휘트먼의 작품에 나타난 교사 화자

The Teacher/Speaker in the Works of Walt Whitman

  Whitman shows his interest in education throughout his life. His early career as a schoolmaster constantly affects his sense of role as a teacher/poet. Whitman writes many articles and editorials on education which reveal his concept of education and the teacher’s role for several newspapers he edits. This paper attempts to show that Whitman’s view of the role of teacher is similar to that of a poet. Whitman, who bestows his poetic speakers in the role of a teacher, believes that education is the “shield and anchor of freedom.” Since he uses poetry as a means of educational purposes in some senses, education and poetry are inseparable to him. Thus, readers of Whitman’s poetry do not miss the voices of a teacher/speaker. Most of the problems Whitman proposes on the issue of education, such as: pragmatic, humane, religious, woman, and art education, in his prose are also dealt in his poetry. Both in his prose and poetry, Whitman reveals his concept of education and the role of the teacher. Therefore, understanding Whitman’s view on education and teaching is a prerequisite to understanding his poetry, since it will help readers realize the role of the teacher speaker and his poetic messages.