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Abstract：Walt. Whitman is a famous democratic poet in America in the nineteenth century. His collection of poetry—Leaves of Grass is commonly regarded as one of the masterpieces in American literature. Having recorded the process of the poet’s change of thought as well as the visage of the time and the nation during that period, Leaves of Grass is not only the poet’s personal epic, but is also the epic of America in the nineteenth century.
Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Whitman began his course of writing poetry. He has inherited Emerson’s Transcendentalism and furthers it with his own understanding of Transcendentalism, forming his own transcendental thoughts. He shares some ideas with Emerson while contradicts the latter in some aspects. Both Emerson and Whitman think that human beings are divine inside. And they also support individualism, democracy and self-reliance. Emerson brings forward the idea of American intellectual independence, and calls on the Americas to write with their own language. Whitman, on the other hand, sparkplugs Emerson with his innovation of poetry writing in both content and form.
Leaves of Grass, as the essence of Whitman’s thinking, reflects from different aspects, Emerson’s Transcendentalism. Thus, it got Emerson’s support and appreciation. Whitman places great emphasis on the value of individuals, with the idea that individualism is invaluable. He always writes about the working people at the lowest position of the society. He depicts drivers, sailors, watchmen, farmers, slaves and even madmen and prostitutes. Whitman’s idea of democracy is fully expressed in Leaves of Grass. He believes in the power of democracy and holds that people are created equal. Through out all his life, Whitman sings for democracy and freedom. He believes that God is just around, and God, humans, and nature closely relate to each other being inseparable. Leaves of Grass also reflects Whitman’s transcendental view of nature. He respects and loves nature. He tries to glorify those magnificent mountains and rives in his nation with great effort and passion. In this thesis, the author will analyze the transcendental thoughts reflected in Whitman’s Leaves of Grass in the four parts above mentioned.
Key words: Transcendentalism，Leaves of Grass, individuals, democracy, God, nature
中文摘要：沃尔特.惠特曼是美国十九世纪著名的民主诗人。他的作品《草叶集》被认为是美国文学的巨著之一，不仅记录了诗人的思想历程也反映了诗人所处时代的国家面貌，因此不仅是诗人的个人史诗，同时也是十九世纪美国的史诗。
正是受了拉尔夫.沃尔多.爱默生的启发，惠特曼开始写诗。他继承了爱默生的超验主义，并在此基础上继续探索，形成了自己的超验主义思想。他与爱默生有相似的观点也有自己独特的思想。他们都认为人是神圣的，也支持个人主义，民主和自主。爱默生倡导美国人学术独立，号召他们用自己的语言写作。惠特曼则以实际行动支持了这一观点，他在诗歌形式和内容上都进行了创新。
《草叶集》是惠特曼思想的精华所在，从多个角度反映了爱默生所倡导的超验主义，因此得到了爱默生的大力支持和赞赏。惠特曼看重个人，认为个人的价值是无法估量的，在他笔下往往最多的是最下层的劳动人民。惠特曼对这些劳动人民抱有同情和欣赏的态度。他描写车夫、水手、看门人、农民、奴隶甚至还有疯子和妓女。惠特曼在《草叶集》中充分表达了他的民主思想。他相信民主的力量，认为人人生而平等。终其一生，他都在为民主自由歌唱着。惠特曼相信上帝与人同在，上帝、人和自然是和谐统一不可分割的。他支持灵与肉的统一。草叶集还反映了惠特曼的超验主义自然观。惠特曼崇拜自然，用不朽的诗歌赞美了他心中壮阔的祖国山水。本文将以上从四个方面分别叙述惠特曼的《草叶集》中反映出的超验主义思想。
关键词 ：超验主义、《草叶集》、惠特曼、个人、民主、上帝、自然