o captain my captain essay questions

O Captain My Captain Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone!! This article will share O Captain My Captain Questions & Answers. This poem is written by Walt Whitman through which the poet has expressed sadness on the death of American President, Abraham Lincoln who led America and won the civil war. While the people were happy and celebrating victory, the captain, Abraham Lincoln was shot dead. So, through this poem, the poet recalls Lincoln. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions & answers of A Turkish Judge , Leaving The Valley and The Cherry Tree so, you can check these posts as well.

O Captain My Captain Questions & Answers

Question 1: choose the correct option:, (a) the poem is an elegy on the death of.

i. Kennedy ii. Abraham Lincoln iii. Abraham Clinton

(b) The poem has three stanzas of

i. six lines ii. seven lines iii. eight lines

(c) The poem is Whitman’s elegy from

i. Animals ii. Passage to India iii. Leaves of Grass

(d) Lincoln wants to make an end of

i. slavery ii. property iii. poverty

(e) The ship in the poem is

i. Europe ii. Britain iii. the United States

(f) The captain in the poem is

i. Abraham Lincoln ii. Clinton iii. Kennedy

(g) My Captain does not answer, his _________are pale ans till,

i. ribs ii. lips iii. mouth

(h) My father does not feel my arm, he has no______nor will,

i. pulse ii. head iii. feelings

(i) The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its________closed and done,

i. journey ii. travel iii. voyage

Question 2: What is the location of the battle ship?

Answer: The location of the battle ship is near the port.

Question 3: Why is the speaker filled with grief?

Answer: The speaker is filled with grief because the Captain of the ship is dead.

Question 4: How are the people waiting to welcome of the captain of the ship?

Answer: The people are waiting to welcome of the captain of the ship with bouquets and garlands of flowers.

Question 5: The crowds on the shore are eagerly waiting to felicitate the Captain. How?

Answer: People have brought bouquets, ribboned garlands to felicitate the Captain and they are also calling him.

Question 6: What are the signs that the Captain has passed away?

Answer: There are blood drops, the Captain is fallen cold, motionless and his lips are pale and still. These signs indicate the Captain has passed away.

Question 7: ‘……..dear father! This arm beneath your head…..’ Why do you think the speaker in the poem put his arm under the Captain’s head?

Answer: The Captain is lying cold. The speaker puts his arms under the captain’s head hoping that the captain would get up. The speaker is hoping against hope.

Question 8: Describe the grief that the speaker in the poem feels at the death of his Captain.

Answer: The speaker in the poem addresses the captain ardently. He appeals the captain to rise up. He puts his arms beneath the head of the dead captain. He also tells the captain to see the flinging flags, colourful bouquets, ringing bells brought for him. At the end, the speaker understands that the captain wouldn’t get up so, he mournfully walks away from him.

Question 9: Find out who the speaker addresses in the first two stanzas and the last stanza.

Answer: In the first two stanzas, the speaker addresses to the ‘Captain’ and to the ‘heart’. In the last stanza, the speaker addresses the shores and the bells.

Question 10: “Exult O shores, and ring O bells!” Who says this? Who exult and why?

Answer: The poet Walt Whitman says this. The people of America express their joy as their country has triumphed over the violent Civil War under the able leadership of Abraham Lincoln. The system of slavery which was curse for them has been done away with.

Question 11: Read and answer the questions: “The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won.”

(a) who is the speaker.

Answer: The poet, Walt Whitman is the speaker.

(b) What do you mean by “The ship has weathered every rack”?

Answer: “The ship has weathered every rack” means that the ship has overcome all the dangers and the captain has come out triumphant through the trip which further means that Abraham Lincoln who is imagined as the captain has controlled the Civil War in America.

Question 12: Read and answer the questions:

(a) who is ‘you’ here.

Answer: ‘You’ refers to the captain.

(b) Where are ‘they’?

Answer: They are at the shore of the sea.

(c) Why is there a crowd?

Answer: There is a crowd because they want to welcome their captain.

Question 13: Read and answer the questions:

Exult o shores, and rings, o bells, (a) when and why does the speaker say this.

Answer: The speaker says this when they are returning home because they got the victory in civil war.

(b) What bells are being referred to here?

Answer: The bells of victory are referred here.

(c) What has happened on the deck?

Answer: The dead body of the captain has laid on the deck.

Question 14: Describe the mixed feelings expressed in stanza I?

Answer: In the stanza I, the speaker shows his happiness on the victory of the civil war in USA. At the same time, he laments over the death of his captain Abraham Lincoln.

Question 15: What does the speaker want the captain to hear and see in stanza 2?

Answer: The speaker wants the captain to hear the bells and the bugle and to see the flag which is flung for him.

Question 16: In what two ways is the voyage ‘closed and done’?

Answer: Firstly, the ship has arrived safe and sound on the port and secondly, its captain is dead. In this way, the voyage is ‘closed and done’.

Question 17: While everyone is celebrating on the shore what is the speaker doing?

Answer: While everyone is celebrating on the shore, the speaker/poet is mournful on the deck where the dead body of the captain is laid.

Question 18: What do ‘the bleeding drops of red’ mean figuratively and literally?

Answer: ‘The bleeding drops of red’ means the captain is dead, his body is laid on the deck and the blood is oozing from his body.

Question 19: How does the speaker react to the whole situation?

Answer: The speaker is very sad on the death of his captain but he asked his countrymen to enjoy and celebrate the victory while he himself is lamenting over the death of his captain.

Question 20: What does the way the speaker addresses the captain in the poem reveal about his feelings towards the captain?

Answer: The way the speaker addresses the captain shows that he has a huge love and respect in his heart for the captain.

Question 21: The poem ends with the refrain ‘fallen cold and dead’. How does this refrain contribute to the mood of the poem?

