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

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.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

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

Understanding that the poem was written as an elegy to President Abraham Lincoln after his assassination in 1865 significantly impacts the interpretation of the stanza. The "fearful trip" symbolizes the Civil War, and Lincoln is represented as the "Captain" who led the nation through this tumultuous time. This context enriches the emotional weight of the poem and deepens the reader's appreciation of the themes of loss and victory.