Literary:
* Shakespeare: Whitman admired Shakespeare's vastness and his exploration of human nature.
* The Bible: The King James Bible's poetic language and its focus on humanity and spirituality strongly influenced Whitman.
* Emerson: Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leading Transcendentalist thinker, encouraged Whitman to embrace his own voice and celebrate the individual.
* The Romantic poets: Whitman was familiar with the works of poets like Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats, who emphasized emotion, imagination, and the power of nature.
* American frontier: The spirit of the American frontier, its expansiveness and sense of possibility, fueled Whitman's vision of a democratic and inclusive America.
Personal:
* His own life experiences: Whitman drew heavily on his personal experiences, his observations of people, and his own emotions in his poetry.
* His love for humanity: Whitman deeply loved and respected all people, regardless of their background, and this is reflected in his inclusive and democratic vision.
* His belief in the power of language: Whitman believed that poetry could be a powerful force for good, capable of inspiring and uniting people.
Other factors:
* The rise of democracy: The rise of democracy in the United States inspired Whitman's vision of an America where all voices could be heard.
* The burgeoning of American culture: Whitman was inspired by the growing cultural and artistic dynamism of America in the mid-19th century.
It's important to remember that Walt Whitman was a highly original poet who developed his own unique style. While he was inspired by various sources, he ultimately transcended them to create a body of work that is both deeply personal and universal.