Answer: The refrain ‘fallen cold and dead’ changes the happy mood of the poem into the sorrow one. The speaker becomes sad at the end of the poem because his captain is dead.

Question 22: Name the figure of speech used in: O Captain! My Captain!

Answer: Metaphor

Question 23: Who is the Captain? Why is he called so?

Answer: The poet imagines Abraham Lincoln as the Captain of the ship. He is called so because just like an expert captain of a ship, President Abraham Lincoln brought down the Civil War and protected and preserved the integrity of the country.

Question 24: “It is some dream that on the deck.” What is the ‘dream’ referred to here and why does the poet call it ‘some dream’?

Answer: The poet could not believe the stern reality of the President’s death as he had deep love and respect for him. Such a heart-rending news was unbelievable to him and he thought his death as a dream as this was the only source of consolation. So, he thinks that Abraham Lincoln lying in a pool of blood on the deck was a dream.

Question 25: Read and answer the questions:

“the ship is anchored safe and sound….”., (a) what does the ship refer to.

Answer: The ship refers to America.

(b) Explain briefly the meaning of this line.

Answer: The poet says that the ship (America) whose captain was Abraham Lincoln had to face the stormy and turbulent sea. However, the Captain was an expert and he brought the ship safely ashore. It has now been anchored well and is safe from storms which means under the effective leadership of Lincoln, the Civil War was successfully brought down and thus, the unity and integrity of the country was protected and preserved.

Question 26: Read and answer the questions:

(a) who is ‘i’ referred to here.

Answer: ‘I’ is referred to the poet Walt Whitman.

(b) Why does the poet mourn?

Answer: The poet is extremely shocked at the death of the President who shed his blood to strengthen the unity of the country. Such a heart-rending news was unbelievable to him and he is heavy with grief. Instead of joining the people who were celebrating the victory, he was lamenting the leader’s death which is an irreparable loss for the whole nation.

Question 27: Read and answer the questions:

(a) who is addressed as ‘captain’.

Answer: The President of America, Abraham Lincoln is addressed as ‘Captain’.

(b) Why does the poet address him as ‘dear father’?

Answer: The poet addresses him as ‘dear father’ because to him, Lincoln was the guide and guardian of the whole nation who brought down the Civil War and protected and preserved the integrity of the country. So, he is worthy to become father of the nation and that I why, he addresses him as ‘dear father’.

(c) Why does the poet place his hand under the Captain’s head?

Answer: The poet could not believe that the President was dead and he wanted him to stand up and give response to his call. So, he places his hand under his head to enable him to stand up.

Question 28: “Our fearful trip is done.” What is the meaning of ‘trip’ and why is it called ‘fearful’?

Answer: Here, the ‘trip’ means journey by sea and it actually refers to the Civil War. It is called fearful because the Civil War was violent and bloody and it threatened the integrity of America.

Question 29: Comment on the title of the poem, O Captain! My Captain! Or Write the central idea of the poem.

Answer: The poem is an elegy mourning the tragic death of the President, Abraham Lincoln. He is imagined as a captain of the ship which represents America. Just like an expert captain of a ship, President Abraham Lincoln brought down the Civil War and protected and preserved the integrity of the country. The poet is overwhelmed with grief and is lamenting the leader’s death which is an irreparable loss for the whole nation.

Question 30: Do you think that this poem is an elegy?

Answer: The elegy is a poem of mournfulness. In this poem, the features of an elegy are present as the poem opens with the note of sadness of the death of the President.  However, it ends on a note of joy of the leader’s victory. The poet laments the leader’s death so, the poem can be called an elegy. So, these were O Captain My Captain Questions & Answers.

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O Captain! My Captain! Summary & Analysis by Walt Whitman

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

“O Captain! My Captain!” is an elegy written by Walt Whitman in 1865 to commemorate the death of President Abraham Lincoln. It was first published in Sequel to Drum-Taps (1865), a collection of Whitman’s poems inspired by the events of the American Civil War. The poem is perhaps Whitman’s most famous—which is ironic, since it is far more conventional in meter, form, and subject than much of Whitman’s other work. Although some critics have suggested that Whitman regretted ever writing “O Captain! My Captain!” it undeniably captured the mood of a nation in mourning and has remained one of Whitman’s best-loved and most-quoted poems.

• Read the full text of “O Captain! My Captain!”

The Full Text of “O Captain! My Captain!”

1 O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

2 The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,

3 The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

4 While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

5                          But O heart! heart! heart!

6                             O the bleeding drops of red,

7                                Where on the deck my Captain lies,

8                                   Fallen cold and dead.

9 O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

10 Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,

11 For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,

12 For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

13                          Here Captain! dear father!

14                             This arm beneath your head!

15                                It is some dream that on the deck,

16                                  You’ve fallen cold and dead.

17 My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

18 My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

19 The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

20 From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

21                          Exult O shores, and ring O bells!

22                             But I with mournful tread,

23                                Walk the deck my Captain lies,

24                                   Fallen cold and dead.

“O Captain! My Captain!” Summary

“o captain my captain” themes.

Victory and Loss

• See where this theme is active in the poem.

Grief and Isolation

The Individual vs. the Nation

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “o captain my captain”.

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

O the bleeding drops of red,

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills, For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding, For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

Lines 13-18

Here Captain! dear father!                             This arm beneath your head!                                It is some dream that on the deck,                                  You’ve fallen cold and dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

Lines 19-24

The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;                          Exult O shores, and ring O bells!                             But I with mournful tread,                                Walk the deck my Captain lies,                                   Fallen cold and dead.

“O Captain! My Captain!” Symbols

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“O Captain! My Captain!” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

Extended metaphor.

