In "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," Whitman utilizes the symbols of the lilac, the fallen star, and the hermit thrush to explore the complex emotions associated with:
1
The fleeting beauty of nature and the inevitability of seasonal change.
2
Personal grief, national mourning, and the search for spiritual solace in the face of death.
3
The cyclical patterns of political upheaval and the rise and fall of leaders.
4
The enduring power of love and the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming tragedy.