Part A

What theme does Whitman develop in poem 16 of “Song of Myself”?

Responses


Diversity and equity are qualities to be celebrated.

True selflessness requires placing the needs of others before one’s own needs.

Nothing positive can come from greed.

Every human has the potential to be both bad and good.
Question 2
Part B

Which lines from poem 16 best develop the theme in Part A?

Responses

“Breathe the air but leave plenty after me, / And am not stuck up, and am in my place.

“One of the Nation of many nations, the smallest the same and the largest the same,”

“Regardless of others, ever regardful of others,”

“Stuff’d with the stuff that is coarse and stuff’d with the stuff that is fine,”