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Alliteration

End-stopped line, personification, juxtaposition, “o captain my captain” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “O Captain! My Captain!”

Rhyme scheme, “o captain my captain” speaker, “o captain my captain” setting, literary and historical context of “o captain my captain”, more “o captain my captain” resources, external resources.

Whitman Out Loud — For audio recordings of the poem, check out the free downloadable selection from LibriVox.

Poetry and the Mediation of Value: Whitman on Lincoln — This is the text of a lecture by Professor Helen Vendler, a famous authority on American and British poetry. Although it is an academic lecture, it is written in an accessible style.

Two Worlds of Mourning: Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln’s Death — This resource from the National Portrait Gallery dives in to the relationship between Walt Whitman and the subject of his elegy, President Abraham Lincoln.

Clip from Dead Poets Society — "O Captain! My Captain!" remains a staple of the American school curriculum and appears frequently in popular culture. Watch a famous scene from the film Dead Poets Society in which students recite the beginning of the poem for their teacher, played by Robin Williams.

Encyclopedia.com Entry on "O Captain! My Captain!" — An extensive introduction to the poem and its context. The "Critical Overview" section is particularly comprehensive, including excerpts from the work of several prominent critics.

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O Me! O Life!

One's-Self I Sing

The Voice of the Rain

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer

When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d

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O Captain! My Captain!

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Walt Whitman: Poems

By walt whitman, walt whitman: poems summary and analysis of "o captain my captain".

The poem is an elegy to the speaker's recently deceased Captain , at once celebrating the safe and successful return of their ship and mourning the loss of its great leader. In the first stanza, the speaker expresses his relief that the ship has reached its home port at last and describes hearing people cheering. Despite the celebrations on land and the successful voyage, the speaker reveals that his Captain's dead body is lying on the deck. In the second stanza, the speaker implores the Captain to "rise up and hear the bells," wishing the dead man could witness the elation. Everyone adored the captain, and the speaker admits that his death feels like a horrible dream. In the final stanza, the speaker juxtaposes his feelings of mourning and pride.

Whitman wrote this poem shortly after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It is an extended metaphor intended to memorialize Lincoln's life and work. The Captain represents the assassinated president; the ship represents the war-weathered nation following the Civil War; the "prize won" represents the salvaged union. The speaker, torn between relief and despair, captures America's confusion at the end of the Civil War. It was a time of many conflicting sentiments, and Whitman immortalizes this sense of uncertainty in "O Captain! My Captain!"

Whitman's poetry places a lot of emphasis on the individual. This particular poem explores a variation on that theme: the self vs. the other. The speaker struggles with balancing his personal feelings of loss with the celebratory mood resulting from the successful voyage. While the Civil War claimed many lives, it led to the reunification of the Union, so many Americans felt similarly divided. In Whitman's poem, the speaker believes that he should be part of the "other" group, celebrating the return to safety. However, his inner thoughts set him apart from the crowd as he tries to reconcile his emotional reaction to the Captain's death.

"O Captain! My Captain!" is the only Walt Whitman poem that has a regular meter and rhyme scheme. Often hailed as "the father of free verse," Whitman tended to write his poems without following any kind of ordered poetic form. However, "O Captain! My Captain!" is organized into three eight-line stanzas, each with an AABBCDED rhyme scheme. Each stanza closes with the words "fallen cold and dead," and the first four lines of each stanza are longer than the last four lines. Because this poem is an elegy to the dead, the more traditional format adds to its solemnity. Additionally, the regular meter is reminiscent of a soldier marching across the battlefield, which is fitting for a poem that commemorates the end of the Civil War.

Walt Whitman: Poems Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Walt Whitman: Poems is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

The Wound Dresser

D. empathetic

Why do you think Walt Whitman chose a spider to symbolize his soul?

Whitman chose the spider because like the spider, his soul is always trying to make connections to the world.

“Pioneers! O Pioneers!” why the repetition in the last lines?

Each stanza ends with the title line, "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" The repetition of this line accentuates the speaker's respect for the pioneers, as well as mimicking a rallying cry that brings them together and inspires them for the difficult journey...

Study Guide for Walt Whitman: Poems

Walt Whitman: Poems study guide contains a biography of Walt Whitman, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Walt Whitman: Poems
• Walt Whitman: Poems Summary
• Walt Whitman: Poems Video
• Character List

Essays for Walt Whitman: Poems

Walt Whitman: Poems essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the poetry of Walt Whitman.

• An Analysis and Interpretation of Allen Ginsberg's America
• The Metaphor of Light in Whitman's Civil War Poems
• The Resposibilities of Creation
• An Explication of Walt Whitman's "Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun"
• The Deconstruction of Self in Walt Whitman's Song of Myself

Lesson Plan for Walt Whitman: Poems

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Walt Whitman: Poems
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Walt Whitman: Poems Bibliography

E-Text of Walt Whitman: Poems

Walt Whitman: Poems e-text contains the full text of select poems by Walt Whitman.

• Table of Contents
• Prefatory Notice
• Preface to Leaves of Grass
• Chants Democratic: Starting From Paumanok
• Chants Democratic: American Feuillage

Wikipedia Entries for Walt Whitman: Poems

• Introduction
• Life and work
• Lifestyle and beliefs
• Legacy and influence

Critical Analysis of Walt Whitman’s O Captain! My Captain!

Fresh Reads

The poem O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman was composed in 1865 shortly after the assassination of the sixteenth President of the United States of America – Abraham Lincoln. It is classified as an elegy as it mourns the demise of the President.

