Sample essay topic, essay writing: Calvary Crossing A Ford - 512 words

A Yankee Journey from the SouthIn merely one sitting, a reader of Walt Whitman's piece Calvary Crossing a Ford might have the inclination to interpret the work as a simple depiction of some unknown band of horseman and the aesthetic scenery they encounter on their travels. With an eye that is more attentive to detail, literary elements such as the speaker's tone and Whitman's presentation of detail bring to light a deeper revelation; the Yankees are coming home. The speaker's diction is not only sensory but also aesthetically so. He speaks of flags that, "flutter gayly in the wind," and rivers of a "silvery" hew. The speaker's personal image of the horseman is one of admiration as he sees, "each group, each person a picture." With the inclusion of onomatopoeia's such as the "musical clank" of arms, and the "splashing" of horses a peaceful mood is set and for the audience one of joy.

This peaceful and joyful mood supports the existence of a jovial tone since mood is a byproduct of tone. While it is the speaker who deserves the credit for influencing how we feel about the piece, Whitman receives all the credit for showing us whom to show our feeling for as a result of his presentation of detail. The reader first learns of the identity of the horsemen in the opening as a "line in long array." The secondary denotation of array - a military force - fits in with further descriptions of the Calvary unit having "arms" or weapons that "flash in the sun," and of Calvary wielding "guidon flags." Secondly, through Whitman's presentation of detail the reader learns of the Calvary's journey beginnings. The journey is a long one "horses loitering stop to drink," "negligent (riders) rest on the saddles." However, the most prominent images are of "Scarlet and blue and snowy white" guidon flags and men "brown-faced." The "Scarlet and blue and snowy white" guidon flags are a symbol for the flag of the American people. In keeping with the time period of this piece's creation and remaining cognizant of the symbolization of the American Flag, It is easy to discern that the men are "brown-faced" because they are Northerners whom have been fighting in the southern regions. As submitted in the first argument of this paper the speaker is happy to see the Calvary suggesting that he to is a Northerner who is sharing the story of the Yankee Calvary's return with his audience of peers

To conclude, at first site Calvary Crossing a Ford seems simply a quaint tale of men out for a ride in the countryside; however, there is a deeper story lying beneath the primary message. This is the tale of the Calvary of the United States who journeyed through the south beckoning the end of the antebellum south. They bravely went off to fight a war that brought Father against Son and Brother against Brother. Despite the many justifications there might be for their fighting, the Speaker of the piece is most content in knowing that the Yankee's are coming home.

Research paper and essay writing, free essay topics, sample works Calvary Crossing A Ford

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