In his first line of To a Locomotive in Winter, Walt Whitman indicates why he created this poem. It is a recitative for a Locomotive in winter. A recitative is a passage rendered in style. Whitman uses the technique of onomatopoeia to create a melodic effect reminiscent of the sound of a passing train. The chugging of the engine, the clatter of the track, and the whistle of the train all create a distinct pulsating rhythm. Whitman captures the sound of a train passing by at an exceptional speed. The Doppler Effect is also represented by Whitman in this poem. All of these effects are created in one part of the first stanza of this two stanza poem. The second stanza of the poem consists of a soliloquy to the train. By using the cadence of the train in his depiction, Whitman arouses fervor in the reader which allows for a greater understanding of the soliloquy which follows.Onomatopoeia is used by Whitman in the combination of words rather that in individual words themselves. Only a few words in this poem, such as roar and belching, are individual examples of onomatopoeia. Whitman relies on the formation of words to imitate the pulsating sound of a train approaching on a vibrating track. The rhythm created by Whitmans strong verbs, adjectives and hard consonants resemble that of the train he is describing. He uses many long lines that contain plenty of action or descriptive words to create this rhythm. He also generates this effect using some alliteration, such as silvery steel and fixd in front These techniques all work together to replicate the sound of a train. The scientific name of the phenomena emulated by Whitman in this poem is the Doppler Effect. Any sound from a moving object approaching a point moves from a higher pitch to a lower pitch as it approaches and then begins moving farther away. This is a trait common to every sound. The speed and incredible vibrating sound of a train makes this change in tone most n...
