Question

select the correct answer.
read the following excerpt from walt whitman’s \i hear america singing\:
i hear america singing, the varied carols i hear,
those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blitheglad, cheerful disposition and strong.
the carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
the mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
the boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand
singing on the steamboat deck...
why does whitman highlight the \singing\ of different types of workers as making up the voice of america?
a. whitman wants to unite the working class by using workers from various occupations.
b. whitman wants to highlight how diverse americans are by using workers from different backgrounds.
c. whitman wants to highlight the industriousness of americans and to allow readers to see themselves reflected in the poem.
d. whitman wants to let the rich empathize with the working class of america.

Explanation:

The poem "I Hear America Singing" lists workers like carpenters, masons, and boatmen. By highlighting workers from different occupations, Whitman aims to show the unity of the working - class. Each worker's "singing" represents their contribution, and together they form the voice of America. Option A correctly captures this intention of uniting the working class through diverse occupations. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as the poem does not focus on making readers see themselves (B), highlighting industriousness (C) in that way, or the rich empathizing with the working class (D).

Answer:

A. Whitman wants to unite the working class by using workers from various occupations