- What, in your view, is the central concern of this poem? How did you reach this idea?
- Whitman is known for his use of repetition and lists. Find a place in the poem where he uses these techniques and explain how it might influence your understanding of the poem?
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In my point of view the central concern of the poem is the connection between people through time everyone is connected. Whitman thinks that even if people live in different years/generations or in different places. They share very similar stuff like experiences, emotions and opinions. everyone feels the same things and see the same things. I think this because he talks to those who read the future and see and feel the same way he does when he crosses the ferry.
Whitman uses repetition and describes what he sees on the ride crossing the ferry like when he sees the sky, people and water by repeating this it shows the experience happens over and over for not just him but others too. All of the people are linked together and share a very strong experience although they lived in a different time.