Critical Analysis

In the opening stanza, the speaker is a citizen of the United States of America and an admirer of President Abraham Lincoln, who has witnessed the American Civil War. The Captain, addressed in the poem, is Abraham Lincoln, the hero of the war. He is being compared to the Captain of the ship, and the ship is the United States herself. The long journey which has been the central idea of the poem is one of the most horrible wars – the Civil War (1861-65), in the history of America. These three metaphors have been used throughout the poem. Thus, the poet has devised extended metaphors in the poem to justify its spirit. The war had changed the history of the country; it had disfigured the contour of the country. The people had seen devastating and terrible deaths in the struggle between the Northern and Southern states. You have already learnt in the overview of the Civil War about the causes of the War. Here, the port symbolically represents the destination of the ship. What do you think could be the destination of the metaphorical ship? Yes, it is peace, harmony and equality among people. As you have already learnt, slavery was one of the leading causes of the war. Lincoln proclaimed the Emancipation of the slaves in 1862, and a number of slaves were freed. In 1865, the Confederates surrendered to the Union and with this Lincoln’s dream to unite the nation was accomplished. He was re-elected as the President in 1865 but was shortly assassinated. The unexpected assassination of President Lincoln had shaken Whitman. He was in pain and shock.

The speaker in the poem was in shock when he found the Captain dead on the deck. Here you would notice the change in the mood and tone of the speaker. The sudden loss has brought grief and misery to the speaker, his heart shrieks in pain.

In the opening line, the speaker addresses the Captain as ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ which shows his intimate relation with the Captain. He uses the word ‘My’ which itself stands for the possessiveness, closeness and attachment of the speaker to the Captain. Here, you will observe the sentiments of the poet through the phrase ‘O heart! heart! heart!’ for the Captain. Whitman has created visual imagery through the words ‘O the bleeding drops of red’ – the reader can visualize the death scene on the deck, with the Captain’s dead body smeared in blood. The speaker is in the same state of mind as someone who is bereaved and experiences a sudden loss of a close relative or someone dear to him. Whitman has portrayed Lincoln as a national hero whose death has brought great loss to the nation. His personal sentiments have been attached to the poem. The reader sways away in the grief of the brutal and horrible killing of the President.

Whitman has chosen the words in a manner that create a scene of sudden befallen misfortune amid the festive mood. The shadow of death dominates the celebratory and victorious moments and turns it into wailing.

In the second stanza, the speaker displays his inability to accept the death of the Captain. Whitman considers Lincoln as a father figure, and his death is an irreparable loss for the country. Through the stanza under observation, you learn that the enthusiastic crowd is present at the port to pay respect to their brave leader. The metaphorical ship, the United States of America, has sailed through the trials and tribulations throughout the journey of the War. The Civil War ended in 1865 in favour of the Union, which ultimately preserved the integrity of the nation. After seeing the Captain in a horrific situation, the speaker tries to wake him up to make him realize his importance to the country. The crowd here represents the sentiments of the citizens of America. He also tells the Captain that the arrangements done by the people are dedicated only to him. The tolls of bells, the sound of the bugle, the wreaths and the flags are all for him. He is the celebrity of the moment whose arrival is eagerly awaited by the crowd. Here, in the phrase ‘Here Captain! Dear father!’, you can observe how the speaker pleads to the Captain, like a child or a son, to get up and see the ceremonial moment. He even puts his arm beneath his head to raise it. The phrase ‘dear father’ metaphorically indicates Lincoln’s status as a symbolic father of the nation. When he realizes that the Captain is dead, he imagines himself to be in a dream, because he is so sorrowful that his mind refuses to accept the death of the Captain.

You can also observe how Whitman has again created visual imagery through his selection of words to make the reader picture the scene of an unexpected death of a father amid ceremonial enthusiasm. This is well-portrayed by the words “it is some dream that on the deck”, which shows how the speaker has lost touch with reality.

In the last stanza, you will observe that the speaker has accepted the reality that the Captain (Lincoln) is dead. To confirm one last time, the admirer (the speaker) tries to feel the Captain’s pulse and declares that it’s silent and no more pulsating. He also notices the corpse’s lips that have now turned pale in cold blood. Ultimately, he declares that the Captain has not conscious. Here, Whitman writes about the scene of Lincoln’s death – one that has caused him great misery and pain. He has intertwined the emotional complexity of the speaker at a personal level with the rejoicing people at the port.

Now, you can easily understand the speaker’s declaration in the poem through the line ‘The ship is anchored safe and sound’. The poet, Whitman, metaphorically states the end of the Civil War in 1865. The Union of America has achieved the purpose of the struggle. The long-standing decade-old disputes have come to an end. The peace, harmony and integrity of the nation have been restored. People of all races and creeds will now gain equality and justice. All that Abraham Lincoln, the guiding figure during the war, had set out to accomplish, he has fulfilled. The four years of the war have no doubt, been destructive and horrible in the history of America, but whatever Lincoln had endeared to gain, he had achieved. The speaker in the poem declares that the prize or the reward of all these struggles in the form of preservation of harmony has been realized. The ‘ship’ or you can say, the country has sought its reward at the cost of losing a father figure of the nation.

The tone of the poem suddenly takes a turn when the speaker states his mourning while the outer world is celebrating. He is in agony, and his tormented soul expresses his grief with the phrase ‘Exult O shores, ring O bells!’ The reader empathizes with the psychological condition of the speaker, who is dealing with such a huge loss.

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“O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman: Literary Devices Explicatory Essay

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‘ O Captain! My Captain! ’ is an allegorical poem written by Walt Whitman. The poem is one of the best-extended allegorical poems. Among the significant poetic concepts and literary devices that make his poem exceptional are the sound of words (a combination of words to reveal a special effect when we read them) and allusion (allegory, referring to something in an indirect manner, without using words that signify that one has made any direct reference). In this essay, “O Captain! My Captain!” shall be reviewed and analyzed.

