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Walt Whitman's poem, Song of Myself, is one of his most famous contributions to American literature. He uses simile and metaphor, paradox, rhythm, and free verse style, to convey his struggle between the relation of the body and soul, the physical and the spiritual being. He continues to go against all social restrictions of the romantic time period. From the beginning, Whitman begins by stating, “What I shall assume, you shall assume, for every atom …

…It's the use of these literary devices, as well as a free verse style that contributes to Whitman's unprecedented technique. This poem was drastically liberal compared to previous and current writers of his time. This never before seen method, although highly controversial to social boundaries of the time period, willingly opened the doors and allowed future writers to cross the invisible line, set by previous writers, and express themselves in way that they saw fit.