earticle

영어

Chang, Young-hee. “Journey as Structural Motif in “Song of Myself”.” Studies on English Language and Literature. 33.3(2007): 107-127. Although Whitman himself emphasized the
importance of seeking ‘unity’ in his “Song of Myself,” the structure of “Song of Myself” has
long troubled the critics. Many critics argue that the fifty-two sections of the poem are either
too ‘episodic’ or at best lacking in a structural motif that meaningfully integrates the poem.
The present paper attempts to find in a journey motif the integrating force that not only ‘unites’
the fifty-two sections of the poem but also gives a meaning to the poem. Each leg of this
journey can be summarized into five progressive stages: In Stage 1, the ‘I’ experiences the
ecstatic moment of union with God. but is still isolated from the world. In the second and third
stages, the ‘I’ takes on a journey to the outside world and expands to encompass the breadth
of humanity, witnessing the dissolving of all contradictions and discrepancies. In the fourth
stage, he achieves a new transcendental vision that allows a self that completely merges with
the outer world. Now convinced of the interrelationship of all things, in the final stage the poet
departs, promising the same journey to the reader. (Sogang University)