Topic > Emphatic Structure in I Hear America Singing

What is the American Dream? It's not just about a set of individual goals, but about the concept that every citizen has the opportunity to achieve success. The poem “I Hear America Singing” is a joyful reflection of many individuals working and working to achieve the ultimate American dream. It is a celebration of life and the many different people who build America, discovering happiness in their daily lives. Walt Whitman describes an emphatic writing style through the use of powerful figurative language and unique sentence structure to demonstrate productivity and satisfaction in the American way of life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In this particular article, Whitman highlights the value of workers through the implementation of various literary techniques. A significant poetic device employed in the poem is the overarching metaphor: “I hear America singing.” A metaphor is a figure of speech in which two distinct objects are compared, often through mutual substitution or identification. This metaphor unifies and drives the entire poem by exaggerating the topic right at the beginning to reveal how admirable it is to see and feel America at work. The word “America,” in the first line, represents individual Americans, more specifically workers. This distinction is crucial as the rest of the poem builds on this metaphor by offering examples of different individuals in their occupations. Furthermore, the word “sing” appears eleven times in the eleven lines of free verse. This word is used figuratively to reflect joy and pride in any circumstance. It unites all the different groups with its own song, like a universal language. The emphatic writing style is used to express strong emotion through word emphasis and repetition. In this case, the metaphor of control and the repetition of “song” exaggerate Whitman's joy in all those working towards their common goal, creating a better future. Comment by Diane Van Yuga: Comment by Diane Van Yuga: Additionally, Whitman uses a free verse structure rather than using formal rules of poetry. Free verse means that the poem does not have an arrangement or specific patterns of rhythm and meter. By writing this poem in a fluid manner, Whitman is able to create fluidity throughout the entire thing. The structure of this poem is particularly unique because it consists of one stanza segmented into 11 different lines. Each segment has been formatted similarly as many begin with the word “the” and contain sentences stating “as he…” or “is going to…”. Also, only one work per line is mentioned at the beginning but as the poem continues, more have been added to each section. The unification and formatting of similar phrases for separate professions produces a singular voice in America. This describes an emphatic writing style because Whitman expresses his belief in American nationalism through the connection of various professions. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, through the use of With an emphatic structure, Whitman creates the message that everyone has their own “tune” to achieve their American dream. By focusing on the political and economic aspects of American life, the entire country is connected as one unit. Whitman's focus on the dynamic power of the nation allows readers to recognize possible outcomes beyond their imagination.