Walt Whitman: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Whitman's cosmic democratic 'barbaric yawp' didn't arrive from nowhere: it was assembled from Emersonian transcendentalism, Quaker preaching, Italian bel canto, Brooklyn journalism and the sensory chaos of Manhattan. This mix traces the reading, listening and looking behind Leaves of Grass, and follows the free-verse line outward to Ginsberg and Neruda.

The Kynda mix for Walt Whitman

• Key Influence · Essays: First and Second Series (incl. "The Poet") by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1844). Emerson's essay "The Poet" called for an American bard who would sing the nation's rivers, politics and vulgar trades; Whitman later said he had been simmering and Emerson brought him to a boil. Emerson responded to the 1855 Leaves of Grass with a letter greeting Whitman "at the beginning of a great career," which Whitman promptly printed in gold on the 1856 spine without permission.
• Influencia Obscura · A Few Days in Athens by Frances Wright (1822). Whitman revered the radical freethinker Frances Wright, whose Epicurean dialogue-novel he reportedly kept and reread for decades, calling her one of the sweetest influences of his youth. Her Nashoba colony, her lecturing as a woman, and her materialist rejection of clerical authority fed Whitman's sexual frankness and his conviction that the body and soul are not two things.
• Local Roots · Thanatopsis and Other Poems by William Cullen Bryant (1821). Bryant was New York's reigning poet and editor of the Evening Post while Whitman edited the Brooklyn Daily Eagle; the two took long walks together across Brooklyn and Long Island in the 1850s, talking poetry and politics. Bryant's blank-verse nature meditations and his free-soil journalism modeled the poet-as-public-editor role Whitman assumed in the same ferry-crossing city.
• Beyond the Medium · Norma by Vincenzo Bellini (1831). Whitman was an obsessive opera-goer at the Park and Castle Garden, and said flatly that but for opera he could never have written Leaves of Grass. Bellini's bel canto line — the long, arching, breath-driven melody — gave him a model for the extended poetic line, while the contralto Marietta Alboni, whom he heard repeatedly, appears transfigured in his poems about the singing soul.
• Peer · Poems by Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson (1890). The other great American formal revolutionist of the era, writing in Amherst while Whitman worked in Brooklyn and Washington. Dickinson told Thomas Wentworth Higginson she never read Whitman, having been told he was disgraceful — a refusal that itself marks how scandalous Leaves of Grass was. Her compression is the exact inverse of his expansiveness; together they open modern American poetry.
• From the Canon · Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (1855). The self-published, self-typeset first edition: twelve untitled poems, no author name on the title page, only an engraving of a bearded workman in an open collar. It contains the untitled poem later called "Song of Myself" and the preface declaring America itself the greatest poem. Whitman spent the rest of his life revising and enlarging it through the 1892 "deathbed edition."
• Key Collaborator · With Walt Whitman in Camden by Horace Traubel (1906). Traubel, a young Camden bank clerk, visited the paralyzed Whitman almost daily from 1888 and took down his talk verbatim, then served as a literary executor and helped see the final Leaves of Grass into print. His multivolume record is the closest thing to a transcript of Whitman's voice — gossip, grudges, opinions on Emerson and opera — and shaped every biography since.
• Legacy · Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg (1956). Ginsberg named Whitman his direct ancestor and addressed him outright in "A Supermarket in California," published in this book. Howl's long breath-line, catalogues of the damned, and frank homosexual candor consciously resume the project of Leaves of Grass — and its obscenity trial in San Francisco rhymed with the moral panic that greeted Whitman a century earlier.

