Advancing in Poetry Advancing in Poetry    

Lesson 29: A Noiseless Patient Spider

by Walt Whitman

Performer: Librivox - Peter Yearsley

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read or listen to the poem.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poet.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

In the first stanza of Walt Whitman's 'A Noiseless Patient Spider,' a spider launches its thread to explore an ocean rock. In the second stanza, Whitman compares the spinning spider to his seeking and exploring soul.

Concepts

1. Walt Whitman was born in 1819 in West Hills, New York.

2. Zoom in and find Whitman's state of birth, New York (NY), on the map of the United States.

3. Whitman was one of nine children. His childhood was turbulent as his parents moved frequently due to financial difficulties.
4. Whitman started working as a law office boy when he was only 11 years old.
5. Whitman later became a printer's devil (apprentice) at a newspaper. He later taught, founded his own newspaper, served as a nurse during the Civil War, and performed a variety of other jobs.
6. Whitman began publishing poetry as a teenager and continued through his life, determined to be a poet.
7. Whitman spent 33 years perfecting his well-known poetry collection, 'Leaves of Grass.'
8. Whitman died of pleurisy in Camden, New Jersey at the age of 72.
9. Find Whitman's state of death, New Jersey, on the map of the United States.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite Poem Information

Recite the title of the poem and the name of the poet.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Recite the Poem

Practice reciting the poem aloud.

Activity 4: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete pages 183-189 of 'Elementary Poetry 4: Advancing in Poetry.'

References

'Walt Whitman.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Printer's devil.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.