I Sit and Look Out

1. Whitman wrote this poem in 1860, one year before the American Civil War began. What examples do you see in the poem of people, groups, or events that may parallel the national turmoil in America when the poem was written? Create a T chart to organize your comparisons, with specific examples from the poem on one side, and explanations of national division they may have coincided with on the other. After creating your chart, journal a reflection on how many of the miseries observed in the poem are still present in America today. Which problems have been fully or partially resolved? Which problems persist in the present day?

2. Whitman was known for using catalogs in his poetry to list several people or ideas as he does in “I Sit and Look Out” with the “I + verb” structure. He uses a similar catalog structure in his poem “I Hear America Singing.” Compare and contrast this poem with “I Sit and Look Out.” As you look for similarities and differences, consider elements such as tone, structure, imagery, and theme. Create an essay with an introduction, conclusion, and two body paragraphs. In each body paragraph, discuss one point of similarity or one point of difference (for example, one paragraph on the similarity in structure, and one paragraph on the contrast in tones).