Asked by: Alphousseyni Antonakos
books and literature poetry

What is the ship in O Captain My Captain?

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The ship's anchor in “O Captain! My Captain!” is a symbol for the end of Civil War and Lincoln's death. While the voyage symbolizes the Civil War, it may also symbolize Lincoln's life. When the speaker says that the anchored ship is safe and sound, Whitman refers to the country being out of war and in a state of peace.


Similarly, you may ask, what is the ship a metaphor for in O Captain My Captain?

The Ship as the United States The captain's ship has been through tough times, having 'weather'd every rack. ' The ship is a metaphor for the United States, which has been battered with heavy loss of life and property during the Civil War. Despite the difficulties, the ship is ultimately 'anchor'd safe and sound.

Furthermore, what does the captain represent in the poem? But when it is analysed, it becomes obvious that the poem actually is a cry of sorrow mourning the death of Abraham Lincoln. The captain represents the President and the ship in turn represents the United States. The trip is the Civil War and the price is keeping the union together.

Similarly, what is the prize in O Captain My Captain?

The poem is an extended metaphor: (1) Lincoln is the captain who has “fallen cold and dead,” having been assassinated shortly after the Civil War had ended; (2) the “fearful trip” is the Civil War; (3) “the prize we sought” is the preservation of the Union, something which both Whitman and Lincoln felt was the supreme

What is being compared in O Captain My Captain?

Apostrophe: An apostrophe is a device used to call somebody or something from afar. Here the poet has used an apostrophe to call his dead captain. The phrase, “O Captain! My Captain!” expresses love and attachment of the speaker with his captain.

Related Question Answers

Jonnatan Werthmann

Professional

What is extended metaphor?

An extended metaphor, also known as a conceit or sustained metaphor, is an author's exploitation of a single metaphor or analogy at length through multiple linked tenors, vehicles, and grounds throughout a poem or story.

Halid Capponi

Professional

What is the mood of O Captain My Captain?

The tone of 'O captain! My captain! ' is mostly melancholy. It's a very sad—pensive poem expressing people's feelings when Abraham Lincoln and their loved ones died after the civil war.

Viena Casaus

Professional

Why is O Captain My Captain important?

Summary & Analysis. “O Captain! My Captain!” is an elegy written by Walt Whitman in 1865 to commemorate the death of President Abraham Lincoln. 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.

Moises Cañueto

Explainer

What is O Captain My Captain meaning?

“O Captain, My Captain” (1865) A poem by Walt Whitman about a captain who dies just as his ship has reached the end of a stormy and dangerous voyage. The captain represents Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated just as the Civil War was ending.

Lorette Canova

Explainer

What are the poetic devices in O Captain My Captain?

In the poem “O Captain, My Captain!,” Walt Whitman uses a variety of figurative language, including internal rhyme, apostrophes, anaphora, alliteration, and repetition. He uses a quite a bit of alliteration and internal rhyme to keep a steady rhythm.

Antelmo Lacan

Explainer

How does O Captain My Captain represent American culture?

In "O Captain, My Captain", his extended metaphor, the Captain directly represents Lincoln and the ship that arrives represents America. These lines show the metaphor of the victory of the civil war and the assassination of Lincoln very soon after.

Niki Tugues

Pundit

What does the vessel grim and daring mean?

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; Note how the scene is created: the ship is near port and the people are all celebrating and exulting. They are all watching the "steady keel" of the boat, that is described as "grim and daring" because of its exploits in warfare.

Jianling Timmerhans

Pundit

Who is the speaker in the poem O Captain My Captain?

That suggests to me that the speaker in that poem is Whitman himself. Reynolds appears to share this view (emphasis mine): In Whitman's best-known poems about Lincoln, "O Captain! My Captain!" and "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," the silencing of his former poetic self is noticeable.

Cati Wolfsheimer

Pundit

Is O Captain my captain an allegory?

'O Captain! My Captain! ' is an allegorical poem written by Walt Whitman. Extensive use of poetry concepts has made people have an in-depth understanding of the poem in reference to Abraham Lincoln, the American president.

Otar Bericat

Pundit

What is the swaying mass?

Swaying Masses
The mass of people in the poem symbolize the American people who supported Lincoln and felt happy about the end of the war. In the work, the crowd is full of people who admire the captain for his works and dedication.

Sorne Garnero

Pundit

What does bugle trills mean?

: a valveless brass instrument that resembles a trumpet and is used especially for military calls. Walt Whitman uses the word "bugle" to show the celebration the people feel for President Abraham Lincoln.

Nils Grubwinkler

Teacher

How do you write an elegy?

You can write an elegy three basic ways: about someone you knew personally, about a person you knew distantly or about a broad mournful theme. Identify which of these is your subject. Then free-write about it. If you're writing about someone close to you, I'm sorry for your loss.

Melvi Minnubaev

Teacher

What is the prize we sought is won?

The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; The speaker is shouting out to his captain (“O Captain!”) that they've finally made it home after a frightening trip. They were on a ship that survived, or “weathered,” strong winds (a.k.a. “racks”).

Chassidy Luikh

Teacher

How many lines are in the poem O Captain My Captain?

eight lines

Solomia Badila

Teacher

What is the structure of the poem O Captain My Captain?

Structure :The poem O Captain! My Captain! is a free verse with a regular meter. However the poem is an eight lined stanza with each stanza ending with "fallen cold and dead", with the first four lines starting with large sentences and the last four with short sentences organized neatly into three parts.

Hanifa Pennders

Reviewer

What does Exult O shores mean?

In case you don't know the poem, those on the "shores" are celebrating the imminent shipborne arrival of their hero, Abraham Lincoln. The poet, of course, knows the great man has died. The phrase "Exult, O shores" promotes and describes a state of intense joy just before its transformation into unbearable grief.

Miriela Guddorp

Reviewer

What does the fearful trip symbolize?

The ship is used to represent America as a country, and the “fearful trip” (Whitman, 2006, p. 1) is a representation of the civil war during the Abraham Lincoln era. The “prize we sought is won” (Trinh, 2002, p. 1) symbolizes the union victory in freeing the people from slavery during the civil war.

Sants Parag

Reviewer

What is personal elegy?

An elegy is an expression of grief. It is a song of mourning. In a personal elegy the poet laments the death of some close friend or relative, and in impersonal elegy in which the poet grieves over human destiny or over some aspect of contemporary life and literature.

Kestutis Parada

Reviewer

What does the ship symbolize?

Ships symbolize trade, commerce and wealth. The ark of Noah, represents God's faithful floating to safety through the great flood. The ship is a symbol of the church, with the cross as its mast.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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14th May, 2020

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