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ENGLISH LITERATURE

POETRY

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! STD 7

'Walt 'Whitman wrote the poem '0 Captain! :My Captain!' as a·

tribute to the infamous American President, Abraham Lincoln. :He

wrote this poem after Abraham Lincoln's assassination which. took

place soon after the American Civil War. In this po em, Walt

'Whitman expresses his profound sense of grief and admiration for

one of the greatest American Presidents. The poem would not be

complete without its extended metaphors: the Captain. refers to

.Abraham Lincoln, the 'ship' spoken about signifies the 'United States

of America while its fearful trip' recalls the troubles of the

American Civil War.

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Ref.I. '0 captain! my captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won.'

Q.1. Who is the poet of the above lines? Who is referred to as the Ship's Captain?

Ans. The poet is WaIt Whitman. The American President, Abraham Lincoln is referred to

as the ship's captain.

Q.2. Identify the historical event which refers to 'the fearful trip'. In the poem, what

does the phrase 'our fearful trip is done' mean?

Ans. The fearful trip refers to the American Civil War which was fought against the

southern states in the United States of America, to give the African slaves freedom

and human dignity.

'Our fearful trip is done' signifies the result of the American Civil War. In the end,

after a long struggle, the war was finally won.

Q.3. 'The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won', is a metaphor.

What are the ship and the prize compared to?

Ans. The ship refers to the Unites States of America and the prize refers to is the victory

of the American Civil War.

The Unites States of America had been through a tough time due to the troubles

of the Civil War and the freedom they were seeking was finally achieved.

Q.4. Describe the atmosphere at the port?

Ans. At the port, the bells were ringing to celebrate the ships arrival. The eager people

are all exulting with joy as they steadily watch the ship closing in.

Q.5. Which lines tell you that the Captain is dead? Quote these lines from the poem. Ans, 'But 0 heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red! Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. These are the lines from the poem that tell us the Captain is dead.

Q.6. What is the significance of the sudden death of the Captain in this poem?

Ans. The sudden death of the Captain in this poem, signifies the assassination of the

American President, Abraham Lincoln soon after the Civil War.

Q.7. Describe the importance of the title of this poem

Ans. '0 Captain! my Captain!' shows us Walt Whitman's love and admiration for Abraham

Lincoln. It was Abraham Lincoln's death that affected the poet the most.

This poem was written to not only honour the death of Abraham Lincoln but also to

acknowledge him as the leader of their country who held the nation together through one of

the worst crisis.

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Ref.II. '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.'

Q.1. What is the Captain also called in the poem? What does it

signify?

Ans. In the poem, the Captain is also called 'dear father'.

On one hand it signifies that Abraham Lincoln was the father of the nation and on the

other hand it is used as a sign of respect and admiration for the President.

Q.2. What preparations have been made to welcome the Captain and his ship?

Ans. The bells are ringing and the flag is flung. At the shore, crowds have gathered, the

bugle trills and the eager crowd holds bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths for the

Captain.

Q.3. How does the poet try to wake the fallen Captain?

Ans. The poet pleads desperately to the Captain to get up and see that the people are flying

the flag just for him. Walt Whitman tells the Captain that the people are blowing

their bugles and are waiting to honour the Captain of the ship with bouquets of

flowers and well decorated wreaths.

The poet continues to tell the Captain that the people at the shore are crowding just for

him as they are eager to see the Captain that lead them all to victory.

Q.4. What does the Captain realise when 'the captain' does not respond to his pleas?

Quote appropriate lines from the poem for your answer.

Ans. 'My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

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

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Ref.III. 'The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

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

Q.1. Explain the extended metaphor in these lines. Ans The ship has finally reached the shore. It is safe and sound, having completed its journey. This refers to the plight of the' United States of America, after the Civil War was fought. Since the war was won, once again peace was restored in the country and the Africans were given their right to freedom. After the Civil War was won, the 'victor ship' refers to the victorious United States of America. 'With object won' refers to the achievement of the purpose of the Civil War.

Q.2. What does the poet encourage the people to do? Ans. Walt Whitman encourages the people on the shore to continue rejoicing and to ring

the bells.

Q.3. In contrast to this, how does the poet choose to react? Ans. The poet chooses to walk heavily with deep sadness, on the deck where his captain

lies fallen cold and dead. ************************************************************************