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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 5 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Which technique is evident in the phrase "for you the flag is flung" (line 10)?
2. What is a "keel" (line 4)?
3. Which details in the second stanza evoke a patriotic occasion?
4. 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)?
5. By which other term, besides "Captain," does the speaker address the captain of the ship?
Short Essay Questions
1. What ironic contrast do the poem's images highlight?
2. Describe the form of "O Captain! My Captain!"
3. What elements of the poem's diction establish a warm and personal relationship between the speaker and the captain?
4. Explain the allegorical nature of the poem's central conceit.
5. What evidence is there that the speaker is struggling to understand and process the captain's death?
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
Go online and do some research about Whitman's beliefs about the relationship of music and poetry. Write an essay in which you first explain what these beliefs were and then apply them to your reading of "O Captain! My Captain!" Use both quoted and paraphrased evidence from the poem to support your observations. Be sure to cite all sources in MLA format.
Essay Topic 3
How does Whitman's use of musical devices support the poem's theme? Write an essay that identifies where Whitman uses assonance, consonance, and alliteration and explains the effect these devices create. Then, tie Whitman's use of these devices to the poem's larger thematic concerns.
This section contains 693 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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