The free verse form of Song of Myself is intended to embody which of the following?

• A. Strict adherence to metric patterns
• B. Romanticized classical forms
• C. Freedom, democracy, expansiveness
• D. Formal, ritual cadence

Answer: (C)

The form is meant to mirror openness and inclusion—the idea of democracy and expansiveness at the heart of Whitman’s vision. Free verse lets the lines breathe without being tied to a fixed meter or rhyme, so the voice moves in long, flowing cadences that feel natural and expansive. This mirrors a broad, inclusive America where all voices, bodies, places, and experiences are part of the whole. The lack of rigid structure supports a sense of freedom and boundless possibility, which is exactly what Whitman is aiming to express. It isn’t about following traditional metric patterns, romanticizing classical forms, or using ceremonial cadence; it’s about capturing a democratic, expansive spirit through a form that itself embodies freedom.