Approaches to Teaching Whitman's Leaves of Grass (Approaches to Teaching (Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: A great tool for teaching
Review: As an instructor of literature, it is impossible to omit Walt Whitman's poetry from my syllabus; he is just too important. It's easy for me to select which poems to discuss. The hard part is HOW to teach them to a group of students who might struggle with Whitman's language and form. Donald Kummings' "Approaches to Teaching Whitman's Leaves of Grass" is a valuable tool in fixing this problem. The book begins with some general approaches to Whitman, including some required and recommended readings. After that, however, come a collection of essays by scholars who have struggled with the same issue of teaching Whitman. The writers range from Kenneth Price to Susan Day Dean. Each essay is brilliant, each approach is easy to use. I have notes squeezed into the margins of each essay, and I consult them each time I teach LEAVES OF GRASS. I am extremely grateful to Mr. Kummings' effort!

Rocco Dormarunno
College of New Rochelle