Final answer:
Whitman utilized poetic devices like cataloguing, personification, repetition, and similes. Understanding the context of Whitman's work is key to identifying which device is used in a given quote. Whitman blended natural and urban elements in his poetry using figurative language and personification, much as Wordsworth did with daffodils in his poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poetic devices that Whitman used can often be identified by looking at particular components within his work. Cataloguing involves creating long lists of people, attributes, or situations. Personification is giving human characteristics to non-human entities. Repetition is the use of a word or phrase more than once for emphasis. Lastly, a simile is a comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as'. To determine which device a specific quote employs, one must analyze the context and content of Whitman's writing. For instance, if Whitman repeatedly mentions a natural element such as grass throughout a poem, this would be an example of repetition. Conversely, if he likens the bustling streets to a rapid stream, this would be a use of a simile.
Considering Whitman's use of natural elements versus man-made or urban elements, one may note that he often juxtaposes these aspects of the world to reflect on the broader human experience, using figurative language and rhetorical devices to sew a rich tapestry that presents a unified vision of the universe. He imbues these elements with life through the use of personification, just as Wordsworth did with the dancing daffodils in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud'.