Whitman’s Specter in the Poetry of Pablo Neruda
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
Pablo Neruda, Walt Whitman, poetry, Chile, Spanish
Department
Hispanic Studies
Major
Hispanic Studies
Abstract
Having discovered the North American poet Walt Whitman in the roaring 20’s, Chilean poet and writer Pablo Neruda frequently lauds and credits Whitman as “the guide that expands his poetic conscience.” Although Neruda was the Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1971, many critics still stigmatize his literary works due to the undeniable presence of Whitmanesque influence in regards to style, theme, and literary technique. Furthermore, Neruda has been claimed as “a Whitman of the South” by The New York Times and has many times been criticized to have “a text very close to Whitman’s in its style” (Delphine Rumeau). At times, the literary work of Neruda seems only as a mere image that reflects the greatly admired works of his “sabio hermano” or “wise brother”, Whitman. It appears as though the young Neruda possessed a voracious appetite for Whitman’s works and attempted to mimic his hero’s every move; however, a deeper analysis negates this assumption. After a comparative analysis of several excerpts from Neruda’s Canto General (General Song) and Residencia en la tierra (Residence on Earth), and Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, I conclude that Neruda was heavily inspired by Whitman but still develops a uniquely Chilean identity and leaves a distinctive mark in world literature.
Faculty Mentor
Lila McDowell Carlsen, Ph.D.
Funding Source or Research Program
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative
Presentation Session
Session D
Location
Rockwell Academic Center 175
Start Date
3-4-2015 3:30 PM
End Date
3-4-2015 3:45 PM
Whitman’s Specter in the Poetry of Pablo Neruda
Rockwell Academic Center 175
Having discovered the North American poet Walt Whitman in the roaring 20’s, Chilean poet and writer Pablo Neruda frequently lauds and credits Whitman as “the guide that expands his poetic conscience.” Although Neruda was the Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1971, many critics still stigmatize his literary works due to the undeniable presence of Whitmanesque influence in regards to style, theme, and literary technique. Furthermore, Neruda has been claimed as “a Whitman of the South” by The New York Times and has many times been criticized to have “a text very close to Whitman’s in its style” (Delphine Rumeau). At times, the literary work of Neruda seems only as a mere image that reflects the greatly admired works of his “sabio hermano” or “wise brother”, Whitman. It appears as though the young Neruda possessed a voracious appetite for Whitman’s works and attempted to mimic his hero’s every move; however, a deeper analysis negates this assumption. After a comparative analysis of several excerpts from Neruda’s Canto General (General Song) and Residencia en la tierra (Residence on Earth), and Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, I conclude that Neruda was heavily inspired by Whitman but still develops a uniquely Chilean identity and leaves a distinctive mark in world literature.