There Was a Child Went Forth
E69053
"There Was a Child Went Forth" is a reflective, early-life-themed poem by Walt Whitman that explores how a child's identity is shaped by the people, places, and experiences around them.
Statements (40)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
poem
→
|
| author |
Walt Whitman
→
|
| countryOfOrigin |
United States
→
|
| depicts |
natural landscapes
→
ordinary people in the child’s environment → urban and rural scenes → |
| exploresConcept |
the continuity between child and adult self
→
the merging of observer and observed → the self as shaped by surroundings → |
| focusesOn |
a child’s early life experiences
→
the impact of everyday experiences on a child’s identity → the impact of people on a child’s identity → the impact of places on a child’s identity → |
| genre |
lyric poetry
→
|
| hasTone |
contemplative
→
reflective → |
| intendedEffect |
to show how environment becomes part of the self
→
|
| language |
English
→
|
| literaryMovement |
Transcendentalism
→
|
| literaryPeriod |
19th century American literature
→
|
| literarySignificance |
frequently cited as an example of Whitman’s philosophy of the self
→
often studied in discussions of Whitman’s treatment of childhood → |
| mainTheme |
childhood
→
formation of identity → influence of environment → memory → selfhood → |
| narrativePerspective |
first person
→
|
| portrays |
identity as cumulative and evolving
→
the child absorbing elements of the external world → |
| relatedWorkOfAuthor |
Leaves of Grass
→
|
| sharesThemeWith |
Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking
→
Song of Myself → |
| style |
free verse
→
|
| targetAudience |
general readers of poetry
→
students of American literature → |
| usesDevice |
cataloging
→
imagery → repetition → symbolism → |
Referenced by (1)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Leaves of Grass
→
|
notablePoem |