What is the metaphor in O Captain My Captain?

What is the metaphor in O Captain My Captain?

The captain is a metaphor for Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States from 1861-1865. Lincoln was like a captain because he was the leader of the country in the same way that a captain leads his crew.

Why does the Speaker of O Captain My Captain say the following lines it is some dream that on the deck you’ve fallen cold and dead?

The speaker says he must be dreaming. He can’t accept the reality that the captain died just as they reached home.

What does exulting mean in O Captain My Captain?

feel extreme happiness or elation
exult. feel extreme happiness or elation. The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: steady.

What is the message of the poem O Captain My Captain?

The theme of the poem is that victory comes with a price. The speaker states that no matter the ship(United States) has braved the tough storm of civil war but it has lost its Captain (Abraham Lincoln). The speaker is torn between relief and despair.

What extended metaphor does Whitman use?

Fallen cold and dead. How does Whitman use the extended metaphor to refer to Lincoln’s death? Whitman compares Lincoln’s tragic death to a captain lying dead on the deck of his ship.

What does the way the speaker addresses the captain in the poem reveal about his feelings towards the captain?

Question 20: What does the way the speaker addresses the captain in the poem reveal about his feelings towards the captain? Answer: The way the speaker addresses the captain shows that he has a huge love and respect in his heart for the captain.

What does the fearful trip symbolize?

The poem opens by celebrating that “our fearful trip is done.” The “fearful trip” is the mission through which the captain has led his people. It is a symbol for the Civil War itself, which divided the country and left more than 600,000 dead.

What does the ship has weathered every rack mean?

The “captain” represents Lincoln , and the “ship” represents the Civil War; Lincoln was the commander of the Civil War much as a captain would be of his ship. In line two, when it says that “the ship has weather’d every rack,” it is referring to all the lives that were lost during the War.

What does fearful trip is done refer to?

our fearful trip is done; What does “our fearful trip is done” refer to? the end of the war. Which extended metaphor does Whitman use throughout “O Captain!

What do the bleeding drops of red represent?

In Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” which describes the end of the Civil War and Lincoln’s death, red is used as a synecdoche for blood. However, the symbolic choice in using the “bleeding drops of red,” instead of the drops of blood adds to the poem more layers of meaning (l. 6).

What does the poet mean by mournful tread?

The poet’s grief is accentuated by the contrasting celebrations of victory and lamentations of death. The poet recognizes the importance of victory, calling out “Exult O shores, and ring O bells!”, but his “mournful tread” prevents him from truly taking part in the festivities. The image of the dead captain, “O heart!