Die Welt im Neunzehnten Jahrhundert befindet sich im Wandel - vor allem auf dem amerikanischen Kontinent. Die Erschließung neuer Gefilde durch Siedler lässt die Welt größer werden, während die Industrialisierung, ein expandierendes Wissen der Menschheit sowie vor allem neue Methoden der Kommunikation ein symbolisches Zusammenrücken der Welt bewirken.
Es ist die Zeit von Emily Dickinson und Walt Whitman - zwei amerikanischen Dichtern wie sie auf den ersten Blick nicht unterschiedlicher sein könnten. Doch es eint sie nicht nur, dass beide als typische amerikanische Poeten des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts bezeichnet werden können. Diese literarische Analyse im Kontext der sich wandelnden Räumlichkeit der Welt zeigt, dass sowohl bei Dickinson als auch bei Whitman das Nahe und das Ferne eine große Rolle spielen - und zwar nicht nur in den Gedichten, sondern auch in den konträren Lebenswegen der beiden Dichter. Ein vergleichender Blick auf die Wahrnehmung von Räumlichkeit in der Dichtung der "alten Welt" rundet die Analyse ab.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Discovering the „New World“ in the 19th century – “getting bigger”
3. Walt Whitman's participation in discovering the world
4. Territorial expansion in Whitman's poetry
5. The world “getting smaller” by communication and transportation
6. Spatiality in Emily Dickinson's life
7. Dickinson's poetry as poetry of the small world
8. Perception of the American spatiality in German poetry
9. Conclusion
10. Works cited
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the paradoxical development of 19th-century American spatiality, where the nation experienced simultaneous geographical expansion ("getting bigger") and a figurative shrinking of the world due to technological and communicative advancements ("getting smaller"). By analyzing the lives and poetry of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, the study explores how these contrasting spatial concepts are manifested in American literature, while also incorporating an external perspective through the lens of German poetry.
- The historical context of 19th-century American territorial expansion and industrialization.
- The representation of expansionist ideals in the life and works of Walt Whitman.
- The portrayal of internal, concentrated spatiality in the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson.
- The impact of technological innovations like photography and the railroad on human perception of space.
- Comparative analysis of German poetic perceptions of American nature and vastness.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Territorial expansion in Whitman's poetry
Walt Whitman's adventurous mind and his love for the unknown far of the world cannot only be seen in his way of living. His poems also contain the 19th century's development of a growing new world and desire for the discovering of new regions and make Whitman become a symbol for expanding spatiality.
Whitman's poem “Starting from Paumanok”, included in “Leaves of Grass” - especially its first paragraphs - are one example for parallels between his poetry and the world's territorial development. The poem describes a journey which contains elements of a real journey and elements of a fictional journey in which Whitman's mind and with it the readers mind discover the world. Whitman clarifies that the journey he describes is not fixed to his person. It could be him traveling “from fish-shape Paumanok where I was born [...]” (WHITMAN 176) “or a soldier [...] or a miner in California [...]” (WHITMAN 176). With the naming of his birthplace after the old native American name “Paumanok”, Whitman shows respect to the native American inhabitants and includes the past of America to contrast it to the spatial future development later. To show that the new perspective of the world is an all-embracing one, Whitman mentions the basic elements earth, water and earth and moreover animals, plants and the stars as a fundament and frame for the journey: “Aware of the buffalo herds, [...] earth, rocks, [...] flowers, stars, rain, snow, my amaze, the flight of the mountain hawk, the hermit thrush form the swamp cedars” (WHITMAN 176). After this basic enumeration, “Solitary, singing in the West [...]” (WHITMAN 176) calls Whitman and the reader to begin the journey and “strike up for a New World”.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the dual spatial development of 19th-century America and establishes the research goal of examining how Whitman and Dickinson embody these movements.
2. Discovering the „New World“ in the 19th century – “getting bigger”: This section details the historical and physical expansion of the United States through territorial acquisition, immigration, and exploration.
3. Walt Whitman's participation in discovering the world: This chapter connects Whitman's personal life and adventurous spirit to the broader American trend of westward expansion and geographical exploration.
4. Territorial expansion in Whitman's poetry: This analysis demonstrates how Whitman's poetry, specifically "Starting from Paumanok," reflects and promotes the spirit of American territorial expansion.
5. The world “getting smaller” by communication and transportation: This chapter discusses how technological advancements such as photography and the railroad fundamentally altered the perception of space and distance.
6. Spatiality in Emily Dickinson's life: This section explores Dickinson's reclusive lifestyle in Amherst and how it serves as a counterpoint to the expansionist zeitgeist, focusing on the internal world.
7. Dickinson's poetry as poetry of the small world: This chapter examines how Dickinson's poetry creates a concentrated, internal cosmos that contrasts with, yet complements, the expansive external world.
8. Perception of the American spatiality in German poetry: This analysis looks at how German poets perceived and interpreted the vastness and exoticism of the American landscape during the 19th century.
9. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that the two spatial movements are complementary aspects of human evolution and American identity.
10. Works cited: This section provides a list of all primary and secondary sources referenced throughout the thesis.
Keywords
19th-century America, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, spatiality, territorial expansion, New World, industrialization, communication, transportation, American poetry, German poetry, Leaves of Grass, geography, cultural studies, spatial movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The thesis explores the paradox of 19th-century American spatiality, examining the concurrent historical developments of geographical expansion and the figurative shrinking of the world due to technological progress.
Which authors are central to this research?
The work primarily analyzes the lives and poetic contributions of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson as symbols of these two contrasting spatial movements.
What is the core research objective?
The goal is to clarify the developments of "getting bigger" and "getting smaller" by tracing their sources in American history and showing how they are manifested in the poetry of the era.
What research methodology is employed?
The study uses a comparative literature approach, analyzing biographies, selected poems, and historical context to establish links between societal spatial changes and individual literary output.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers historical territorial expansion, Whitman's adventurous life and poetry, the impact of new technologies like photography and railroads, Dickinson's reclusive life and internal poetry, and a comparative analysis of German perspectives on American space.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include 19th-century America, spatiality, territorial expansion, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and cultural studies.
How does Whitman represent the "getting bigger" movement?
Whitman represents this movement through his adventurous personal life and his poetry, which celebrates vast landscapes, exploration, and the forward-moving expansion of the American nation.
How does Dickinson contrast with the expansionist ideal?
Dickinson represents the "getting smaller" movement; despite her physical reclusiveness in Amherst, her internal world and poetry reflect a sophisticated, concentrated engagement with the world through communication and imagination.
What role does German poetry play in this study?
German poetry provides an external, often dreamlike perspective on the "New World," highlighting how foreigners viewed the vastness and perceived threats or freedoms inherent in the American landscape.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding these two spatial movements?
The author concludes that these movements are not opposites but complementary, as they both originate from the same process of human evolution and technological advancement.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Matthias Dorsch (Autor:in), 2010, The World Expanding and Moving Together Simultaneously in 19th-Century America, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/181748
