Page 1 - Lesson Note 3

ANIMALS

Introduction to the poem

Walt Whitman has shown the comparison between human beings and animals in
his poem. He has pointed out the evils present inside the human brain which he
thinks animals don‟t have. That is why he thinks that animals are much better
than human beings.

Animals- Summary

In the poem animals, the poet has described his will to become an animal
because he thinks animals are far better than human beings. Human beings are
greedy and full of jealousy against each other. But animals are calm and self
contained. The animals are happy with what they have. They never complain
about miseries and sorrows. On the other hand human beings complain about
their miseries. They give more importance to the rich and strong people, stay
restless because of their wrongdoings and run behind the luxurious things of this
world. Whereas animals are honest about their relations and don‟t give
importance to a particular class. They live a life which is full of honesty and less
of greed and jealousy.

Animals Poem and Explanation

I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contain’d,
I stand and look at them long and long.
-Placid: calm, peaceful
-Contained; keep up control

The poet says that he wants to live in the world of animals. Here we can say that
the poet finds the world of animals better than that of human beings. He further
says that he finds animals more peaceful than humans. He says so because
animals are not running after worldly things like human beings. They are calm
and have no greed for worldly things or any kind of achievements. They are self
contained means they are happy with life and never interfere in the lives of
others. Humans have the habit of interfering in the lives of others. So, poet thinks
that animals are better than humans for being calm and not interfering in the
matters of others. The poet further says that these are the reasons why he
stands still and looks at the animals for a very long time.