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Mystical Elements in Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass: a Study of "Inscriptions" and "Children of Adam"

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Mystical Elements in Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass: a Study of MYSTICAL ELEMENTS IN WALT WHITMAN'S LEAVES OF GRASS: A STUDY OF "INSCRIPTIONS" AND "CHILDREN OF ADAM" BY ZUL SHAHARUDDIN BIN SETAPA@ MUSTAFA A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies) Kulliyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia OCTOBER 2012 ABSTRACT The purpose of this thesis is to provide a study of mystical elements in Walt Whitman's (1819- 1892) Leaves of Grass (1855). The study will investigate the mystical elements specifically in two of his major poems, "Inscriptions" and "Children of Adam". Mysticism is essentially associated with the transcendentalist Walt Whitman. It is a deep understanding of, and an urge to seek, the absolute truth of the universe connected with divinity. It raises the spirit to a higher level of consciousness that goes beyond the norms. In this study, two poems from Whitman's Leaves of Grass will be examined to analyse the mystical elements he uses. The analysis will discover Whitman's reasons and aims of using them. By doing this. the significance of the elements used for American literature will be also be found. In addition, it will demonstrate the relevance of transcendentalism in Whitman's mysticism. As transcendentalism will be used as the theory to support arguments regarding the content of Leaves of Grass, this study will define it and explain how it influences Whitman's work. Concerning methodology, this study is conducted qualitatively. It depends on library materials such as books, journals and magazines in which Leaves of Grass is discussed with specific references to "Inscriptions" and "Children of Adam". Thus, the findings explain the meanings of Leaves o.f Grass and the importance of mystical elements as well as their relation with transcendentalism from the point of view of a twenty-first century researcher. It brings a new dimension to Whitman studies. 11 iii APPROVAL PAGE I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies), IY!::,~,,~ Md Mahmudul Has an Supervisor I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies), ~ oJ\f aw.i!:--~N~~"JC-.-- ~ ~i~~ij;~ H,~~h,i~,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, This thesis was submitted to the Department of English Lan age and Literature and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the d e of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies), Zaharia Head, Department of English Language and Literature This thesis was submitted to the Kulliyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge & Human Sciences and is accepted as a fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (English Literary Studies), Mah di Abdul Majid Dean. Kulh;ah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge & Human Sciences IV DECLARATION I hereby declared that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. I also declared that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions. Zul Shaharuddin Bin Setapa @ Mustafa >. 10 . .!l..0{1- Signature:.r? ................ ~···················· Date: ............................. v INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OFFAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH Copyright@ 2012 by International Islamic University Malaysia. All rights reserved. MYSTICAL ELEMENTS IN WALT WHITMAN'S LEAVES OF GRASS: A STUDY OF "INSCRIPTIONS" AND CHILDREN OF ADAM" I hereby affirm that The International Islamic University (IIUM) holds all rights in the copyright in this Work and henceforth any reproduction or use in any form or by means whatsoever is prohibited without the written consent ofl!UM. No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by means, electronic, mechanicaL photocopying. recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Affirmed by Zul Shaharuddin Bin Setapa @ Mustafa (] ······················~*······ Signatur~(l" ... Date Vl ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Almighty Allah who has given me the strength to produce this academic writing. Many thanks to my supervisor Dr Umar Abdurrahman and my examiner Dr Mahmudul Hassan who have guided me in writing. The guidance and comments have helped much in the process of completing this thesis. Moreover, I would like to thank my family. My father, Setapa @ Mustafa Ibrahim and my mother, Sansider Mohamed. Thank you for the all the support. I also would like to thank my my eldest sister, Intan Suhaila, my elder brother, Ikhwan Rudaini and my youngest sister, Intan Shafini who have given the same support for me. Last but not least, to everyone who have involved in the process of accomplishing this thesis either directly or indirectly. Thank you for making it as a successful project. VII TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................... ii Abstract in Arabic .................................................................................................... iii Approval Page .......................................................................................................... iv Declaration Page ...................................................................................................... v Copyright Page ........................................................................................................ vi Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... I Background of the Study ............................................................................. I Statement of Problem ................................................................................... 13 Scope of Study ............................................................................................. 14 Objectives of Study ...................................................................................... 15 Significance of Study ................................................................................... 15 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................ 16 Methodology ................................................................................................ 22 Limitations of Study .................................................................................... 22 Organization of Chapters ............................................................................. 23 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................ 25 CHAPTER 3: WHITMAN"S MYSTICISM IN INSCRIPTIONS .................... 29 CHAPTER 4: DELVING DEEP INTO THE SELF: A STUDY OF "CHILDREN OF ADAM ............................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................... 53 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 58 Vlll CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1.1.1 Whitman's Background Walt Whitman's (1819- 1892) experience in the country he lived, America, hugely influenced him and his works. During his childhood, Whitman suffered financial and psychological hardships. At the age of II, he stopped his formal education and became an apprentice in Brooklyn printing shops for five years, According to Greenspan (2005), "'the poet's start was inauspicious" (l ), Things changed when he was 17 as he started teaching at several Long Island schools. Then in 1948 when he was 29 years old, he entered journalism and chose it as his career. In the meantime, he built houses, using skills he learned from his father. There is little information about how some events shaped his life and inspired him to produce Leaves of Grass in 1855. However, his experience of working in printing shops is crucial in creating the urge and need to write. Newspaper editorship turned him into a mature man who put feelings and imagination in the form of writing. Greenspan points out that "he was so sensitive to tactile character of ink, press, and paper that it affected his poetic imagination" (14). Moreover, his career as a journalist provided him with an opportunity to encounter many types of people and that gave him an understanding of the people whom he describes in Leaves of Grass. What inspired him to be interested in literature was the encounter with other writers who helped to develop his theory on poetry, One ofthem is Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) who influenced his writing extensively, 1.1.2 Whitman's Mysticism Mysticism deals with higher thinking inspired by divinity. It leads to a higher understanding of the universe beyond the norms. This understanding becomes a guide that influences actions. These actions aim at achieving glorious results. As regards Whitman, Underhill (2004) mentions that "amongst modem men, Walt Whitman possessed in a supreme
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