How do the ideas expressed in the first paragraph of the preface to Leaves of Grass act as a helpful defense for Whitman's use of free verse in his poetry? Use a detail from the
paragraph to support your answer.
a. He is concerned that Americans are obsessed with the past.
h. He suggests that Americans throw away past notions of politics and religion.
c. He likens the past to a corpse that has been around too long.
d. He suggests that we learn from the past and then move forward to use what is
appropriate for the present.