Poem analysis: “Miracles” by Walt Whitman Essay Example

describes the moon in detail. “…the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring. This description lets readers think the beauty of the moon people often ignore. Also, he continuously uses the word “every”. “Every” has a definition of: each, all possible. Therefore he repetitively uses this word to emphasize how there are miracles occurring right this second to all people living in this world.

4. Whitman asks, “Who makes much of a miracle? ” but for him everything is miracle. “…walk the streets of Manhattan,” “…dart my sights over…” Because not everyone can walk or see, because hundreds of people in the world are blind or paralyzed, you need to be thankful for the “blessings. Also at the end, he asks “what stranger miracles are there? ” The word ‘stranger’ suggests the meaning, rather, different and larger than life scenes and crowd gathering occurrences. However, he’s actually recognizing the things people take for granted are miracles, no matter how small.

5. The goal of this poem, as told above, is to get people to thank for things they don’t see as miracles. He wants the audience to be acknowledged with the fact that all things, small or big, are miraculous.

6. By listing the small things we do in our everyday life and the nature that has always been there, at least we think they’ve always been there, Whitman reaches the audience easily. And by explaining and giving details to the small things that wasn’t very extraordinary in our lives, the author lets audience think deeper about those things. Whitman uses the word “or” continuously to emphasize the strong verbs. Verbs like “dart” and “wade”

suggests very vivid and lively language. Also, he tries to address the opening question with his observation that the commonplace and conversation with someone he loves are miracles. He uses “hives,” “streets,” “table at dinner” as the examples of the common places.

7. Whitman frequently uses imagery in his poem to accomplish is goal. “Wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water” and “the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring” are examples of imagery. He also uses repetition for rhythm of the poem. The word “or” and “every” begin the most of the lines of this poem. He uses a list poem as the form of this work. By adding vivid language, repetition, deliberate structure and enthusiastic sound, he makes this poem come alive.

8. The form of this poem is a list. He opens by asking a rhetorical question “why, who makes much of a miracle? ” He addresses the question but not answer it in between. At the end, another rhetorical question is asked, “What stranger miracles are there? ” He doesn’t answer the question purposely in order to let audience think of other miraculous things that can be found in everyday life.