Final answer:
Whitman's 'Leaves of Grass' faced initial resistance because it broke with traditional European poetic forms, using free verse and addressing content that was unconventional for the time, such as sexuality, the human body, and the common man.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman was not well received initially because it deviated from the traditional European forms and styles prevalent in the mid-19th century poetry. Whitman's use of free verse and the lack of rhyme and meter made his work appear disjointed and meandering, which was unfamiliar and disorienting to many readers of his time. Moreover, Whitman's frank discussions of sexuality and the human body, mixed with his exaltations of the common man and the down-to-earth aspects of life, were rather unconventional and even shocking to his contemporaries.
Whitman's poetry is known for reflecting the rapid modernization of the nation, and he celebrated both natural and urban elements with equal fervor. Readers are often struck by the simplicity of the language, the clarity of the images, and the deep rhythms of his verse, despite the initial challenges they face with his unorthodox style. His poetry engages directly with American life, touching on aspects of the Civil War and reflecting on the national spirit of celebration and mourning.