1. In “Song of the Redwood-Tree,” how does Whitman portray the redwood’s perspective? What does the tree want and how will that be achieved? What do you think about this portrayal?
2. In “This Compost,” Whitman marvels at the earth’s decomposition cycles. What kind of tone does he use to describe different elements of this cycle, and to what end?
3. Is Whitman demonstrating some alignment with manifest destiny in one or both poems? How? What does this suggest?
