What does the poem O Captain my Captain mean?
by Walt Whitman
- Summary. My Captain!’ by Walt Whitman is a heart-touching elegy on the death of the American President Abraham Lincoln.
- O Captain! My Captain! ...
- Literary Devices. Most of Walt Whitman’s poems use repetition and rhythm for rendering a spellbinding poetic beauty. ...
- Themes. ...
What is the poem Oh Captain my Captain about?
Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” is an extended metaphor mourning the death of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 at the close of the American Civil War. The speaker, a sailor, reports to his captain that the ship has completed its journey. They have returned from a successful voyage. The crowd is celebrating on the shore to welcome home the captain.
What is the message in O Captain Your Captain?
My Captain!”
- Lines 1-4 O Captain! my Captain! ...
- Line 6 O the bleeding drops of red, Unlock all 274 words of this analysis of Line 6 of “O Captain! ...
- Lines 9-12 O Captain! ...
- Lines 13-18 Here Captain! ...
- 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 ...
What makes O Captain Your Captain an elegy?
An elegy is a poem of mourning. Most elegies are about someone who has died. Some elegies mourn a way of life that is gone forever. “O Captain! My Captain!” mourns the tragic death of President Abraham Lincoln. The poem was written in honor of President Lincoln following his assassination, and it also has celebratory passages that mark the ...
What is the central idea of the poem O Captain My Captain quizlet?
What is the central idea of this poem? A victory has been achieved but the leader was lost in the process.
What does the captain represent in the poem?
Metaphor: There are three extended metaphors in the poem. The first extended metaphor is “Captain,” used in the first line that runs throughout the poem. Here Captain represents Abraham Lincoln who loses his life in the battle.
How does the poem O Captain My Captain represent American culture?
Most of his poetry reflects on that and is representative of American ideals and culture. He wrote “O Captain My Captain” as an a kind of mourning poem, also called elegy, in order to honor Abraham Lincoln. In the poem, the speaker is shouting out to his captain that they have finally made it back after a scary trip.
Extended Metaphor
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Alliteration
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Epistrophe
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Apostrophe
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Caesura
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Anaphora
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End-Stopped Line
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Background
Lincoln's presidency (1861-1865) coincided with one of the most divisive times in American history. The country entered into the Civil War, encountered years of bloody fighting, saw the end of slavery in the nation, and ended the war with a lingering bitterness.
Setting and Symbolism
''O Captain! My Captain!'' utilizes a series of symbols related to sailing. There is the Captain, who is a reference to Lincoln. There are also references to the ''keel'' and ''deck,'' parts of the ship which has returned to ''port.'' The ship has ''weather'd'' a difficult voyage, a symbol for the bloody Civil War.
Themes
Loss, grief, and victory are central themes in ''O Captain! My Captain.''