Analysis of Imagery "Beat! Beat! Drums!"
The Civil War had a major impact on the people of America
through the years of 1861 to 1865. Walt Whitman, a poet and Northerner of this time, wanted to capt
ure the people's reactions of the war after finding out it was not going to end as quickly as they h
ad anticipated. Whitman illustrated how the people, especially Northerners, changed throughout this
conflict; he achieved this by using countless images in his poem, "Beat! Beat! Drums!" The main fo
cus of the piece was imagery, which intensified the reader's perceptions and reinforced their emotio
ns of the war. By emphasizing the significance of images, Walt Whitman went from being a public poe
t to breaking away from the traditional poetic form and introducing new kinds of poetry to America.
Whitman's dedicated spirit helped him expand his sense of imagery through his various works, since
he was never able to attend college. The imagery in Whitman's poem that portrayed the Civil War cou
ld be evaluated by concentrating on the frequency and types of images, frames of reference and suita
bility of the imagery, and the meaning and effect of the images. Walt Whitman used an extensive amou
nt of images throughout his poem that primarily appealed to the senses of sight and sound. There wa
s imagery all throughout the poem to reinforce the meaning of the war and immense influence this str
uggle had on the lives of the people. One significant sight image was "the solemn church" (Whitman.
3). This line helped establish the serious tone of the work. Whitman chose another picture of the
town to illustrate how the clatter of the war spread through the hustle and bustle of everyday acti
vity: "Over the traffic of cities--over the rumble of wheels in the streets;" (9). It further suppo
rted Walt Whitman's belief that these war sounds interrupted the harmony of people's lives. Whitman
used the sounds of war as an audible image to demonstrate its effects on the common people. Right
at the start, he acknowledged the drums and bugles when he wrote, "Beat! beat! drums!--blow! bugles!
blow!" which emphasized the significance of them. (1) Walt Whitman, nonetheless, brought in the so
unds of war at the beginning and end of every section to ensure the reader had a feeling that the dr
ums were never ending. Whitman's poem consisted of several kinds of images that carried out the many
feelings about this time of conflict. The two dissimilar categories that partially made up Whitman
's poem were power and peace. The sounds of the drums and bugles traveled "through the windows-thro
ugh doors-burst like a ruthless force," (2) as if they were shattering through the homes of the comm
on people. In the beginning Whitman used imagery to show how the intensity of the drums and bugles
broke up everyday life. Another image of power was, "So strong you thump O terrible drums--so loud
you bugles blow." (21) This line illustrated how the sounds of war grew more thunderous as the poem
went on. An additional type of imagery was peace. By using the serene image of a "school" (3) be
ing disrupted, Whitman was able to express the idea that during a time of war no education was able
to go on. In the tranquil line, "Nor the peaceful farmer any peace," (6) Whitman used the image of
a farmer to explain the idea that no food would be grown because of war that was occurring. The con
tradictory types of images in the poem helped prove the different aspects of the war and Walt Whitma
n's piece. Underlying themes and messages shown through the images played a major role in this piece
and also contributed to the numerous outlooks in the work. Whitman used imagery of upper-class job
s in the big city to further his notion that war was taking over all aspects of the common people's
lives: "Would the lawyer rise in court to state his case before the judge?" (13). He was stating wh
ether or not these people could continue on with their lives even though they had this terrible feel
ing disrupting their day. Again Whitman was able to create an image of how war affected peoples' li
ves both directly and indirectly when he said, "Leave not the bridegroom quiet--no happiness must he
have with his bride," (5). Whitman used the image of a "bridegroom" leaving his wife to show how yo
ung men during this time were called off to duty in order to defend their side. People's everyday
work life was also influenced by this war only to create problems for the future. He used wonderful
images to further explain how the war affected people's occupations: "No bargainers by day--no broke
rs or speculators--would they continue?" (11). Whitman expressed how even the rich persons of the c
ommunity could not carry on with their jobs. One of Whitman's essential meanings was that because o
f the war an economic depression might happen in the future due to the struggles that went on in the
present. Whitman's images were all drawn from the war of that time, the Civil War. In particular,
the repetition of the lines about the beating of the drums and the blowing of the bugles emphasized
the change the war brought about on the people. Furthermore, it served as an inspiration Whitman tr
ied to provide for the soldiers and commoners. These images represented power, hope, and motivation
. While other authors of his time were seeking tradition through their poetry, Walt Whitman broke a
way from that and expressed himself in poetic voices. He did this by mainly focusing on imagery and
used various images to further explain his feelings toward the war. Walt Whitman invited readers t
o explore values brought out by the images, and by doing this, made the feel for the people and the
war more realistic.
analysis imagery beat beat drums civil major impact people america through year
s walt whitman poet northerner this time wanted capture people reactions after finding going quickly
they anticipated whitman illustrated people especially northerners changed throughout this conflict
achieved this using countless images poem beat drums main focus piece imagery which intensified rea
der perceptions reinforced their emotions emphasizing significance images walt whitman went from bei
ng public poet breaking away from traditional poetic form introducing kinds poetry america dedicated
spirit helped expand sense imagery through various works since never able attend college poem that
portrayed civil could evaluated concentrating frequency types images frames reference suitability me
aning effect walt used extensive amount throughout poem that primarily appealed senses sight sound t
here throughout reinforce meaning immense influence struggle lives significant sight image solemn ch
urch line helped establish serious tone work chose another picture town illustrate clatter spread th
rough hustle bustle everyday activity over traffic cities over rumble wheels streets further support
ed belief that these sounds interrupted harmony lives used sounds audible image demonstrate effects
common right start acknowledged drums bugles when wrote blow bugles blow which emphasized significan
ce them nonetheless brought sounds beginning every section ensure reader feeling were never ending c
onsisted several kinds carried many feelings about time conflict dissimilar categories partially mad
e were power peace bugles traveled windows doors burst like ruthless force they were shattering home
s common beginning used show intensity broke everyday life another image power strong thump terrible
loud blow line illustrated grew more thunderous went additional type peace using serene school bein
g disrupted able express idea during time education able tranquil line peaceful farmer peace farmer
explain idea food would grown because occurring contradictory types helped prove different aspects p
iece underlying themes messages shown played major role piece also contributed numerous outlooks wor
k upper class jobs city further notion taking over aspects common lives would lawyer rise court stat
e case before judge stating whether these could continue with their even though they terrible feelin
g disrupting their again create affected peoples both directly indirectly when said leave bridegroom
quiet happiness must have with bride bridegroom leaving wife show young during called duty order de
fend side everyday work life also influenced only create problems future wonderful further explain a
ffected occupations bargainers brokers speculators would continue expressed even rich persons commun
ity could carry with jobs essential meanings because economic depression might happen future struggl
es went present drawn from civil particular repetition lines about beating blowing emphasized change
brought about furthermore served inspiration tried provide soldiers commoners these represented pow
er hope motivation while other authors seeking tradition poetry broke away expressed himself poetic
voices mainly focusing various explain feelings toward invited readers explore values brought doing
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