"When I heard the Learn'd Astronomer" is a poem by Walt Whitman that expresses Romantic ideas about the beauty and awe-inspiring nature of the natural world. The poem begins by describing the speaker attending a lecture given by a knowledgeable and respected astronomer. The speaker is initially enticed by the scientific knowledge and evidence presented by the astronomer, as indicated by the use of the words "learn'd" and "proofs," as well as the mention of figures, charts, and diagrams.
However, the tone of the poem shifts dramatically as the speaker becomes overwhelmed and disillusioned by the abundance of information and the analytical approach of the astronomer. The speaker experiences a sense of disenchantment and disconnect from the subject matter, as expressed by the feelings of being "tired and sick." Ultimately, the speaker decides to leave the lecture and ventures outside into the night, where they find solace and wonder in the beauty of the stars.
The poem reflects Romantic ideas by contrasting the rational and analytical world of science with the more intuitive and emotional experience of nature. It emphasizes the importance of personal and direct engagement with the natural world, rather than relying solely on the knowledge and explanations provided by experts. The speaker's decision to leave the lecture and seek a direct connection with the stars is symbolic of the Romantic belief in the primacy of individual experience and spiritual connection with nature.
The structure of the poem reinforces its meaning in several ways. Firstly, the poem is written in free verse, without a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This lack of formal structure mirrors the speaker's rejection of the structured and analytical approach of the astronomer. The poem also consists of five concise stanzas, each containing a single complete thought or action. This brevity and simplicity of structure contrasts with the complex and technical language associated with the subject matter of astronomy. The use of enjambment, where sentences and thoughts continue without pause across line breaks, also adds to the flowing and naturalistic tone of the poem.
Overall, "When I heard the Learn'd Astronomer" expresses Romantic ideas about the limitations of scientific knowledge and the importance of personal experience and connection with the natural world. The structure of the poem reinforces these ideas through its lack of formal structure and its concise, direct, and naturalistic structure.
Read and analyze "When I heard the Learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman. What Romantic ideas does it express, and how does the structure of the poem reinforce the meaning?When I heard the learn’d astronomer;When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.
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