Here's a breakdown of each:
* American Romantic: Whitman's work embodies many of the characteristics of the American Romantic movement, including a celebration of nature, individualism, and the power of human emotion.
* Transcendentalist: His poems often explore themes of spiritual intuition, the inherent goodness of humanity, and the importance of personal experience. His focus on the unity of all beings aligns with Transcendentalist thought.
* Free Verse: Whitman is famous for his use of free verse, a form of poetry that does not adhere to traditional rhyme schemes or metrical patterns. He embraced the rhythms of natural speech and the flow of everyday language.
While these are the most prominent categories, his work also touches upon other literary traditions. For example, his epic and catalog-like poems are influenced by Ancient Greek epic poetry and his focus on everyday life and working people draws inspiration from Realism.
It's important to note that Whitman's work is complex and defies easy categorization. He was a poet who pushed the boundaries of poetic form and subject matter, and his influence continues to be felt in contemporary poetry.