Leaves of Grass · Chapter
The Dying Veteran explained
The narrator recalls a story from his boyhood about a veteran of the Revolutionary War who, on his deathbed, rejects the comforts of peaceful life and longs to return to the chaos and intensity of battle.
What happens
The narrator recalls a story from his boyhood about a veteran of the Revolutionary War who, on his deathbed, rejects the comforts of peaceful life and longs to return to the chaos and intensity of battle.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker fully internalizes the world’s suffering, feeling…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Death and Immortality
The veteran faces death but yearns for the immortal memory of battle.
- America and Its People
Portrays a common soldier of the American Revolution, embodying the nation's founding struggle.
Characters to notice
- Narrator
Recalls the incident from his boyhood.
- Washington
The veteran fought under Washington during the Revolutionary War.
- The General
Implied as Washington, under whom the veteran served.
Key passages
“Give me my old wild battle-life again!”
The veteran rejects peaceful domestic life and craves the excitement of war.
Highlights the veteran's longing for his past military experience over present comfort.
