Whitman's Ecstatic Union - Conversion and Ideology in Leaves of Grass (Hardcover)

"Whitman's Ecstatic Union" rereads the first three editions of Leaves of Grass within the context of a nineteenth-century antebellum evangelical culture of conversion. Though Whitman intended to write a new American Bible and "inaugurate a religion," contemporary scholarship has often ignored the religious element in his poetry. But just as evangelists sought the redemption of America through the reconstruction of individual subjects in conversion, Leaves of Grass sought to redeem the nation by inducing ecstatic, regenerating experiences in its readers. "Whitman's Ecstatic Union "explores the ecstasy of conversion as a liminal moment outside of language and culture, and-employing Althusser's model of ideological interpellation and anthropological models of religious ritual-shows how evangelicalism remade subjects by inducing ecstasy and instilling new narratives of identity. The book analyzes Whitman's historical relationship to preaching and conversion and reads the 1855 "Song of Myself" as a conversion narrative. A focus on the 1856 edition and the poem "To You" explores the sacred seductions at the heart of Whitman's poetry. "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" and Whitman's vision of a world of perfect miracles are then connected to a conception of universal affection, uncannily paralleling Jonathan Edward's ideal of "love to being in general." A conclusion looks toward the transformations of Whitman's vision in the 1860 edition.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Studies in Major Literary Authors
Release date:	June 2005
First published:	2004
Authors:	Michael Sowder
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 16mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	184
ISBN-13:	978-0-415-97215-4
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Theatre, drama > Acting techniques Books > Arts & Architecture > Performing arts > Films, cinema > General
LSN:	0-415-97215-9
Barcode:	9780415972154

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!