Moreover, he extensively incorporates imagery (vivid language that evokes mental images or generates ideas) and rhyme (words having different sounds but with endings that sound alike) to make the poem more allegorical. Extensive use of poetry concepts has made people have an in-depth understanding of the poem in reference to Abraham Lincoln, the American president.

In essence, the allusion in “O Captain! My Captain!” refers to Abraham Lincoln. Whitman wrote the poem in the year 1865, the same year that Lincoln died. Captain is an allusion to the president, Abraham Lincoln, while the ‘ship’ (Whitman 1) is an illusion to the United States. The ‘fearful trip’ (Whitman 1) is an illusion to the troubles that the Americans including the president have to go through during the American Civil War while the phrase ‘some dream that on the deck, fallen cold and dead’ (Whitman 2) is an illusion to Lincoln’s assassination.

This implies that the poem is an illusion to Lincoln’s assassination during the American Civil War, a time when Americans were troubled and feared that they would die because of the war.

We get to know more about the assassination and the era through imagery, which incorporates three senses, sound, touch, and sight. Sight is in the second part of the first paragraph, the second line, ‘O bleeding drops of red’ (Whitman 1). One gets to envision the Captain bleeding and wonder what could have caused the bleeding.

This makes us realize someone hurt the Captain, Lincoln, which leads to the irony in the poem. In the second paragraph, the second line of the first part, there is sound imagery ‘the bugle trills’ (Whitman 2). This makes one imagine how joyful people were. Even though he was dead, people were grateful to Lincoln for helping them end the civil war, and that is why they held him highly. Thus, allegory in “O Captain! My Captain!” is clearly evident

One of the imagery incorporating touch is in the third paragraph, the first part, the second line ‘he has nor pulse not will’ (Whitman 3). This makes one realize the sadness of the poet as well as the people. Someone has to feel Lincoln’s pulse to ascertain that he is dead. It is unbelievable that he will never be the president even though he has helped Americans deal with the war.

The poem makes use of internal rhyme to maintain a steady rhythm. In line three ‘the port is near, the bells I hear’ (Whitman 1), and in the twentieth line ‘from fearful trip, the victor ship’ (Whitman 3), the poem exhibits an internal rhyme that enables the poem to have a joyful, quick and upbeat rhythm. Special syntax structure that features parallelism in lines adds to the tone of the poem

This exhibits excitement, and we get to know that the poet is speaking about how people are excited that they have won the civil war. However, when the poet is talking about sullen and sad moments, he interrupts the poem’s rhythm and redirects the attention of the reader.

To emphasize the shock of finding out that the Captain, Lincoln is dead, the poet makes sure that in each paragraph, the first part has a distinct rhyme scheme pattern. Nevertheless, as the analysis essay on “O Captain! My Captain!” shows, in the second part of each section, the rhyme scheme changes and focuses on the mood that reveals that the captain, Lincoln, is dead. For instance, in the first paragraph, the rhyme is AABB. However, in the second part, the rhyme takes a different direction CDEF

The poet also makes used of words and their sounds to communicate to the audience. In line one and nine, the repetition of the phrase ‘O Captain! My Captain’ (Whitman 2) is used to reveal that the captain’s death, immensely shocked the poet. In addition, at the end of every paragraph, the phrase ‘fallen cold and dead’ (Whitman 2) is repeated.

This emphasizes how difficult it is for people, including the poet, to believe that Lincoln is already dead. The repetition in “O Captain! My Captain!” reveals intense sadness and a hidden wish, the wish that Lincoln was alive. As explained, all the major poetry concepts used by Whitman, including the sound of words, allusion, imagery, and rhyme, helps us to understand the poem better in the form of a poem based on an extended metaphor.

Works Cited

Whitman, Walt. O Captain My Captain. Poetry Foundation, 2011. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2018, June 12). "O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman: Literary Devices. https://ivypanda.com/essays/poetry-essay-o-captain-my-captain/

""O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman: Literary Devices." IvyPanda , 12 June 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/poetry-essay-o-captain-my-captain/.

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IvyPanda . 2018. ""O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman: Literary Devices." June 12, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/poetry-essay-o-captain-my-captain/.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — O Captain My Captain — Analysis Of The Poem O Captain! My Captain

Analysis of The Poem O Captain! My Captain

• Categories: O Captain My Captain Poetry Walt Whitman

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Words: 439 |

Published: Aug 6, 2021

Words: 439 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

• Whitman, W. (1865). O Captain! My Captain! In Leaves of Grass (pp. 206-207). Thayer & Eldridge.
• Kaplan, J. (2003). Walt Whitman: A Life. Harper Perennial.
• Miller, J. E. (2003). Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" as an Elegy for Abraham Lincoln. Journal of American Culture, 26(3), 387-394.
• Reynolds, D. S. (1995). Walt Whitman's America: A Cultural Biography. Vintage.
• Loving, J. (1999). Walt Whitman: The Song of Himself. University of California Press.
• Burroughs, J. (1900). Whitman: A Study. Houghton, Mifflin & Co.
• Kaplan, J. (2000). Lincoln in American Memory. University of Chicago Press.
• Krimmel, W. (1971). The Old Public Functionary as Natural Aristocrat: The Captain in Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" American Literature, 43(2), 225-238.
• Callow, P. (1992). Walt Whitman: The Poet and His Critics. Paragon House.
• Loving, J. (1996). Walt Whitman: Song of Himself. University of California Press.

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English Studies

This website is dedicated to English Literature, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, English Language and its teaching and learning.

