It seemed really difficult for me to grasp the main idea of the preface to Leaves of Grass. It was still a little bit confusing, although we talked a lot about that in the class. However, I will still try to write down my personal understandings of this article.
In the first there paragraph, Walt Whitman indicates that the American are the best poets, and even the united states themselves are the greatest poem. They have different ethnic people, grand natural views, and wealthy lands. So in this circumstance, the literature of America is different from other countries. And at the same time, the spirit of America is so valuable that should be respected, and cannot be learnt easily from the books or the college; it is reflected by the common people.
Whitman says that what is happening in this country is something entirely new on the face of the earth. Here, the common people have the chance to excel; that chance was denied to them before and in other places. He tells us clearly that the genius of this land lies in the common people -- not legislators or others. Even the president takes his hat off to the common people -- a gesture of respect. The people of this nation recognize that something new is happening, and they recognize that many of the old ways are changing; this idea is illustrated with the image of the body being borne out of the house; the new heir is ready to take over, but he recognizes the contributions of the old ruler who was best for his own days. Does this help?
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