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Comment 16 of 16, added on March 25th, 2008 at 12:56 AM.
I believe this poem alludes to Shakespeare's quote, "All the world's a
stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages." because of the line, "That the powerful play
goes on, and you will contribute a verse." I believe that what that line
means is that people will come and go in your life and so will you. You
will just be contributing a verse, some of your life, to the powerful play,
which is the entire world, life Shakespeare has already stated.
Sophie from United States
Comment 15 of 16, added on April 9th, 2007 at 9:54 PM.
I agree with Dori, too. That'll move the chains!
Juanita from United States
Comment 14 of 16, added on March 1st, 2007 at 8:00 AM.
I like this Poem!
Thank you for your analysation.
I need this for my English lesson ;)
Hannah from Germany
Comment 13 of 16, added on April 27th, 2006 at 6:40 PM.
THis poem was really moving. I have no idea why, but it just was
Caterina from United States
Comment 12 of 16, added on April 22nd, 2006 at 6:40 AM.
This poem expresses a lament of a type that perhaps most introspective
people experience from time to time, about the pointlessness and
relentlessness of the human experience. In the "answer", Whitman explains,
in a Zen sort of way, that it is possible to come to terms with it. It is
a statement of acceptance for what is. The use of the word "powerful" in
the last line, for me, sums up the realization that whatever is
overwhelming about life, including the tawdry, inadequate, or downright
futile strivings of man, can - in and of itself - be worthy of our
participation. We inevitably "contribute a verse", but no matter how much
we crave to know the meaning of it all, it is just beyond us. Whitman
seems to be saying that it's okay to participate in our own individual way
without demanding to know what good it is. The good is simply that it
exists and we are all a part of it.
Rose from United States
Comment 11 of 16, added on April 12th, 2006 at 7:06 AM.
this poem starts off in a more pessimistic tone. O me! O life! "of the
endless trains of the faithless"... "of the struggle ever renewed"... "what
good amid these? O me! o life!"
the answer is in comparison much more uplifting, as if whitman wanted to
make a contrast. it's almost like another speaker that comes to answer the
first speaker's pessimistic outlook on life. the second speaker shows him
that life is a powerful play, and that we may all contribute a verse
lEo from United States
Comment 10 of 16, added on February 7th, 2006 at 5:36 AM.
I first met this poem in a movie 'dead poets society', and I could not
froget this poem until the end of the movie. I also agree with Dori.
Thesedays, I felt depressed because I thought I was nothing. But now I can
say my great play is going on, and I got a terrafic roll. I am here. O me,
O life.
SeoJin from Korea, South
Comment 9 of 16, added on October 29th, 2005 at 4:16 PM.
oh me oh life! to be alive! life itself if the greatest gift, we have a
chance, we have an opportunity! so free yourself and search for something
more, something beautiful and high and wonderful, something that will make
your life worth living. life is a gift, do not squandor it, but use it
wisely, searching after truth. if you want to know what i consider to be
the highest truth, please do email me...
smunky
Comment 8 of 16, added on September 12th, 2005 at 6:32 AM.
Answer.
That you are here that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse...
what will your verse be?
Sarah from Australia
Comment 7 of 16, added on July 7th, 2005 at 9:05 PM.
I think that in this poem he tried to say that we should express our
individualism instead of following the mass.
flor from Argentina
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
[1] 2
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I believe this poem alludes to Shakespeare's quote, "All the world's a
stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages." because of the line, "That the powerful play
goes on, and you will contribute a verse." I believe that what that line
means is that people will come and go in your life and so will you. You
will just be contributing a verse, some of your life, to the powerful play,
which is the entire world, life Shakespeare has already stated.
Sophie from United States