Question

b. (a) interpret what attitude toward time does the speaker of \song of myself\ express? cite specific details to support your answer. (b) make inferences what does the speaker seem to want of the listener? explain.

Explanation:

Part (a)

• Specific details: Lines like "I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me, The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into a new tongue." and the overall celebration of the present moment while also acknowledging a connection to the past and future (through the idea of the self as part of a larger, timeless whole) show this. The speaker doesn't rush or fear time; instead, they embrace the flow of time, seeing their existence as part of an ongoing, eternal cycle (e.g., references to nature's cycles, the continuity of life).

Part (b)

• Explanation: The speaker's celebration of the self ("I celebrate myself, and sing myself") and the idea of sharing their experience (inviting the listener into their perspective) implies a desire for the listener to recognize their own inherent worth, connect with the same sense of oneness with nature and humanity that the speaker feels, and to live fully, without constraint, in the present (as the speaker does, embracing all aspects of life and time). The inclusive tone ("you" is often implied in the poem's address) and the speaker's own open, unapologetic self - expression suggest they want the listener to adopt a similar attitude of self - acceptance and connection to the larger world.

Answer:

The speaker in "Song of Myself" expresses a relaxed, expansive, and eternal attitude toward time.