We begin the term with "A Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman. See link below to the poem.
Why? What can we take away from our reading of this poem? Focus particularly on stanzas 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 17. Think, too, of Dean's statement to Sal from On the Road: "You spend a whole life on non-interference with the wishes of others . . . and nobody bothers you and you cut along and make it your own way . . . What's your road, man?--holyboy road, madman road, rainbow road, guppy road, any road. It's an anywhere road for anybody anyhow. Where body how?"
Do you see a link between these two works? How do you read them? What is your interpretation? What is each writer trying to say?
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This poem definitely talks about being independent and free. In stanza 4 he says "O highway I travel! O public road!" In this quote, Walt Whitman is telling people that there are endless roads for you to take. I also believe Mr. Whitman is trying to tell people to stop doing nothing and go out and explore. In stanza 9 he says, "The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first...Be not discouraged-keep on-there are divine things, well envelop'd."
This poem is about the life you choose to lead and how to approach it. Mr. Whitman tells the reader that there are so many different opportunities and ways to live his/her life and they are free to choose however they want to live. He then tells the reader to be confident in whatever they do, to always be his or her self. Life will be tough at times and things may not go his or her way but life goes on. In the end the person who sticks it out and keeps going will be the one who will benefit.
Whiteman creates an equal and open world, where “I carry them, men and women—I carry them with me wherever I go”. A road also means a starting point, which everybody will choose, either “holy”, “mad”, “rainbow”, or “guppy”, like what Dean said to Sal on the novel “On the Road”. Whiteman thinks the road is the life you choose he says “Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute”. Dean also thinks the road is a form of life. In stanzas 10, Whitman says “I and mine do not convince by arguments, similes, rhymes; we convince by our presence”, which means our presence is more essential than words (literature here). He is also asking people to be on the road with him as he says “Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live”.
Song of the Open Road tells of a person who has become at peace with themselves, and has become independent. He is in control of his life, and has no worries. He is capable of creating his own path and fortune, hence the title Open Road. He is content with life, and is no longer weak. Though he may still have burdens and obstacles, he does not allow them to effect his spirit. Now that this person with at peace with himself, he must come to terms with his environment. Once he has accomplished this, he may pass on this new found wisdom. It is a philosophy of finding your own path, and not depending on others.
Compared to the novel On the Road, the poem speaks of someone who has already found a sort of nirvana. The protagonist in On the Road is just beginning his journey. He is unsure of his path. However he puts his faith in the West, and Dean. Thus in a way Dean and the West represent the Open Road that Song of the Open Road speaks of.
The poem is absolutely about freedom in every sense of the word, from young to old and peaceful to belegerent. Whitman approaches the open road as one would think about the source of the universe for every thing can be seen and studied there and everything can be contemplated. All things are displayed in the forum of absolute freedom as the open road is. It is as if walking on the open road can be compared to one attaining nirvana, becoming one with all around you and moving in the form of the soul not the body.
This poem is about taking chances and living your life the way you wish that will make you happy in the end. Nothing will satisfy yourself more than the many undiscovered oppurtunities that lay ahead of you, rather than than the memories of past experiences. Walt Whitman is letting the world know that the courage of independence will get you somewhere along the journey of life. Never let the fear of society stop you from taking a risk, just keep moving along as you wish.
Walt Whitmans poem expresses his love for adventure in the unkown. "Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the shelf unopen’d!" He is happy with what he has and does not need any material objects to comfort him on his journey through life. He is his own person and is self-reliant and ready to make decisions “Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute”. Mr. Whitman is at peace with himself and his surroundings.
The poem "Song of the Open Road" is about the function of life; the many opportunities opened for each person in the world to take a hold of and attempt a life of his/her own. In this poem there is a man who believes your own life is an open road that does not deny anyone and is open to possibilities. He believes every person can build his/her own life and is able to choose any path of desire. He is a man that has found himself and is very optimistic about the direction he is heading in life because he has allowed himself to believe that any direction is good as long as he makes the best of it and takes every advantage. He has become his own master and his independence assures him that he could even do without the opportunities of the open road but it is filled with so much wisdom that he can share with those trying to seek their own path.
In the novel, the narrator is one who is trying to seek his own path and looks to Dean who compares to the man in the poem; who has mastered the open road and can share his wisdom with the narrator.
Each writer is basically saying to explore the opportunities presented to you, take risks, find yourself, and never be discouraged.
In Walt Whitman's poem "A Song of the Open Road" he uses similies to compare the open road with the journey of life. The open road has an endless amount of roads that each present different opportunities. Life is full of decisions that have different resolutions. However on the flipside, the open road also has its dangers and detours that can lead to trouble. Whitman compares this to the everyday decisions that we make that can sometimes lead to severe consequences. Whitman uses the open road as his route of living his life.
SORRY I FORGOT TO PUT MY NAME SO I AM THE ANONYMOUS ABOVE :)
The poem "Song of the Open Road" is about the function of life; the many opportunities opened for each person in the world to take a hold of and attempt a life of his/her own. In this poem there is a man who believes your own life is an open road that does not deny anyone and is open to possibilities. He believes every person can build his/her own life and is able to choose any path of desire. He is a man that has found himself and is very optimistic about the direction he is heading in life because he has allowed himself to believe that any direction is good as long as he makes the best of it and takes every advantage. He has become his own master and his independence assures him that he could even do without the opportunities of the open road but it is filled with so much wisdom that he can share with those trying to seek their own path.
In the novel, the narrator is one who is trying to seek his own path and looks to Dean who compares to the man in the poem; who has mastered the open road and can share his wisdom with the narrator.
Each writer is basically saying to explore the opportunities presented to you, take risks, find yourself, and never be discouraged.
Whitman describes the life and journey of a true transcendentalist in the most optimistic way. Free of all emotional and physical baggage, healthy and "with the world before [him]", Whitman takes to the open road with an open heart and open mind. His road or life is journeyed with such content confidence; he takes the negative elements as good and the good ones as best. He stays free by always “divesting [himself] of the holds that would hold [him]”.Whitman describes this road as one for the soul.
The road in this poem is definitely referring to freedom in this world. The road is free because it is endless and you can so many opportunities to do many things. "You express me better than I can express myself," (stanza 4). Whitman lives on the road because he can express himself freely. He does not have to worry about what others think about him because everyone out on the road is on a journey to happiness and freedom.
I believe that both of these works are about leaving everything that you’re use to, everything you know, in search of your true self. I feel that Whitman, along with Kerouac, say that this journey is about tuning out society and all the things that hold you back. Then, once you are rid of all of the distractions, and have taken the risks, you are able to focus on yourself. Both of the authors insist that this commitment, will allow you to finally be self-reliant and confident enough to find the real you. However, both authors made a point to mention that not everyone is ready to change. Therefore, I believe that the choice to transcend and make the most of the moment is entirely yours. Coming to your own conclusion and finding what is real, is what I believe can come from this journey.
i think in this poem it talks about going out and exploring not just places but taking risk . i also thinks the whole poem is about being independent and not having to rely on anyone. the author is saying that there are so many things to choose from meaning oppurtunity wise, there is so much out there. he wants to say that you can dictate how your life is going to be and you you can pick your own route.
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