“O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

• Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
• The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
• The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
• While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
• But O heart! heart! heart!
• the bleeding drops of red,
• Where on the deck my Captain lies,
• Fallen cold and dead.
• Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
• Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
• For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
• For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
• Here Captain! dear father!
• This arm beneath your head!
• It is some dream that on the deck,
• You’ve fallen cold and dead.
• My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
• My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
• The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
• From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
• Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
• But I with mournful tread,
• Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Introduction

Table of Contents

Written by Walt Whitman in 1865, “O Captain! My Captain!” is an elegy that mourns the death of President Abraham Lincoln. The poem quickly won popularity due to the love of the public for the president. Also, several newspapers and magazines across the country published this poem simultaneously. Whitman has expressed his deep love and respect for the deceased president to show the collective grief felt by the American people in the aftermath of his assassination. Structured as an extended metaphor with the captain of a ship representing Lincoln, who led the country through the turbulent waters of the Civil War, Whitman has tried to pay tribute to the legend.

Annotations of “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

Literary devices in “o captain my captain” by walt whitman, sound and poetic devices in “o captain my captain” by walt whitman, functions of literary devices in “o captain my captain” by walt whitman.

• Expressing Emotion and Tone: The literary devices used in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman, such as repetition, alliteration, and rhyme scheme, help to convey the poem’s emotional tone. The repetition of the phrase “O Captain! My Captain!” emphasizes the speaker’s deep respect and admiration for the captain, while the alliteration “the bleeding drops of red” creates a visceral image of the captain’s blood on the deck. The rhyme scheme, AABB, in the first quatrain, too, adds to the poem’s mournful tone and emphasizes the speaker’s sorrow over the captain’s death.
• Creating Imagery and Metaphors : Through literary devices such as metaphor , simile , and personification, “O Captain! My Captain!” shows Whitman using images that help to convey the poem’s meaning. For example, the phrase “the ship has weather’d every rack” uses personification to give the ship a sense of resilience and strength. The metaphor of the captain as a father figure also highlights the speaker’s emotional attachment to the captain and his sense of loss.
• Enhancing Rhythm and Musicality: The use of literary devices such as repetition, assonance , and consonance in “O Captain! My Captain!” helps the poet to create a pleasing rhythm and charming music in the poem. For example, the repetition of phrases such as “Captain! my Captain!” and “fallen cold and dead” creates a sense of emphasis and rhythm that enhances the poem’s impact. The assonance of /e/ in “bleeding drops of red” and the consonance of /g/ in “grim and daring” add to the poem’s musicality and contribute to its emotional impact.
• Creating Symbolism and Meaning: The literary devices used in “O Captain! My Captain!” also contribute to the poem’s symbolic meaning. For example, repetition of the phrase “O Captain! My Captain!” creates a powerful symbol of loyalty and respect. The use of metaphor to compare the captain to a father figure creates a sense of familial love and loss. The poem’s overall message of mourning for a fallen leader and the triumph of a victorious journey reflects the larger themes of American history and the struggle for democracy. And all this has been possible through the appropriate use of literary devices.

Themes in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

• Loss and Mourning: The poem “ O Captain! My Captain!”captures the deep sense of loss and mourning experienced by the poet for his fallen captain, who happens to be the president Abraham Lincoln. It immediately starts when the poem opens. The image of bleeding heart in line 5 suggests intense emotional pain and grief of the poem. It is further reinforced with the use of the word “dead” in line 8 that highlights the finality of death and the poet’s acceptance of the captain’s untimely demise. The repeated use of the phrase “my Captain” in every stanza of the poem underscores the strong emotional attachment the poet has had with the president. Also, his idea of living captain in lines 15-16 and 23-24 further highlights the difficulty Whitman faces in reconciling with the death of the president. That is why it seems to have become an acute loss for him that he is constantly mourning.
• Victory and Triumph: Although “O Captain! My Captain!” centers not only on loss and mourning, it also touches other themes and celebrates victory and triumph. Whitman seems to have expressed satisfaction that Lincoln has left country in the same hands. That is why h shows the ship’s successful completion of the journey despite facing various obstacles it encounters as a symbol of victory and triumph. The use of the word “prize” in line 2 suggests that the journey was worth the effort, and the people’s exultation in line 3 underscores the sense of celebration and triumph. The waving of the flag and the playing of the bugle in line 10 symbolize victory and honor, while the wreaths and ribbons in line 11 represent the adoration and respect that the captain has earned.
• Leadership and Respect: The poem “O Captain! My Captain!” highlights the captain’s leadership and the respect he has earned from his crew and others. The use of the phrase “Captain! My Captain!” in the poem conveys a sense of closeness and reverence that the speaker has for the captain. The captain seems a “father” figure in lines 13-14, highlighting the care and guidance he has provided to those around him. The fact that the people on shore are calling out to the captain, adorning his ship with wreaths and flags underscores the respect and admiration that the captain has won from his people. It also highlights the leadership skills that captain has that even on the deathbed he has not forgotten to steer the ship of his country clear of obstacles.

