Question

What events are referred to in the first four stanzas of "the river-merchants wife?"

Answer 1

There seems to be a discrepancy between the title 'The River-Merchant's Wife' and the provided text. The text given includes various scenes from a different poem that displays a broad spectrum of human activity and societal roles. An accurate analysis cannot be given without the correct poem in question.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question refers to the events depicted in the first four stanzas of "The River-Merchant's Wife."

However, the text provided does not actually align with the title mentioned, which suggests either an error in the question or that the reference text may not be correct. Instead, the text features a variety of scenes and characters that appear to showcase the breadth of human experience and the diverse activities occurring in different societal roles. These include occupations such as a drover, peddler, bride, opium-eater, prostitute, president, fishermen, and others going about their lives. The poem captures the liveliness and complexity of American society, presenting a panoramic view of everyday life that Walt Whitman often explored in his works.

As there appears to be confusion with the poem specified by the student, it is essential to acknowledge that an accurate analysis cannot be provided based on the misaligned documents. To assist the student appropriately, it would be necessary to have the correct poem in question.

Answer 2

The first four stanzas discuss the development of the relationship between the River Merchant and his wife. The first discusses when they were in the their childhood. The next discusses her marriage, followed by the maturing of the girl into a woman and the last of the four, talks about the longing or missing of the woman for her husband.