Read the excerpt from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself."

The past and present wilt-I have fill'd them, emptied them, And proceed to fill my next fold of the future. Listener up there! what have you to confide to me? Look in my face while I snuff the sidle of evening, (Talk honestly, no one else hears you, and I stay only a minute longer.) Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) I concentrate toward them that are nigh, I wait on the door-slab. Who has done his day's work? who will soonest be through with his supper? Who wishes to walk with me? Will you speak before I am gone? will you prove already too late?

Which excuse does the speaker offer when he admits that he contradicts himself?

His memory lapses as he talks.

He is speaking from the heart.

He only seems to contradict himself.

He contains variety within himself.

Question

English

Adalyn Gay

15 October, 12:10

Read the excerpt from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself."

The past and present wilt-I have fill'd them, emptied them, And proceed to fill my next fold of the future. Listener up there! what have you to confide to me? Look in my face while I snuff the sidle of evening, (Talk honestly, no one else hears you, and I stay only a minute longer.) Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) I concentrate toward them that are nigh, I wait on the door-slab. Who has done his day's work? who will soonest be through with his supper? Who wishes to walk with me? Will you speak before I am gone? will you prove already too late?

Which excuse does the speaker offer when he admits that he contradicts himself?

His memory lapses as he talks.

He is speaking from the heart.

He only seems to contradict himself.

He contains variety within himself.

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Answers (1)

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David Vincent · Answer 1

The answer is: He contains variety within himself.

In the excerpt from the poem "Song of Myself," individualist Walt Whitman makes reference to the fact that he contradicts himself and that there is nothing wrong with that. He also mentions that he is large and contains multitudes, meaning that there are multiple sides or personalities within himself. For example, he can think or feel in a certain way one day or in certain situation, and think or feel differently in another.