O Captain! My Captain!

Question

by Walt Whitman

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;

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Question
Use the stanza to answer the question.

How does knowing this poem’s historical context affect the reader’s interpretation of the stanza?

(1 point)
Responses

The historical context allows the reader to understand that the “Captain” is the poet Walt Whitman.
The historical context allows the reader to understand that the “Captain” is the poet Walt Whitman.

The historical context allows the reader to understand that the “Captain” is Abraham Lincoln.
The historical context allows the reader to understand that the “Captain” is Abraham Lincoln.

The historical context allows the reader to know why the poet uses repetition.
The historical context allows the reader to know why the poet uses repetition.

The historical context allows the reader to know that the poet is describing a real ship’s voyage.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

The historical context allows the reader to understand that the “Captain” is Abraham Lincoln.

Knowing the historical context of the poem reveals that Whitman wrote "O Captain! My Captain!" in response to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, where Lincoln is metaphorically depicted as the captain of the ship (the nation) that has successfully weathered the turbulent times of the Civil War. This understanding significantly enriches the reader's interpretation of the stanza, particularly regarding themes of loss, leadership, and the culmination of struggle.