poetry - in both content and form - is very different.