The poem is classified as an elegy because it is a mourning poem that was written in the memory of someone. Analyse the poem to make a critical appreciation session 1. The poem is one of the bestextended allegorical poems. The themes of mourning the death of the one who was the captain of the ship the nation and rejoicing over the victory intertwine throughout the poem. Whitman says the captain has just guided the ship through a fearful trip. However, his inner thoughts set him apart from the crowd as he tries to reconcile his emotional reaction to the captains death. This poem, having historical value, was written as a tribute to abraham lincoln, the american president, whom whitman. This poem is a memoir depicting his deep admiration for abraham lincoln. The poem is classified as an elegy or mourning poem, and was written to honor abraham lincoln, the 16th president of. Walt whitman was a very strong admirer of abraham lincoln and often saw him as a. What type of figurative language does whitman use when he compares lincoln to the captain of a ship. Hes singing a song that praises his captain for leading the ship and crew into the harbor after a long and dangerous voyagewithout gps, even. It is a symbolic poem in which captain refers to abraham lincoln and the ship refers to the usa. This classic poem was written by whitman following the assassination of abraham lincoln.
It is about the death of the captain and how dear this captain was to the persona. Born on may 31, 1819, walt whitman is the author of leaves of grass and, along with emily dickinson, is considered one of the architects of a uniquely american poetic voice. 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. Classic poetry printables for poems by walt whitman. This lesson provides an analysis of walt whitmans poem o captain.
This penlighten post gives an analysis of this poem. The poem is an elegy, memorializing abraham lincoln, americas sixteenth president. Walt whitman is the newage poet, poised with breaking away from the shackles of. It expresses the poets deep sense of sorrow at the unexpected death of the great leader of the u. O captain my captain summary walt whitman english summary. Symbolism and imagery are some of the significant elements of style in poetry. Questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on. Everyones on shore celebrating the safe homecoming, when the sailor notices that the captain is lying dead on the deck of. It is often first introduced to middle school students, and is cited in a memorable scene from the movie dead poets society 1989 in which students stand up for their teacher, john keating, played by robin williams. The poem is perhaps whitmans most famouswhich is ironic, since it is far more conventional in meter, form, and. For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning. O captain my captain keel the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessels hull, on which the rest of the hull is built, in some vessels extended downward as a blade or ridge to increase stability. After completing this unit students will be able to.
Rise up for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills for you bouquets and wreaths for you the shores acrowding. Comics are a simple way to help students with learning disabilities comprehend challenging information and texts. What is the theme of the poem oh captain, my captain. It is alluded to president abraham lincolns death in 1865. Walt whitmans o captain my captain analysis poetry. The poems evocation of triumph overshadowed by despair spoke to readers throughout the shattered nation, and it was widely reprinted and published in anthologies. O captain my captain is one of the famous poems by american poet walt whitman.
O captain my captain reading guide warren county public. Il fut compose en hommage au president des etatsunis abraham lincoln, assassine le 14 avril 1865. In whitmans poem, the speaker believes that he should be part of the other group, celebrating the return to safety. Whitmans poetry themes, motifs and symbols individuals for praise in his poetry, particularly abraham lincoln. After abraham lincolns assassination in 1865, walt whitman wrote o captain my captain. Lamenting the assassination of abraham lincoln, walt whitmans poem was published shortly after lincolns death in 1865. Although lincoln is never directly named in the poem, he is alluded to through the poems extended metaphor. The poem is perhaps whitmans most famouswhich is ironic, since it is far more conventional in meter, form, and subject than. Learn about the origins of the poem, the extended metaphor inside. The port is near, the bells i hear, the people all exulting, while follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring. An unit plan with 3 sessions on poetry comprehension o captain, my captain by walt whitman. The poem is written in a form of an elegy and is aimed to honor the sixteenth president of the united states. Celebrating americas groundbreaking poet and his legacy.
O the bleeding drops of red, where on the deck my captain lies, fallen cold and dead. In honor of presidents day, librivox brings you thirteen versions of o captain. Identify the poetic devices and explain how they are used in the poem session 2. It was first published in sequel to drumtaps 1865, a collection of whitmans poems inspired by the events of the american civil war. Home uncategorized a summary and analysis of the poignant o captain. The poem is a metaphor to the civil war and the captain of the ship refers to abraham lincoln. O the bleeding drops of red, style analysis is another way of saying that you are going to read a poem very. My captain is in memory of abraham lincoln, the 16 th president of america. The poem was written to honor abraham lincoln, the 16th president of the united states. Symbolism element is used to emphasize internalized poetry aspects to describe the feeling and thoughts of a poet due to a lack of better words to describe them.
The theme of walt whitmans poem oh captain, my captain is the death of president abraham lincoln just as the civil war ends. This poem, o captain, my captain was written by walt whitman in 1865 after the assassination of abraham lincoln. The poem moves with sheer melancholic tone throughout its entirety. The poem is perhaps whitmans most famouswhich is ironic, since it is far. My captain, written by walt whitman 1865 consists of 3 stanzas. The poem became among his bestknown, to the extent that whitman almost regretted writing it later. The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won. Librivoxs weekly poetry project for the week of february 19, 2006. The ship has weatherd every rack, the prize we sought is won. In this essay, symbolism and imagery in o captain, my captain shall be analyzed in detail. How is the president of the united states like the captain of a ship. Our fearful trip is done, the ship has weatherd 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.
This death of the beloved president left the entire country devastated. The sailor calls out again, but this time it isnt for the captain. The poem was first published in the pamphlet sequel to drumtaps which assembled 18 poems regarding the american civil war, including another lincoln elegy, when lilacs last in the dooryard bloomd. The author is referring to abraham lincoln when talking about the captain. As a bold leader he brought his ship safely through the stormy voyage to the harbour. Where on the deck my captain lies, fallen cold and dead. It was first published in 1865 in a pamphlet named sequel to drumtaps. The following questions will help you to focus on some of the important elements of the poem. In 1865, lincoln was assassinated, and whitman began composing several elegies, including o captain. He belts out the word heart, and this could mean that he is shouting out a to his captain to keep heart, as in not to give up, or b to his own heart, as if in pain. Walt whitman style analysis is another way of saying that you are going to read a poem very closely and examine the elements of the poem that are important as well as the way the poet uses rhetorical devices in the poem.
1545 1033 1243 1596 150 219 15 1097 1481 1361 778 1384 936 1543 502 1460 1536 653 647 1011 1403 1393 1297 567 186 1210 922 296 397 1218 2 17 322 971