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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 5 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Which term describes the poem's repeated use of the phrases "O Captain! My Captain!" (lines 1 and 9) and "fallen cold and dead" (lines 8, 16, and 24)?
2. Where is the ship in the beginning of the poem?
3. The list of ways the crowd is celebrating the arrival of the ship in lines 9-12 is an example of which technique?
4. What does it mean that the people are "exulting"?
5. Who is the author of "O Captain! my Captain!"?
Short Essay Questions
1. What ironic contrast do the poem's images highlight?
2. What evidence is there that the speaker is struggling to understand and process the captain's death?
3. Describe the form of "O Captain! My Captain!"
4. Explain the allegorical nature of the poem's central conceit.
5. What elements of the poem's diction establish a warm and personal relationship between the speaker and the captain?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
How do the metrical and rhyme schemes of "O Captain! My Captain!" support the poem's larger thematic concerns? Write an essay that describes the rhyme and meter used in the poem. Then, tie these choices to Whitman's larger thematic concerns in this poem.
Essay Topic 2
Write an essay in which you propose and defend a statement of theme for "O Captain! My Captain!" that takes into account key features of the poem: the celebration of Lincoln and grief over his death, the interrelated nature of victory and loss, and the relationship between the individual and the group. Offer both quoted and paraphrased evidence from the poem in support of your claims.
Essay Topic 3
Write an essay that analyzes Whitman's use of synecdoche and metonymy in "O Captain! My Captain!" Identify where these techniques are used in the poem and explain the meaning of each instance. Then, explore the relationship these techniques assert between individuals and groups and tie this to the poem's overall meaning.
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This section contains 690 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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