{"product_id":"the-structure-of-leaves-of-thomas-edward-crawley-9780292766181","title":"The Structure of Leaves of Grass","description":"\u003cp\u003e Modern critics and contemporary readers familiar with the field of Whitman criticism may find surprising an analysis of the structure of \u003ci\u003eLeaves of Grass\u003c\/i\u003e that concerns itself with Whitman as the poet-prophet and the identification of Whitman (or of his persona in the poem) with Christ. Early twentieth-century criticism has tended to exalt the early Whitman at the expense of the later one and to regard as poetically inferior the image of the national and democratically prophetic Whitman as expressed in the later editions. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Thomas Edward Crawley, in full knowledge of the contemporary currents of Whitman criticism, chooses to revert to this older view, through which he sheds new light on Whitman's artistic achievement. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The basic premise of this study is that Walt Whitman's \u003ci\u003eLeaves of Grass\u003c\/i\u003e is a unified work, lyrical, yet epic in quality, design, and spirit. Crawley's purpose is to demonstrate the basis of this unity: its origin and operation and the nature of its realization. He demonstrates that an aesthetically maturing Whitman, in this work, was finally able to harmoniously bring together his individual and social subject matter. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Crawley defines the unifying spirit of \u003ci\u003eLeaves of Grass\u003c\/i\u003e in terms of Whitman's concept of the poet-prophet and the poet-reader relationship. This concept is conveyed primarily through the development of the Christ- symbol, the dominant image in the poem. Through a careful analysis of Whitman's handling of the simultaneous development of the poet-prophet and the nation, his masterful fusion of the personal element and the national element, an understanding of the complex structure of \u003ci\u003eLeaves of Grass\u003c\/i\u003e emerges. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Crawley presents an analysis of Whitman's final and carefully arrived at grouping of the lyrics in the 1881 edition according to a definite, distinguishable pattern--a pattern revealed in Whitman's use of allusions, in his transitional poems and passages, and, most important, in his thematic handling of imagery. The cumulative effect of these devices is emphasized. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The organic development of \u003ci\u003eLeaves of Grass\u003c\/i\u003e, made possible by Whitman's faith in and careful adherence to his concept of the organic theory of art, is substantiated. Crawley concludes his analysis with a detailed examination of the growth of \u003ci\u003eLeaves of Grass\u003c\/i\u003e as reflected in the various editions leading up to the 1881 volume, the last to be revised and published by Whitman. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Thomas Edward Crawley\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0292766181\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780292766181\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Texas Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/01\/1970\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 270\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.89lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.61d","brand":"Thomas Edward Crawley","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45064484520191,"sku":"9780292766181","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_aa29cfd3-8397-484f-88ea-19a11c2b2dce.jpg?v=1712124436","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-structure-of-leaves-of-thomas-edward-crawley-9780292766181","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}