"O, Captain! My Captain|Summary|Analysis
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| "O Captain! My Captain| |
Introduction
The popular poem "O Captain! My Captain" was composed by the great American poet Walt Whitman. This poem was first published in 1865. It was published in the fourth edition of the popular poem 'Leaves of Grass'.It was composed of the sad death of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of America.
This poem is written in the form of elegy. In this poem, the country of America is compared with a ship returning from its long voyage and Abraham Lincoln is compared to the captain of the ship.
This poem is written in the form of elegy. In this poem, the country of America is compared with a ship returning from its long voyage and Abraham Lincoln is compared to the captain of the ship.
The poet gives his tribute to Abraham Lincoln through this poem. The poet says that he is shocked to see blood drops on the ship. It seems his captain is lying dead overboard(on the ship).
The poet further requests his captain to awake and see the people who have come there to welcome his captain after the victory. They are standing and waiting at the seashore with bouquets and ribboned wreaths in their hands.
After some time the poet knows that it is a dream or his imagination only because his captain has died and he will never awake. Therefore the captain does not answer. His pulse is still. His heartbeat has stopped. He is lying cold and dead overboard.
The poet further says that the ship has come safely after the victory but its captain has died. It means that the country is safe now but it's prime minister Abraham Lincoln has died.
Analysis...Stanza wise....."O, Captain! My Captain
Stanza--1
In the first stanza, the poet says that the ship has returned victoriously from its long fearful voyage. It was a fearful trip. Here the poet expresses his sorrow on the death of Abraham Lincoln. He further says that people have gathered at the seashore.
The bells are ringing near the port but when he sees blood drops on the ship and his captain dead body over the board the poet becomes very sad. The murder of Abraham Lincoln was the personal loss for the poet.
The bells are ringing near the port but when he sees blood drops on the ship and his captain dead body over the board the poet becomes very sad. The murder of Abraham Lincoln was the personal loss for the poet.
Stanza--2
In the second stanza, the poet addresses the captain to rise up and see the people who have gathered there to welcome his captain. The people are looking very happy after the victory. So they are waiting for their captain. The poet again says that the bells are ringing again and people are shouting and enjoying the moment of victory.
They are standing with bouquets and ribboned wreaths in their hands. The poet further says that it was a dream because my captain is lying dead on the ship. He can not awake now.
They are standing with bouquets and ribboned wreaths in their hands. The poet further says that it was a dream because my captain is lying dead on the ship. He can not awake now.
Stanza--3
In the third stanza, the poet says that my captain does not answer. His lips are pale and his pulse is still. He does not feel my touch but the victor ship is safe. Its long voyage has completed but still, bells are ringing. It seems to him full of grief because his captain is not alive now. He is lying dead on the ship. His body is cold.
Theme
The present poem was written just after the death of Abraham Lincoln. He was the president of America. He was killed just after the civil war. After electing as the President of America, Abraham Lincoln declared the abolition of slavery from America.
After this, he was murdered in a theater. That time Walt Whitman became very sad to know about the murder of his president. After it, he composed this elegy "O Captain! My Captain to express his sorrow and deep grief on the death of his president.
After this, he was murdered in a theater. That time Walt Whitman became very sad to know about the murder of his president. After it, he composed this elegy "O Captain! My Captain to express his sorrow and deep grief on the death of his president.
