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    Poetry Class Assignment-24

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    ruwidajab

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Poetry Class Assignment-24

    Uploaded by

    ruwidajab
    6 views3 pages

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    6 views3 pages

    Poetry Class Assignment-24

    Uploaded by

    ruwidajab

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    O Captain! My Captain!

    By Walt Whitman

    We can classify the class into seven groups and each group has to answer some
    questions on Walt Whitman's O' Captain, My Captain!. Here’s a useful
    classification approach:

    1. Historical and Contextual Analysis


     Focuses on the historical background, specifically the Civil War and
    Abraham Lincoln's assassination, and how these events influenced
    Whitman’s poem.
     Example Questions:
    o How does the poem reflect post-Civil War sentiment in the United
    States?
    o In what ways does "O Captain! My Captain!" serve as an elegy for
    Abraham Lincoln?

    2. Thematic Analysis
     Examines the central themes in the poem, such as leadership, sacrifice,
    national grief, victory, and loss.
     Example Questions:
    o How does Whitman balance themes of victory and loss throughout the
    poem?
    o What does the captain’s death symbolize, and how does it reflect
    broader themes of sacrifice?

    3. Literary Devices and Form


     Focuses on Whitman’s use of poetic form, structure, rhyme, meter, and
    specific literary devices (like metaphor, imagery, and personification) that
    enhance meaning and emotional impact.
     Example Questions:
    o How does the poem’s structured rhyme scheme contrast with
    Whitman’s typical free verse?
    o How does the extended metaphor of the captain and the ship
    contribute to the poem’s emotional depth?
    Lectures in English poetry by Dr. Ahmed Al-Hawtali

    4. Language and Tone


     Analyzes the specific word choices, tone, and mood, including Whitman’s
    use of repetition, direct address, and diction that expresses grief, reverence,
    and patriotism.
     Example Questions:
    o How does the repetition of “fallen cold and dead” affect the tone of
    the poem?
    o How does Whitman’s use of direct address with “O Captain!” and
    “My Captain!” intensify the speaker’s emotions?

    5. Symbolism and Imagery


     Focuses on symbolic elements (the captain, the ship, the journey) and the
    imagery Whitman uses to represent complex themes like leadership,
    nationhood, and mourning.
     Example Questions:
    o What is the significance of the captain as a symbol, and how does it
    shape the reader’s understanding of the poem?
    o How does Whitman use color imagery, like “bleeding drops of red,”
    to emphasize the reality of death?

    6. Emotional and Psychological Analysis


     Examines the internal struggle of the speaker, focusing on grief, honor, and
    the psychological impact of loss and how these emotions shape the poem’s
    tone and pacing.
     Example Questions:
    o How does Whitman convey the speaker’s sense of honor and
    reverence for the captain despite his death?
    o How does the contrasting celebration of the crowd and the speaker’s
    private mourning highlight the psychological depth of grief?

    7. Public vs. Private Grief


     Analyzes the poem’s exploration of collective versus individual mourning
    and how Whitman juxtaposes public celebration with private loss.
     Example Questions:

    Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" 1


    Lectures in English poetry by Dr. Ahmed Al-Hawtali

    o How does the contrast between the crowd’s joy and the speaker’s
    grief enhance the poem’s emotional impact?
    o How does Whitman’s portrayal of personal mourning serve as a
    commentary on national loss?

    These categories allow for a structured approach to studying the poem. In the next
    class, I invite the students to explore "O Captain! My Captain!" through diverse
    analytical perspectives.

    Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" 2

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