We begin the term with "A Song of the Open Road" by Walt Whitman. See link below to the poem.
Why? What can we take away from our reading of this poem? Focus particularly on stanzas 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 17. Think, too, of Dean's statement to Sal from On the Road: "You spend a whole life on non-interference with the wishes of others . . . and nobody bothers you and you cut along and make it your own way . . . What's your road, man?--holyboy road, madman road, rainbow road, guppy road, any road. It's an anywhere road for anybody anyhow. Where body how?"
Do you see a link between these two works? How do you read them? What is your interpretation? What is each writer trying to say?
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These two works are quite similar. The poem, "A song of the Open Road," refers to the road metaphorically as a means of freedom and self-reliance. Whitman uses this poetic device to prompt the reader to think of one's life as a long journey, or traveling down a long road. In this life journey one must respect the world before him and understand the significance of natrual happenings. He understands how things are and how they must be. There are many burdens and obstacles in the way of the life journey which we can not rid, however we must overcome such obstacles for happiness and success. Each person must make their own passage in life and find their self meaning. We all have different roads to travel and anything can happen during this journey. In the end we must be comfortable with the road we have chosen to walk. Everything works our for the best and friendship is an important part of over coming the obstacles we face every day. We all must be comfident that we have made the right choices in our journey and that we are happy with how life has gone.
I believe that each writer is reffering to a journey on the road alot deeper then, just walking down a raod. They are comparing this journey down "the road" to our lives. They want us to take a deeper look at life and realize that it truly is just like a journey down an open road. We determine our own futures, we determine which road we travel on. Sometimes the road will get tough to follow, but if we just believe and trust in our instincts everything will work out in the end. Also you will meet many people along this journey some will become friends, while others will become enemies. I just feel that these authors did a great job comparing a journey down an open road to our lives, because we can make of this life journey what ever we want want it to be. We have all the tools and resources to do great things, it is just up to us to use them on this lifelong journey.
From the quote from On the Road, Dean is referring to the road as a way of escape and one of solitude, while in the poem, the road is referred to as a way of adventure and excitement. Whitman is inviting in his writing by telling people to travel with him, to explore with him, and to discover with him. He wants people to enjoy their path and to experience what the road has to offer. To me it seems as though Dean is referring to the road as a way to escape from people, your past, or whatever you may be running from and allows you to start fresh even though a past can never be erased. Dean also makes it sound as though one has to make a choice what road they decide to follow (rainbow road, guppy road, etc.), while Whitman does not create a specific road that should be pursued, but a road that is created along the way.
I feel that these two parts of the poem are very similar. This person doesnt do things for himself but for the benefits of other people in this world. He is trying to make a point to all of us and show us the way to live. He wants us to be self- reliant and live our lives naturally. Life is a long road and the things people experience in life will occur on the road.
I think that "A Song of the Open Road" is the author just trying to write about what he thinks people should do. I think that he is trying to state that people should be more independent than they are now. I think hes just trying to show people another way to live life, a little less dependent on others thoughts and focus more on their own.
In both pieces, the authors use the open road as a metaphor for the journey that is life. For both authors, the road, especially the changes in scenery that go along with it, represent our lives and how our descisions affect the outcome. The freedom that goes along with travelling illustrates the authors' belief in the importance of self-reliance and freedom of choice. Choosing which road to take affects the rest of the journey, just as our decisions as individuals affect the course of our own lives. In the end of "Song of the Open Road," Walt Whitman encourages the reader to experience the open road for him or herself. He maintains that people must continue their journey despite the many trials and tribulations that they will encounter.
There is lots of common ground between the poem "A song of the Open Road" and the novel "On the Open Road". The poem and the novel both deal with life and both metaphorically describe life as a path. A path with many choices and the freedom to choose the one that best fits you. There is no need to gaze at the stars or to follow other people to find direction on life’s path, both works explain. Trust your instincts to follow the path to where it leads. Rely on your self and bear your burdens because the path may some times be treacherous and hard. But the path also brings success with the burdens. And the choices we make determine how heavy our burdens are and we have the freedom to make that choice. In the end both the poem and the novel explain how it is up to us to create our own path and we can be what we choose.
In both they use the term "Open Road " as a life long journey and to find freedom. Whitman makes you really think about how life really is just a long journey down an open road. But while traviling along this road it wount be easy you will run into some obsticals. Everyone will travel a diffent road and that is what makes us the people we are. You should just be happy when you get to the end of your road and hopefully it was the right road for you.
"You spend a whole life on non-interference with the wishes of others . . . and nobody bothers you and you cut along and make it your own way . . . What's your road, man?--holyboy road, madman road, rainbow road, guppy road, any road. It's an anywhere road for anybody anyhow. Where body how?"
There is an immediate apparent link between the two works. Both pieces exemplify a man who needs no one, a man who is completely self reliant and is finding his own way in the world. Each author is merely letting life take them down a mass of arbitrary roads, hoping that one might be worthwhile or obliging in some aspect. Neither has any determination to get somewhere particular, each man is just strolling nonchalantly down the road of life, entirely carefree of any pessimism at all. There is a recurring mention in Whitman’s poem of the “open” road. The road not only gives the author a sense of independence and freedom to go anywhere he pleases, but it is also “open” in the context of human beings. The road will pay no matter to your race, ethnicity, or wealth. The road doesn’t care if you are a beggar or a king, it has no sense of judgment, and everyone is in essence the same on the open road, all just passersby’s. At one point in the poem, Whitman says “you express me better than I can express myself,” in a way the author is expressing his life metaphorically through the road. His entire life, emotions and thoughts are masqueraded in his ongoing explanation of the road and its lack of destination and or plan. At the end of Whitman’s poem he states “whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me; whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed and shall bless me.” This illustrates the essence of his carefree outlook on life and spontaneous attitude. All he wants to do is live in pure freedom on the open road, away from any negativity that has ever surrounded him throughout his life.
The link between the poem and the book is that both are talking about finding one’s own way in life, and traveling that road. Both are conveying the message of finding and following your own life’s path. The poem focuses more on the appreciation of nature and the world as opposed to the book, which fails to acknowledge or embrace the unexpected obstacles that may encounter an individual. In the poem, the road is free and open, welcoming any new challenge to come his way. The experiences and unforeseen changes are the most important parts about this journey through life. He is able to enjoy life through all of its different perspectives while on the other hand, the book is concerned with turning the road into one point of view.
These two pieces of work have many similarities. In Whitmans "A Song of the Open Road" He talks about the freedom of which the traveler has. He can choose his own road but everything is still unpredictable. It is very much like the journey of life, you decide which direction you go and along every road there are obstacles, friends, and enemies that you must deal with inorder to continue on the road you choose. Both authors stress that you should lead your own life. Do not worry about what other people say, do what makes you happy.
I think that author is just simply saying that he thinks people should be less dependent of others. I think people need to just play the cards they are delt. In your every day life good and bad happen, but how you react is what really counts. Don't look for excusses, insted find a way to better the situation!
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