What influenced Walt Whitman

• Vincenzo Bellini. Text states Whitman's opera criticism and love of Italian opera composers shaped his writing. (also via Norma) “it is during this time that he became a devoted lover of Italian opera through reviewing performances of works by Bellini , Donizetti , and Verdi .” (Wikipedia)
• Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson's call for a distinctly American poet is presented as a spur that Whitman answered with Leaves of Grass. (also via Essays: First and Second Series (incl. "The Poet")) “Emerson had called for the first truly American poet, saying that aspects of America "are yet unsung. Yet America is a poem in our eyes."” (Wikipedia)
• The Journal of George Fox by George Fox (1694). The Journal of George Fox (George Fox) — ghost for Walt Whitman “Walt Whitman, who was raised by parents inspired by Quaker principles, later wrote: "George Fox stands for something too – a thought – the thought that wakes in silent hours – perhaps the deepest, most eternal thought latent in the human…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Gaetano Donizetti. Whitman's reviews of Donizetti's operas fed his devotion to Italian opera. “it is during this time that he became a devoted lover of Italian opera through reviewing performances of works by Bellini , Donizetti , and Verdi .” (Wikipedia)
• Giuseppe Verdi (1813). Whitman's reviews of Verdi's operas fed his devotion to Italian opera. “it is during this time that he became a devoted lover of Italian opera through reviewing performances of works by Bellini , Donizetti , and Verdi .” (Wikipedia)
• Essays: First and Second Series (incl. "The Poet") by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1844). Essays: First and Second Series (incl. "The Poet") (Ralph Waldo Emerson) — titan for Walt Whitman “The book received its strongest praise from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote a flattering five-page letter to Whitman and spoke highly of the book to friends.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• A Few Days in Athens by Frances Wright (1822). A Few Days in Athens (Frances Wright) — ghost for Walt Whitman (openlibrary.org)
• Norma by Vincenzo Bellini (1831). Norma (Vincenzo Bellini) — culture for Walt Whitman (musicbrainz.org)
• The Sower by Jean-François Millet (1850). The Sower (Jean-François Millet) — culture for Walt Whitman (wikidata.org)
• The Book of Isaiah (King James Bible) by King James Bible translators (1611). The Book of Isaiah (King James Bible) (King James Bible translators) — titan for Walt Whitman

Peers and kindred spirits

• Emily Dickinson (1830). Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — peer for Emily Dickinson (via Leaves of Grass, Poems by Emily Dickinson) “As early as 1891, William Dean Howells wrote that "If nothing else had come out of our life but this strange poetry, we should feel that in the work of Emily Dickinson, America, or New England rather, had made a distinctive addition to t…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• William Douglas O'Connor. O'Connor wrote a defense of Whitman that boosted his popularity and nickname. (also via The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication) “O'Connor, though, was still upset and vindicated Whitman by publishing a biased and exaggerated biographical study, The Good Gray Poet , in January 1866.” (Wikipedia)
• Thanatopsis and Other Poems by William Cullen Bryant (1821). Thanatopsis and Other Poems (William Cullen Bryant) — geography for Walt Whitman “More importantly, it perceives a poet of great technical sophistication who was a progenitor of Walt Whitman, to whom he was a mentor.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Poems by Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson (1890). Poems by Emily Dickinson (Emily Dickinson) — peer for Walt Whitman “=== Music and audio recordings === Whitman's poetry has been set to music by more than 500 composers; indeed it has been suggested that his poetry has been set to music more than that of any other American poet except for Emily Dickinson…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• With Walt Whitman in Camden by Horace Traubel (1906). With Walt Whitman in Camden (Horace Traubel) — collaborator for Walt Whitman “The other stories in this volume are "Shirval, a Tale of Jerusalem"; "Richard Parker's Widow"; "Some Fact-Romances"; and "My Boys and Girls." === Works compiled by Horace Traubel === The following works compiled by Horace Traubel include…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• William Michael Rossetti (1829). Rossetti's influence enabled the English publication of Whitman's poems. “In February 1868, Poems of Walt Whitman was published in England thanks to the influence of William Michael Rossetti” (Wikipedia)
• Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851). Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (Herman Melville) — geography for Walt Whitman (openlibrary.org)
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850). The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne) — peer for Walt Whitman (openlibrary.org)
• The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication by William Douglas O'Connor (1866). The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication (William Douglas O'Connor) — collaborator for Walt Whitman “Whitman's spirits were raised, however, when he finally got a better-paying government post as a low-grade clerk in the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior, thanks to his friend William Douglas O'Connor.” (en.wikipedia.org)

