Beginning of Essay
's diverse and self-conscious writing style contains many poetic devices which distinguish him among the great American writers. One such device common to Whitman's poetry is the use of cataloguing. Through cataloguing, Whitman is able to enter into the text mult ....

Middle of Essay
.... praise. Whitman takes the reader through his world, encountering life's events through the eyes of the poet, these encounters ultimately embodying as well as comprising his personal identity. However, the true excellence of Whitman's writings lies in the realization that through Whitman's effective use of the catalogue, the reader is able to explore and recognize his own identity as well. In section 15 of the poem, Whitman catalogues together many random thoughts, which evoke great imagery for the reader, The duck-shooter walks by silent and cautious stretches, The deacons are ordain'd with cross'd hands at the altar, The spinning-girl retrea ....