Literary Theories and “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

• New Criticism : This literary theory focuses on the text and how its individual parts work together to create meaning. Regarding the poem, “O Captain! My Captain!”, New Criticism would analyze the use of repetition such as the repeated lines “Captain! My Captain!” throughout the poem show the speaker’s intense devotion to their fallen leader (verses 1, 9, and 17). The theory would also examine the use of imagery such as the description of the “bleeding drops of red” on the deck (verse 6), to emphasize the tragic loss of the captain. Other than these, it could focus on rhyme, anaphoric use of some phrases such as “For you…(lines 11-12) and metaphors and similes.
• Reader-Response Theory: This literary theory emphasizes the role of the reader in interpreting a text. With “O Captain! My Captain!”, a reader-response interpretation would focus on the emotional impact of the poem on the reader. The theory would consider how the reader’s own experiences and emotions shape their understanding of the poem’s themes, such as grief, loyalty, and sacrifice. However, interestingly, some readers may interpret this emotional outburst as jingoism or over-expression of patriotism of the poet.
• Historical Criticism: This literary theory considers the historical and cultural context in which a text was written. One way in which the poem reflects the historical context of its time is through its use of military imagery. The poem describes the captain as having “fallen cold and dead” (verse 2) and urges him to “rise up and hear the bells” (verse 9). These references to death and resurrection are reminiscent of the language of the Civil War, during which hundreds of thousands of soldiers lost their lives. The poem also uses military imagery to describe the captain’s leadership, referring to him as the “father” (verse 1) and “captain” (verses 1 and 3) of the ship. These references connect the poem to the patriotism and nationalism that characterized the post-Civil War era in the United States.
• Psychoanalytic Criticism : This literary theory analyzes the psychological motivations and desires of the characters in a literary work. “O Captain! My Captain!” shows a psychoanalytic interpretation through poet’s relationship with the captain, including the intense emotions of love and loss he expresses in the poem. His relationship could be interpreted by seeing it as a metaphor. For example, he refers him “my father” in line 1 and “my Captain” in line 3. This suggests that the captain represents a figure of authority and guidance in the poet’s life, much like a father figure. Psychoanalytic criticism would examine the speaker’s feelings towards this figure, and how they relate to the his experiences with their own father or father figure. The poem also expresses the speaker’s intense emotions of love and loss toward the captain.

Essay Topics, Questions and Thesis Statements about “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

• Topic: Abraham Lincoln’s Death in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

Question: How does Walt Whitman use the death of Abraham Lincoln as a symbol of national mourning in “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Thesis Statement: In “O Captain! My Captain!”, Walt Whitman utilizes the death of Abraham Lincoln as a metaphor for the nation’s mourning, highlighting the deep sense of loss and sorrow felt by the American people after the Civil War, and underscoring the importance of Lincoln’s leadership and sacrifice for the country.

• Topic: Loss and Grief in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

Question: How does Walt Whitman explore the themes of loss and grief in “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Thesis Statement: Through the use of powerful imagery and symbolism, Walt Whitman explores the themes of loss and grief in “O Captain! My Captain!”, depicting the deep emotional pain and sense of sorrow felt by those who have lost someone they admire and respect, and underscoring the importance of remembering those who have sacrificed for their country.

• Topic: Metaphors and Symbols in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

Question: How does Walt Whitman use metaphors and symbols to convey meaning in “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Thesis Statement: In “O Captain! My Captain!”, Walt Whitman employs a range of metaphors and symbols to convey a deeper meaning about the themes of loss, grief, and patriotism, demonstrating the power of figurative language to evoke emotion and create a sense of connection between the reader and the subject matter.

• Topic: Rhythm and Sound in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

Question: How does Walt Whitman use rhythm and sound to create a sense of emotional intensity in “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Thesis Statement: Through his use of carefully crafted rhythm and sound, Walt Whitman creates a sense of emotional intensity in “O Captain! My Captain!”, heightening the impact of the poem’s themes and symbolism, and showcasing the power of poetry to evoke deep emotion and connect with readers on a visceral level.

Short Questions-Answers about “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

• What is the significance of the metaphorical language in “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman?

“O Captain! My Captain!” shows the use of metaphors , stressing upon the thematic strands of mourning and loss. For example, the ship is a metaphor for the nation, and the captain represents Abraham Lincoln, who was killed at that time. The “fearful trip” refers to the Civil War country witnessed at that time and the “prize we sought” was the preservation of the Union. The “bells” and “bugle trills” represent the nation’s joy at the end of the war, while the “bleeding drops of red” represent the bloodshed. This shows how metaphors in the poem highlight the pain and sacrifice the nation went through during the Civil War, and the loss the Americans felt when Lincoln departed from the scene.

• What is the mood of “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman?

The mood of “O Captain! My Captain!” is one of mourning and sadness. It shows that the ship has reached its destination and the war is over. Yet, there is a sense of loss because the captain has died. The repetition of the phrase “fallen cold and dead” reinforces this sense of finality and loss. However, there is also a sense of pride and respect for the captain as evidenced by the repeated plea to “rise up” and the tributes that are being made in his honor. This shows that the mood is not only of loss and pessimism but also of reassurance and optimism that at least the captain has done his duty before his departure.

• What is the significance of the repeated phrase “Captain! My Captain!” in the poem “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman?

The repetition of the phrase “Captain! My Captain!” emphasizes the speaker’s admiration and respect for the captain. It also reinforces the relationship between the captain and the speaker, which is one of loyalty and devotion. The repeated plea for the captain to “rise up” highlights the sense of loss and mourning that the speaker is experiencing, as well as the desire to pay tribute to the captain’s legacy. Overall, the repeated phrase serves as a powerful symbol of the speaker’s emotional connection to the captain and the deep sense of loss that is felt when he dies.

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O Captain, My Captain Lesson Plans for Teachers

Teaching O Captain, My Captain

The O Captain, My Captain lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Inside you'll find 30 Daily Lessons, 20 Fun Activities, 180 Multiple Choice Questions, 60 Short Essay Questions, 20 Essay Questions, Quizzes/Homework Assignments, Tests, and more. The lessons and activities will help students gain an intimate understanding of the text, while the tests and quizzes will help you evaluate how well the students have grasped the material. View a free sample

Target Grade: 7th-12th (Middle School and High School)

Length of Lesson Plan: Approximately 32 pages. Page count is estimated at 300 words per page. Length will vary depending on format viewed.

