How did Romanticism influence Walt Whitman’s poetry?

The Romantic movement significantly shaped Walt Whitman’s poetic philosophy and practice. Central to this influence was the Romantic belief that a poet’s primary function is to express their own personality in verse. Embracing this, Whitman cultivated a distinct persona—the "shaggy, untamed poetic spokesman"—to reflect the vitality and spirit of a young, democratic nation.1

This influence manifested in several key ways:

• Poetic Persona: Whitman adopted a mythical, individualistic "I" in his poems, such as in Leaves of Grass, which allowed him to embody the experiences and aspirations of the common American citizen.12
• Nature and Spirituality: In line with Romantic themes, Whitman identified the regenerative power of nature with the divinity of the soul. He viewed poetry as a form of supreme wisdom and a way to intuit deep truths.1
• Form and Style: To express this persona, he broke away from traditional conventions, creating free verse that eschewed standard rhyme and meter in favor of oratorical rhythms and enumerative lists.1

Whitman’s work was also deeply intertwined with Transcendentalism, a movement that combined Romanticism with a focus on the individual and the spiritual significance of nature.12