1. Analyze Whitman uses parallelism, the repetition of a grammatical structure, in lines 1-4. Describe what is

parallel in these lines. What impression of the astronomer's lecture does the parallelism create?

Answers with Explanations:

1. Describe what is parallel in these lines?

Answer: Lines 1-4 are parallel because the lines started with the subordinate conjunction "when." This makes the lines "subordinate clauses." The use of "when" makes it clear that the event is happening during that time.

Aside from this, the lines also used past tense for every line (learned, ranged, shown and heard).

Explanation: The question is related to the poem entitled, "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," written by Walt Whitman in 1865.

2. What impressions of the astronomer's lecture does the parallelism create?

Answer: Parallelism creates the impression that the lecture of the astronomer is a serious matter because it mentioned about figures, columns, charts and diagrams. It also taught the audience to use their mathematical skills by adding and dividing. This proves the lecture as something similar to that of learning a skill.