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Full Lesson Plan Overview

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The O Captain, My Captain lesson plan is downloadable in PDF and Word. The Word file is viewable with any PC or Mac and can be further adjusted if you want to mix questions around and/or add your own headers for things like "Name," "Period," and "Date." The Word file offers unlimited customizing options so that you can teach in the most efficient manner possible. Once you download the file, it is yours to keep and print for your classroom. View a FREE sample

Lesson Plan Calendars

The Lesson Plan Calendars provide daily suggestions about what to teach. They include detailed descriptions of when to assign reading, homework, in-class work, fun activities, quizzes, tests and more. Use the entire O Captain, My Captain calendar, or supplement it with your own curriculum ideas. Calendars cover one, two, four, and eight week units. Determine how long your O Captain, My Captain unit will be, then use one of the calendars provided to plan out your entire lesson.

Chapter Abstracts

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter of O Captain, My Captain . They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of important characters. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of O Captain, My Captain for either a student or teacher.

Character and Object Descriptions

Character and Object Descriptions provide descriptions of the significant characters as well as objects and places in O Captain, My Captain . These can be printed out and used as an individual study guide for students, a "key" for leading a class discussion, a summary review prior to exams, or a refresher for an educator. The character and object descriptions are also used in some of the quizzes and tests in this lesson plan. The longest descriptions run about 200 words. They become shorter as the importance of the character or object declines.

Daily Lessons

This section of the lesson plan contains 30 Daily Lessons. Daily Lessons each have a specific objective and offer at least three (often more) ways to teach that objective. Lessons include classroom discussions, group and partner activities, in-class handouts, individual writing assignments, at least one homework assignment, class participation exercises and other ways to teach students about O Captain, My Captain in a classroom setting. You can combine daily lessons or use the ideas within them to create your own unique curriculum. They vary greatly from day to day and offer an array of creative ideas that provide many options for an educator.

Fun Classroom Activities

Fun Classroom Activities differ from Daily Lessons because they make "fun" a priority. The 20 enjoyable, interactive classroom activities that are included will help students understand O Captain, My Captain in fun and entertaining ways. Fun Classroom Activities include group projects, games, critical thinking activities, brainstorming sessions, writing poems, drawing or sketching, and countless other creative exercises. Many of the activities encourage students to interact with each other, be creative and think "outside of the box," and ultimately grasp key concepts from the text by "doing" rather than simply studying. Fun activities are a great way to keep students interested and engaged while still providing a deeper understanding of O Captain, My Captain and its themes.

Essay Questions/Writing Assignments

These 20 Essay Questions/Writing Assignments can be used as essay questions on a test, or as stand-alone essay topics for a take-home or in-class writing assignment on O Captain, My Captain . Students should have a full understanding of the unit material in order to answer these questions. They often include multiple parts of the work and ask for a thorough analysis of the overall text. They nearly always require a substantial response. Essay responses are typically expected to be one (or more) page(s) and consist of multiple paragraphs, although it is possible to write answers more briefly. These essays are designed to challenge a student's understanding of the broad points in a work, interactions among the characters, and main points and themes of the text. But, they also cover many of the other issues specific to the work and to the world today.

Short Essay Questions

The 60 Short Essay Questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of O Captain, My Captain by describing what they've read, rather than just recalling it. The short essay questions evaluate not only whether students have read the material, but also how well they understand and can apply it. They require more thought than multiple choice questions, but are shorter than the essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

The 180 Multiple Choice Questions in this lesson plan will test a student's recall and understanding of O Captain, My Captain . Use these questions for quizzes, homework assignments or tests. The questions are broken out into sections, so they focus on specific chapters within O Captain, My Captain . This allows you to test and review the book as you proceed through the unit. Typically, there are 5-15 questions per chapter, act or section.

Evaluation Forms

Use the Oral Reading Evaluation Form when students are reading aloud in class. Pass the forms out before you assign reading, so students will know what to expect. You can use the forms to provide general feedback on audibility, pronunciation, articulation, expression and rate of speech. You can use this form to grade students, or simply comment on their progress.

Use the Writing Evaluation Form when you're grading student essays. This will help you establish uniform criteria for grading essays even though students may be writing about different aspects of the material. By following this form you will be able to evaluate the thesis, organization, supporting arguments, paragraph transitions, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. of each student's essay.

Quizzes/Homework Assignments

The Quizzes/Homework Assignments are worksheets that can be used in a variety of ways. They pull questions from the multiple choice and short essay sections, the character and object descriptions, and the chapter abstracts to create worksheets that can be used for pop quizzes, in-class assignments and homework. Periodic homework assignments and quizzes are a great way to encourage students to stay on top of their assigned reading. They can also help you determine which concepts and ideas your class grasps and which they need more guidance on. By pulling from the different sections of the lesson plan, quizzes and homework assignments offer a comprehensive review of O Captain, My Captain in manageable increments that are less substantial than a full blown test.

Use the Test Summary page to determine which pre-made test is most relevant to your students' learning styles. This lesson plan provides both full unit tests and mid-unit tests. You can choose from several tests that include differing combinations of multiple choice questions, short answer questions, short essay questions, full essay questions, character and object matching, etc. Some of the tests are designed to be more difficult than others. Some have essay questions, while others are limited to short-response questions, like multiple choice, matching and short answer questions. If you don't find the combination of questions that best suits your class, you can also create your own test on O Captain, My Captain .

Create Your Own Quiz or Test

You have the option to Create Your Own Quiz or Test. If you want to integrate questions you've developed for your curriculum with the questions in this lesson plan, or you simply want to create a unique test or quiz from the questions this lesson plan offers, it's easy to do. Cut and paste the information from the Create Your Own Quiz or Test page into a Word document to get started. Scroll through the sections of the lesson plan that most interest you and cut and paste the exact questions you want to use into your new, personalized O Captain, My Captain lesson plan.

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