Article Author: Joanna Patuła-Krasteva

This study examines Walt Whitman's literary transition from prose to poetry, focusing on his anonymously published novel Life and Adventures of Jack Engle and its relationship to Leaves of Grass. The analysis explores the role of the narrator, narrative strategies, and the linguistic and thematic evolution that underpins Whitman's creative development. It argues that Whitman's dissatisfaction with the structural limitations of the novel genre led him to embrace poetry as a medium better suited to express his philosophical and democratic ideals. The rediscovery of his prose work illuminates the complexity of his self-perception as a writer and offers critical insights into the formation of his poetic identity.

Keywords: Narrative Structure; Author-Narrator Relationship; Literary Transition; American Identity

Article Review Status: Published

Pages: 12- 22

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