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Walt Whitman · English Literature

How did the textual history of 'Leaves of Grass' develop over Walt Whitman's lifetime from 1855 until his death in 1892?

  1. He published twelve different books under different titles to confuse critics.
  2. He revised and expanded one book across many editions, ending in the 'Deathbed Edition'
  3. He withdrew the book in 1860 and turned to writing theatrical melodramas.
  4. He hired ghostwriters to replace his free verse poems with rhyming couplets.
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Correct answer: He revised and expanded one book across many editions, ending in the 'Deathbed Edition'

'Leaves of Grass' was a lifelong organic project for Whitman, growing from a slim volume of 12 unnamed poems in 1855 to a massive compendium of nearly 400 poems by 1892. Each new edition reflected his evolving personal psychology, the collective trauma of the Civil War, and the changing landscape of America. The final 1891–92 authorized printing is affectionately known as the 'Deathbed Edition.'

Difficulty: Medium Question 7 of 14

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