Final answer:
Walt Whitman's poem "Beat! Beat! Drums!" deals with the pervasive impact of warfare on all areas of life, using the metaphor of drums and bugles to represent the inescapable nature of war.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding "Beat! Beat! Drums!"
The poem "Beat! Beat! Drums!" by Walt Whitman is about the impact of warfare on society. The repetitive use of 'Beat!' and 'Blow!' symbolizes the relentless and invasive nature of war, how it interrupts daily life, and imposes itself into every aspect of society. By referencing the church, the school, and the courtroom, Whitman illustrates that no place is untouched by the chaos and disruption of war. The poem reflects the urgency and the rallying cry that accompanies war, specifically during Whitman's context, which would have been around the American Civil War.
The use of the drums and the bugles as metaphors in the poem showcases the call to arms and the mobilization effect that war has on a nation. Whitman's vivid imagery of the drums and bugles disturbing every corner of life serves as a powerful commentary on how war absorbs all into its orbit, allowing no one the luxury of ignorance or escape.