Who Walt Whitman influenced

• Langston Hughes (1902). Hughes stated Walt Whitman influenced his poetry. (also via Leaves of Grass) “To poet Langston Hughes , who wrote " I, too, sing America ", Whitman was a literary hero.” (Wikipedia)
• Pablo Neruda (1904). Neruda acknowledged Whitman's influence on his poetry. (also via Leaves of Grass, Canto general) “Peruvian vanguardist César Vallejo , Chilean poet Pablo Neruda , and Argentine Jorge Luis Borges acknowledged Walt Whitman's influence.” (Wikipedia)
• Canto general by Pablo Neruda (1950). Canto general (Pablo Neruda) — legacy for Walt Whitman “a Whitmanesque catalog of the history, geography, and flora and fauna of South America” (Wikipedia)
• Abraham Lincoln (1809). Jones relays Epstein's argument that Lincoln's sensual writing style was informed by Whitman. (also via Leaves of Grass) “there's a great book by Daniel Mark Epstein about Walt Whitman and Lincoln, and he claims that Lincoln literally had to almost pull "Leaves of Grass" out of the fire” (Bill Moyers Journal (2007-2010) (public broadcasting))
• Fondly Do We Hope...Fervently Do We Pray. Jones argues Whitman's sensuality informed Lincoln's own writing, which he channels into the piece. (also via I Sing The Body Electric) “It began this sensuality in his writing, the poetic leaps, he argues we're informed by Walt Whitman's — this wild man, his take on the body politic of America.” (Bill Moyers Journal (2007-2010) (public broadcasting))
• Allen Ginsberg (1926). Ginsberg is named as a Beat leader who adopted Whitman's vagabond lifestyle. (also via Howl and Other Poems) “Whitman's vagabond lifestyle was adopted by the Beat movement and its leaders such as Allen Ginsberg” (Wikipedia)
• Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg (1956). Howl and Other Poems (Allen Ginsberg) — legacy for Walt Whitman “Whitman's vagabond lifestyle was adopted by the Beat movement and its leaders such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as anti-war poets such as Adrienne Rich, Alicia Ostriker, and Gary Snyder.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Jack Kerouac. Kerouac is named among Beat leaders who adopted Whitman's vagabond lifestyle. “and Jack Kerouac in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as anti-war poets such as Adrienne Rich , Alicia Ostriker , and Gary Snyder .” (Wikipedia)
• Adrienne Rich (1929). Rich is listed as an anti-war poet influenced by Whitman. “and Jack Kerouac in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as anti-war poets such as Adrienne Rich , Alicia Ostriker , and Gary Snyder .” (Wikipedia)
• Alicia Ostriker (1937). Ostriker is listed as an anti-war poet influenced by Whitman. “and Jack Kerouac in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as anti-war poets such as Adrienne Rich , Alicia Ostriker , and Gary Snyder .” (Wikipedia)
• Gary Snyder (1930). Snyder is listed as an anti-war poet influenced by Whitman. “and Jack Kerouac in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as anti-war poets such as Adrienne Rich , Alicia Ostriker , and Gary Snyder .” (Wikipedia)
• Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919). Ferlinghetti self-identified as one of Whitman's poetic descendants. “Lawrence Ferlinghetti numbered himself among Whitman's "wild children"” (Wikipedia)
• Joy Harjo (1951). Harjo names Whitman as one of her influences. “United States poet laureate Joy Harjo , who is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets , counts Whitman among her influences.” (Wikipedia)
• A Pact. Pound's poem directly addresses and grapples with Whitman's legacy. “His April 1913 poem, "A Pact," begins: "I make truce with you, Walt Whitman— I have detested you long enough."” (Wikipedia)
• José Martí (1853). Martí wrote essays on Whitman, spreading his influence in Latin America. “starting with Cuban poet, philosopher, and nationalist leader José Martí , who published essays in Spanish on Whitman's writings in 1887.” (Wikipedia)
• César Vallejo. Vallejo acknowledged Whitman's influence on his poetry. “Peruvian vanguardist César Vallejo , Chilean poet Pablo Neruda , and Argentine Jorge Luis Borges acknowledged Walt Whitman's influence.” (Wikipedia)
• Jorge Luis Borges (1899). Borges acknowledged Whitman's influence on his poetry. “Peruvian vanguardist César Vallejo , Chilean poet Pablo Neruda , and Argentine Jorge Luis Borges acknowledged Walt Whitman's influence.” (Wikipedia)
• Oscar Wilde (1854). Wilde viewed Whitman as a prophetic figure aligned with his own ideals. “Some, like Oscar Wilde and Edward Carpenter , viewed Whitman both as a prophet of a utopian future and of same-sex desire—the passion of comrades.” (Wikipedia)
• Edward Carpenter (1844). Carpenter viewed Whitman as a prophetic figure aligned with his own ideals. “Some, like Oscar Wilde and Edward Carpenter , viewed Whitman both as a prophet of a utopian future and of same-sex desire—the passion of comrades.” (Wikipedia)
