Summary and Annotation
Summary
Kinne notes that the first reading prepares the reader to embark on a serious analytical reading by critically considering the text piece by piece if necessary. Further, the author believes that students should endeavor to develop different reading rates when the text proves difficult to understand. He opines that re-reading difficult texts eventually enables the students to grasp the ideas that the author of the text seeks to convey. This way the reader is able to appreciate the value of the text.
Kinne is of the opinion that the first step should be to determine the meaning of the poem’s title and the term “myself” in the context of the text. Through his approach, he is able to discover that the word “myself” means more than its ordinary meaning conceited meaning. The initial seven stanzas, according to Kinne, are crucial in determining the meaning of the poem’s title and the term “myself”. At some point, the author opines that readers of the poem may get frustrated but soon they will be through with analyzing the initial seven stanzas that make the first division. In stanzas 1 to 7, the author discourses the meaning of “myself” through self-exploration.
Kinne establishes and analyzes the second division as encompassing stanzas 8 to 19. According to Kinne, the second division is concerned with the poet’s humanity in general and can be analyzed in two phases. These phases are: feeling of love for people everywhere and “I” susceptible to many meanings. The first phase, according to Kinne involves sharing experiences with other people while the second phase involves embracing all of mankind, comradeship with all, and embracing all life.
In the third division Kinne analyzes stanzas 20 to 32, which he refers to as creed. To Kinne the third division is about the purpose of life. He analyzes this division into Immortality, Miracle of his own body, All truths waiting in all things, and First expression of pantheism.
The fourth division is from stanza 33 to 42. The author is of the opinion that this division helps to decode the purpose of the author and involves time and space and becoming a free agent. This, according to Kinne, enables one to identify with all classes of people.
Finally, the author analyzes stanza 43, which provides the poet’s conclusion. To him, this division provides the poet’s religious beliefs. He analyzes the stanza into six segments: Embracing all religions of mankind, Endless reservoir of life, Infinite richness of life, Life an endless ascent or evolution, God in every object, and "I stop somewhere waiting for you."
In his conclusion, the author opines that the approach of analyzing a text through the division is ideal for various texts that one may encounter difficulties comprehending. As such, Kinne concludes that his approach should not be restricted to difficult poetry.
Annotation
Kinne, Earnest. “Song of Myself: Enigma or Legacy?” Journal of Developmental Reading 2(3):
1959, pp. 64-67.
Work Cited
Kinne, Earnest. “Song of Myself: Enigma or Legacy?” Journal of Developmental Reading 2(3):
1959, pp. 64-67.
