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morrol | High School Teacher | (Level 1) Associate Educator

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 "Creeds and schools in abeyance,



and my loitering."

Here the hawk accuses and complains, both human characteristics.



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iandavidclark3 | (Level 2) Associate Educator

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There are many metaphors and examples of personification in Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself," and so there are of course several instances of both in sections 1 and 52. 

Section 1, for example, contains personification in the fourth line, as Whitman says, "I loaf and invite my soul." This is personification because Whitman is "inviting" his soul as if it were a living, breathing organism, rather than an abstract concept. Moreover, in line 5 Whitman observes "a spear of summer grass", and thus he metaphorically likens the vegetation to a medieval weapon.

In section 52, Whitman supplies several examples of both personification and metaphor. He refers to "the roofs of the world" in line 1333, and so he uses a metaphor to compare the sky to the roof of a house. Additionally, he provides the day with human-like qualities, saying that it "flings my likeness" (1335) and "coaxes me" (1336), both of which are subtle examples of personification.

There are many rich and wonderful examples of metaphors, personification, and other uses of figurative language in "Song of Myself," and it is worth reading the whole poem to enjoy Whitman's creative and poetic voice.  

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