Assignment

A Noiseless Patient Spider

A NOISELESS, patient spider,
I mark'd, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark'd how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them-ever tirelessly speeding them. 5

And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,-seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form'd-till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

What is significant about the relationship between the two stanzas of the poem? Why do you think Whitman uses a spider in his poem? How does the spider symbolize the human experience/condition? Use elements of poetry to elaborate. Do not look up anything online! I want your analysis from reading the work.