McLaughlin 1

Bailey McLaughlin
Ms. Kirschner
English II
14 December 2015
Death and Its Many Forms
Throughout American history, there have been a hand full of primary literary genres that
have emerged. The major categories to develop from the Thirteen Colonies through the
nineteenth century were Early American, Colonial, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Realism,
and Naturalism. These all have their own flair and characteristics that distinguish them from the
others, although some can be quite similar. A Carol of Harvest by Walt Whitman and An
Autumn Sunset by Edith Wharton are poems that fall into this time period. The former is
considered to be part of Transcendentalism while the latter is a part of Romanticism. This
separation of literary types means that there are similarities but also differences.
A Carol of Harvest written in 1867 by Walt Whitman is a transcendental poem about
the harvest of the land and his open acceptance of death. Throughout the poem, Whitman uses
an upbeat, almost cheery and happy tone to convey his message. Even when talking about the
dead he keeps this elated voice, They fit very well in the landscape, under the trees and grass,
And along the edge of the sky, in the horizons far margin (Whitman 67-68). Also, throughout
the poem is Whitmans somewhat subtle use of imagery to great the image of the lands of the
Earth and the dead that lie below them. This is shown in the quote, But on these days of
brightness, On the far-stretching beauteous landscape, the roads and lanes, the high-piled farmwagons, and the fruits and barns, Shall the dead intrude (Whitman 62-65)?

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Secondly, An Autumn Sunset by Edith Wharton is a Romantic poem describing a
magnificent sunset and its relation to death. In the poem, Wharton uses an immense ardent tone
to bring out her detailed imagery. This aforementioned imagery is used in the first stanza to
create a fantastical sunset that sets the scene. This is quite apparent in the opening lines,
LEAGUERED in fire The wild black promontories of the coast extend Their savage silhouettes
(Wharton 1-3). When moving into the second stanza, Wharton begins heavily to question death
and what it will entail. She then goes on to ask if hell will look like the previously mentioned
sunset, Shall Time not ferry me to such a shore, Over such sailless seas, To walk with hope's
slain importunities In miserable marriage (Wharton 26-29)?
Both of these works convey two different messages about death and how it should be
viewed. Whitmans transcendental look on the matter gives an uplifting and optimistic view of
death, even going so far as to say, Ah, the dead to me mar notthey fit well in Nature
(Whitman 66). While Whitman talks more of the spiritual side of death, Wharton, on the other
hand, focuses more on where death brings the soul. Wharton then goes on to talk about how the
dead are forgotten. This is shown in the quote, All things be there forgot Dead to all shames,
forgotten of all glories (Wharton 30 & 33).
These two poems leave quite different tastes in the mouth. A Carol of Harvest by Walk
Whitman uses a light and upbeat tone to convey a positive outlook on the afterlife. This gives it
a transcendental feel. Alternatively, An Autumn Sunset by Edith Wharton employs a dark and
immense tone to display wondrous imagery that describes a possible form of hell. This classifies
it as part of Romanticism. These different views of death give great knowledge into the thoughts
and beliefs of those from the past.