Dr. Edward Whitley Shares Insights on Walt Whitman with Juniors
Student moderators Ava Rabines ’28 and Alyssa Katz ’28 guided the discussion, asking questions developed by their classmates about Whitman’s writing, his influence on American literature, and how major historical events, including the Civil War, shaped his work.
Dr. Whitley shared how he first became interested in Whitman as an undergraduate studying contemporary literature. His interest deepened when he noticed how another poet, Lucille Clifton, incorporated lines from Whitman’s Song of Myself into her writing about her family and experiences. This connection led him to explore Whitman’s influence on generations of American writers and why his work continues to resonate with readers today.
He also discussed “Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking,” a poem he initially struggled to connect with before discovering its deeper layers of meaning. Through his research, Dr. Whitley uncovered connections to Edgar Allan Poe and the literary community surrounding Whitman in 1850s New York. His research showed students how a closer look at a poem can reveal connections they might not have noticed at first.
As the editor of the Norton Library edition of Leaves of Grass, Dr. Whitley also discussed the importance of preserving Whitman’s work and documenting how it changed throughout his life. Whitman repeatedly revised and expanded the collection, adding new poems and reflecting on major events, including his experiences during the Civil War. Looking at the different editions gives scholars a better understanding of how Whitman grew as a writer and how the world around him influenced his work.
The conversation extended beyond literature when students asked Dr. Whitley for advice on preparing for college. Drawing on his experience as a professor and parent of three college students, he acknowledged the pressure students often feel during the admissions process. While encouraging juniors to work hard, he emphasized the importance of pursuing the subjects and activities they genuinely care about rather than allowing college decisions to define their worth.
He advised students to “create a world that you want to live in, figure out how to describe it, and invite other people to join you,” encouraging them to think about who they want to be, what matters to them, and the people they hope to surround themselves with.
The conversation gave juniors a deeper look at Whitman’s influence on American literature and the research behind understanding his work. Dr. Whitley’s advice also encouraged students to think about their own interests, goals, and what they hope to pursue in the years ahead.
