Making Connections

1. Walking plays a major role in both “A Supermarket in California” and “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.” What is the purpose and importance of walking in each of these poems? Explain.

   Question

   Making Connections: - Walking plays a major role in both “A Supermarket in California” and “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.” What is the purpose and importance of walking in each of these poems? Explain.
2. Each of these two poems presents a vision from a first-person point of view—one looking forward, the other back—directly addressing the audience as “you.” Compare and contrast the perspectives of the two poems.

   Question

   Making Connections: - Each of these two poems presents a vision from a first-person point of view—one looking forward, the other back—directly addressing the audience as “you.” Compare and contrast the perspectives of the two poems.
3. What do both Whitman and Ginsberg suggest about the value and power of poetic vision? Do you agree? Why or why not? Is there another poet or poem that provides such value to you? Explain.

   Question

   Making Connections: - What do both Whitman and Ginsberg suggest about the value and power of poetic vision? Do you agree? Why or why not? Is there another poet or poem that provides such value to you? Explain.
4. In Studies in Classic American Literature, D. H. Lawrence (p. 1262) writes, “Whitman is a very great poet, of the end of life. A very great post-mortem poet, of the transitions of the soul as it loses its integrity. The poet of the soul’s last shout and shriek, on the confines of death.” Lawrence’s remark might also be applicable to Ginsberg. How would you compare and contrast Ginsberg’s poem with “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” regarding their attitudes toward mortality?

   Question

   Making Connections: - In Studies in Classic American Literature, D. H. Lawrence (p. 1262) writes, “Whitman is a very great poet, of the end of life. A very great post-mortem poet, of the transitions of the soul as it loses its integrity. The poet of the soul’s last shout and shriek, on the confines of death.” Lawrence’s remark might also be applicable to Ginsberg. How would you compare and contrast Ginsberg’s poem with “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” regarding their attitudes toward mortality?
5. Imagine that Whitman could reply to Ginsberg’s poem. What would he say? Explain.

   Question

   Making Connections: - Imagine that Whitman could reply to Ginsberg’s poem. What would he say? Explain.