- 1
What is the significance of the ferry in "Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry"?
The ferry acts as a unifying force in the poem, connecting all sorts of different people who live in the same geographical location. Whitman emphasizes that the passengers have the shared experience of "returning home" on the ferry, and that this is an experience that connects people across time too--people have done it in the past and will continue to do it in the future.
- 2
If you had to identify a "climax" of "Crossing the Brooklyn Ferry," which section would you choose, and why?
Answers will vary, but students should focus on the later sections of the poem, where Whitman moves away from...
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