• Bram Stoker (1847). Stoker was directly influenced by Whitman and corresponded with him. “Whitman also influenced Bram Stoker , author of Dracula , and was a model for the character of Dracula.” (Wikipedia)
• Dracula by Karl Freund (1931). Stoker stated that Whitman was the model for the character of Dracula. “Stoker said in his notes that Dracula represented the quintessential male which, to Stoker, was Whitman, with whom he corresponded until Whitman's death.” (Wikipedia)
• Dead Poets Society. The film features a teacher using Whitman's poetry to inspire students. “In Dead Poets Society (1989) by Peter Weir , teacher John Keating, portrayed by Robin Williams , inspires his students with the works of Whitman, Thoreau , Frost , Shakespeare and Byron .” (Wikipedia)
• John Zorn (1953). Zorn's album was directly inspired by and dedicated to Whitman. “In 2014 composer John Zorn released On Leaves of Grass , an album inspired by and dedicated to Whitman.” (Wikipedia)
• Matthew Aucoin (1990). Aucoin's opera Crossing was inspired by Whitman's Civil War diaries. “Crossing , an opera composed by Matthew Aucoin and inspired by Whitman's Civil War diaries, premiered in 2015.” (Wikipedia)
• Eagle Street College. This fan group formed specifically to study and celebrate Whitman's poetry. “the Eagle Street College , an informal group established in 1885 at the home of James William Wallace on Eagle Street in Bolton , England, to read and discuss the poetry of Whitman.” (Wikipedia)
• Bill T. Jones (1952). Jones's Kennedy Center Honors tribute performance was based on Walt Whitman's poem. (via I Sing The Body Electric) “Introduced by 1996 Kennedy Center Honoree Edward Albee and a speech by Claire Danes , the performance was " I Sing The Body Electric ", a poem written by Walt Whitman in 1856.” (Wikipedia)
• Fondly Do We Hope, Fervently Do We Pray. The dance opens with a solo built directly on Whitman's poem. (via I Sing The Body Electric, Leaves of Grass) “There is, in the beginning of the dance, a marvelous solo that begins with Whitman's language from "I Sing the Body Electric."” (Bill Moyers Journal (2007-2010) (public broadcasting))
• Starting from San Francisco. Ferlinghetti's collection title directly references Whitman's poem. (via Starting from Paumanok) “the title of Ferlinghetti's 1961 collection Starting from San Francisco is a reference to Whitman's Starting from Paumanok” (Wikipedia)
• Ray Bradbury (1920). Bradbury borrowed the title of Whitman's poem for his own work. (via I Sing The Body Electric) “Whitman's poem "I Sing the Body Electric" (1855) was used by Ray Bradbury as the title of a short story and a short story collection.” (Wikipedia)
• Fame. Whitman's poem inspired the climactic musical finale of the film Fame. (via I Sing The Body Electric) “"I Sing the Body Electric" inspired the showcase finale in the movie Fame (1980), a diverse fusion of gospel, rock, and orchestra.” (Wikipedia)
• Yonnondio: From the Thirties. Tillie Olsen's book title and content were influenced by Whitman's poem 'Yonnondio'. (via Yonnondio) “Whitman's poem "Yonnondio" influenced both a book ( Yonnondio: From the Thirties , 1974) by Tillie Olsen and a sixteen-minute film, Yonnondio (1994) by Ali Mohamed Selim.” (Wikipedia)
• Yonnondio (film). Ali Mohamed Selim's short film was influenced by Whitman's poem 'Yonnondio'. (via Yonnondio) “Whitman's poem "Yonnondio" influenced both a book ( Yonnondio: From the Thirties , 1974) by Tillie Olsen and a sixteen-minute film, Yonnondio (1994) by Ali Mohamed Selim.” (Wikipedia)
• John Cage. Reading Whitman's book renewed Cage's enthusiasm for America. (via Leaves of Grass) “After several months in Paris, Cage's enthusiasm for America was revived after he read Walt Whitman 's Leaves of Grass .” (Wikipedia)
• Frank Lloyd Wright (1867). Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — culture for Frank Lloyd Wright (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)
• Georgia O'Keeffe (1887). Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — culture for Georgia O'Keeffe (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)
• D. W. Griffith. Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — culture for D. W. Griffith (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)
• David Milch. Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — culture for David Milch (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)
• Federico García Lorca. Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — culture for Federico García Lorca (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)
• Robert Rauschenberg. Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — culture for Robert Rauschenberg (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)
• Abel Meeropol. Leaves of Grass (Walt Whitman) — titan for Abel Meeropol (via Leaves of Grass) (openlibrary.org)

…and 1 more on the map above.