Question

“song of myself” is an 1855 poem by walt whitman, first published in leaves of grass. the poem’s speaker celebrates identity through an expansive first - person voice that moves fluidly between personal experience and cosmic vision. throughout the poem, whitman advances a radically democratic conception of selfhood. he asserts that individual identity is not a bounded, separate entity but rather a permeable medium through which all of humanity speaks and is represented when he states ____
11
mark for review
which quotation from “song of myself” most effectively illustrates the claim?
a “in all people i see myself, none more and not one a barley - corn less, / and the good or bad i say of myself i say of them.”
b “i loafe and invite my soul, / i lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.”
c “do i contradict myself? / very well then i contradict myself, / (i am large, i contain multitudes.)”
d “i, now thirty - seven years old in perfect health begin, / hoping to cease not till death.”

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The quote shows the speaker sees themselves in all people, with no difference in worth, and applies self - judgments to others. This aligns with the idea that individual identity is a permeable medium representing all humanity.
• Option B: This quote is about the speaker's relaxed observation of grass, not about the connection between individual and humanity.
• Option C: This is about the speaker containing contradictions (multitudes), not about the democratic conception of selfhood related to humanity.
• Option D: This is about the speaker's age and health, not about the relationship between self and humanity.

Answer:

A. "In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barley - corn less, / And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them."