Discovering Walt Whitman. A Guided Lesson Plan for Teaching Poetry

Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is a groundbreaking collection exploring human identity, the individual’s relationship with society, and the celebration of the physical form. Published in 1855, it challenged conventional poetry norms with free verse and an unrestrained exploration of the self. Whitman reflects on the interconnectedness of the city, the self, and the body, presenting the city as both a literal and metaphorical space where the self is shaped, and viewing the body as a vibrant expression tied to both the urban and spiritual realms.
In this lesson plan, students will apply the vocabulary, collocations, and stylistic devices they have learned by collaborating in groups to annotate a poem. Each group will analyze a poem, write a two-paragraph essay, peer-review each other’s work, and deliver an oral presentation. This process enhances their writing, communication, and analytical skills.
Marc A. Bauch is a Community Teaching Assistant for ModPo: Modern and Contemporary American Poetry at the University of Pennsylvania and for Poetry in America at Harvard University.