Facts about Walt Whitman

Learn some interesting facts about 

Walt Whitman.  

 

This week’s famous poet is Walt Whitman. Last week’s famous poet was Robert Frost. 

Walt Whitman was an influential American poet, best known for his groundbreaking work that celebrated the human spirit and the beauty of nature. Over the course of his life, he composed more than 160 poems, many of which would become classics and significantly impact the trajectory of American literature. Born on May 31, 1819, in Huntington, New York, Whitman was the second of nine children in his family, which instilled in him a strong sense of community and social responsibility. His parents, Walter Whitman and Louisa Van Velsor, provided a nurturing environment that encouraged his love for literature and writing from a young age. Whitman’s profound experiences as a teacher, journalist, and nurse during the Civil War heavily influenced his poetic voice and themes, making him a key figure in the transcendentalist movement.

Here is a list of some poems by Walt Whitman: 

• A Christmas Greeting
• Going Somewhere
• A Farm Picture
• A Twilight Song
• A Prairie Sunset
• As I Sit Writing Here
• A Child’s Amaze
• Broadway
• Poets To Come
• Tears

Hey parents and caregivers! When sharing poetry with your little ones, ensure the poems are both fun and age-appropriate. Let’s create a joyful reading experience together!

Interesting facts about Walt Whitman: 

1. He was born on May 31, 1819, in the picturesque town of Huntington, located on Long Island in New York. Huntington, with its rich history and charming landscape, provided a vibrant backdrop for his early life.

2. He passed away on March 26, 1892, in Camden, New Jersey, at the age of seventy-two. His death was attributed to complications arising from pneumonia, an ailment that had increasingly affected his health in the weeks leading up to his passing. After a life filled with significant accomplishments and contributions, he was laid to rest at Harleigh Cemetery, a serene burial ground located in Camden, New Jersey, where he remains among others who have also made an impact on the community.

3. Walt Whitman started working at the tender age of eleven to contribute to his family's finances. His parents faced significant challenges in supporting their large household, which included multiple siblings. As a result, Walt had to leave school and enter the workforce at a young age, sacrificing his education to help ensure that his family could meet basic needs. This early experience shaped his understanding of the human condition and deeply influenced his later literary work, as he drew on the struggles and resilience of everyday life in America.

4. The following is one of Walt Whitman’s poems:

TEARS

TEARS! tears! tears!

In the night, in solitude, tears,

On the white shore dripping, dripping, suck'd in by the sand,

Tears, not a star shining, all dark and desolate,

Moist tears from the eyes of a muffled head;

O who is that ghost? that form in the dark, with tears?

What shapeless lump is that, bent, crouch'd there on the sand?

Streaming tears, sobbing tears, throes, choked with wild cries;

O storm, embodied, rising, careering with swift steps along the beach!

O wild and dismal night storm, with wind—O belching and desperate!

O shade so sedate and decorous by day, with calm countenance and regulated pace,

But away at night as you fly, none looking—O then the unloosen'd ocean,

Of tears! tears! tears!

 

(You can print out a worksheet on this poem. You will fill in the missing words in the poem.) 

5. At the age of nineteen in 1838, Walt Whitman embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by founding his own newspaper. He named it the Long Islander, a publication dedicated to sharing local news and stories with the community. From its inception, the Long Islander focused on matters pertinent to the residents of Long Island, providing a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard. Remarkably, this newspaper not only flourished during Whitman's tenure but also continues to operate to this day, making it a lasting testament to his early ambition and the enduring impact of local journalism.

6. In 1855, Walt Whitman released the first edition of Leaves of Grass, a book of poems he wrote and published himself. The book contained only twelve of his poems, and only 795 copies were printed. One copy of his poetry book made its way to Ralph Waldo Emerson (Poet).

7. Walt Whitman had eight siblings. Here is a list of their names:

• Jesse Whitman (1818-1870)
• Mary Elizabeth Whitman (1821-1899)
• Hannah Louisa Whitman (1823-1908)
• Andrew Jackson Whitman (1828-1863)
• George Washington Whitman (1829-1901)
• Thomas Jefferson Whitman (1833-1890)
• Edward Whitman (1835-1892)
• Margaret Whitman

8. Walt Whitman, the renowned American poet and essayist, lived his entire life without marrying or starting a family. Despite developing close relationships and friendships throughout his life, he did not enter into any romantic partnerships, nor did he have any children to carry on his legacy. His decision to remain single and childless was unusual for his time, and it has led to much speculation about his personal life and the themes of solitude and individuality that are present in his work.

9. In the year 1857, renowned poet Walt Whitman took on the role of a journalist for the Brooklyn Daily Times, a prominent newspaper that served the growing Brooklyn community. His tenure at the publication was marked by a vigorous commitment to reporting on the events and changes shaping the city and beyond. Whitman utilized this platform to express his thoughts on various social and political issues of the time. He continued to work at the Brooklyn Daily Times until 1859, during which he honed his writing skills and developed a style that would later be reflected in his celebrated poetry.

10. Walt Whitman had a lot of jobs in his lifetime. Here is a list of some of them:

• Teacher
• Voluntary Nurse
• Journalist
• Publisher
• Editor
• Pressman
• Distribution
• Home delivery
• Clerk

Get your printable Walt Whitman worksheet here: 

Click here

 

 

Visit my printables section for a wide selection of worksheets and coloring sheets!

 

Books by Walt Whitman and others: 

1. Poetry for Kids: Walt Whitman by Walt Whitman and Karen Karbiener

2. Nothing But Miracles by Walt Whitman

3. History for Kids: The Life of Walt Whitman by Charles River Editors

 

Parents and caregivers, ensure the books you read to your child or children are suitable for them. 

 

Tune in next week to learn some quick facts about William Shakespeare!

You can grab the Famous Poets Workbook on Amazon. Simply click on the book for more info.

 

“Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling,”—Walt Whitman