The Cumberland

Question

by Henry Wadsworth Longtellow

At anchor in Hampton Roads we lay,
On board of the Cumberland, sloop-of-war;
And at times from the fortress across the bay
The alarum of drums swept past,
Or a bugle blast
From the camp on the shore.

Then far away to the south uprose
A little feather of snow-white smoke,
And we knew that the iron ship of our foes
Was steadily steering its course
To try the force
Of our ribs of oak.

Down upon us heavily runs,
Silent and sullen, the floating fort;
Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns,
And leaps the terrible death,
With fiery breath,
From each open port.

We are not idle, but send her straight.
Defiance back in a full broadside!
As hail rebounds from a roof of slate,
Rebounds our heavier hail
From each iron scale
Of the monster’s hide.

“Strike your flag!” the rebel cries,
In his arrogant old plantation strain.
“Never!” our gallant Morris replies;
“It is better to sink than to yield!”
And the whole air pealed
With the cheers of our men.

Then, like a kraken huge and black,
She crushed our ribs in her iron grasp!
Down went the Cumberland all a wrack,
With a sudden shudder of death,
And the cannon’s breath
For her dying gasp.

Next morn, as the sun rose over the bay,
Still floated our flag at the mainmast head.
Lord, how beautiful was Thy day!
Every waft of the air
Was a whisper of prayer,
Or a dirge for the dead.

"The Cumberland" by Henry Wadsworth Longtellow

Question
Use the passage from “The Cumberland” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to answer the question.

Analyze the effect of the figurative language used in the last stanza.

(1 point)
Responses

The metaphor comparing air to a prayer for the living or a song for the dead illuminates the high costs of the battle.
The metaphor comparing air to a prayer for the living or a song for the dead illuminates the high costs of the battle.

The personification giving the morning human characteristics draws attention to the losses from the battle.
The personification giving the morning human characteristics draws attention to the losses from the battle.

The metaphor comparing the sun to the flying flag shows how the sailors hoped for victory.
The metaphor comparing the sun to the flying flag shows how the sailors hoped for victory.

The simile comparing the day to a prayer shows how the sailors hoped that none would die on this singular day in the war.
The simile comparing the day to a prayer shows how the sailors hoped that none would die on this singular day in the war.

Answer 1

The correct response to analyze the effect of the figurative language used in the last stanza is:

The personification giving the morning human characteristics draws attention to the losses from the battle.

In the last stanza, Longfellow presents the morning with a sense of reverence and poignancy, as it is juxtaposed against the backdrop of loss and mourning following the battle. This personification evokes a deep emotional response, emphasizing the somber nature of the day despite the beauty of the sunrise. The phrase "Every waft of the air / Was a whisper of prayer, / Or a dirge for the dead" reinforces this sense of mourning, suggesting that the very essence of the day carries the weight of the casualties and the sacrifice made by the sailors, thus highlighting the impact of the battle on the lives of those involved.