In the poem, the speaker is attending an astronomer's lecture. What effect did the lecture have on the speaker, and what did he do as a result?

In this poem, Whitman draws out the stark contrast between the speaker and the educated astronomer. Whitman writes the speaker's voice to emphasize the fact that he is not an academic. For example, he shortens "learned" to "learn'd" when describing the sophisticated professor. The speaker quickly grows bored while listening to the astronomer talk about theories and mathematical equations. The astronomer, however, represents a highly educated and refined class that has a more structured approach to learning. The speaker is more interested in the romantic mythic aspects of the sky. The speaker and the astronomer serve as foils to each other - characters who have opposite beliefs. The writer uses this disparity to highlight each individual's distinct characteristics.