The biographical text tells us that Whitman “set out to define theAmerican experience.” How did he approach this daunting task?

• A. with unlimited optimism so as to represent each person rather than categorize people according to race or class
• B. with confidence that the people would embrace him
• C. with an eagerness to earn a name for himself as a truly original national poet
• D. with the assumption that his work would result in him being a person