Gettysburg Address/O Captain! My Captain!

Read the excerpt from "Long Haul."

We dug in for the long haul. We lived

through the turbulent times of the sixties

when nothing was certain except uncertainty.

What does "the long haul" represent in this poem?

• the ongoing battle to make the world a better place

• the connections between the past and the future

• the achievements of people from the speaker's generation

• the suffering of people from past generations

Read Lincoln’s statement from "The Gettysburg Address."

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

Which point is Lincoln trying to make?

• People cannot build upon the land, because it is considered sacred.

• It is up to the people to mark the importance of the land

• Because so many people died, the land cannot be considered sacred.

• The sacrifices of the soldiers have already made the land sacred.

Read Lincoln’s statement from "The Gettysburg Address."

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

Lincoln’s use of brevity

• highlights how many brave soldiers died during the war.

• allows him to avoid describing what people should do next.

• clarifies that people have to continue the work of the soldiers.

• encourages people to feel grateful that they are still alive.

Which extended metaphor does Whitman use throughout "O Captain! My Captain!?"

• Whitman compares Lincoln to a ship captain.

• Whitman compares Lincoln to a passenger.

• Whitman compares Lincoln to another president.

• Whitman compares Lincoln to a crew member.

Read this line from "O Captain! My Captain!".

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;

What does “our fearful trip is done” refer to?

• the ship has docked

• the end of the war

• they are back from a trip

• their trip was frightening

Read these lines from "O Captain! My Captain!".

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

How does Whitman use the extended metaphor to refer to Lincoln’s death?

• Whitman compares Lincoln’s death to what the death for all the soldiers was like.

• Whitman compares Lincoln’s death to the loss of one of the army generals.

• Whitman compares Lincoln’s death to the loss of losing a family member in the war.

• Whitman compares Lincoln’s tragic death to a captain lying dead on the deck of his ship.

Read these excerpts.

Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address."

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

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

Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!

But I, with mournful tread,

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

Which rhetorical appeal do both excerpts use?

• logos: the use of logic to convince the audience

• pathos: the use of emotional appeals to affect the audience’s feelings

• brevity: writing or speaking that is short, brief, and to the point

• ethos: the use of authority to persuade the audience to act the right way

Why is the use of pathos more appropriate in Whitman’s poem than in President Lincoln’s speech?

• All the poems Whitman wrote use pathos.

• Whitman’s poem is the emotional reaction to the death of Lincoln.

• For a poem to be good, it must use pathos.

• All poetry written about the Civil War uses pathos.

Which statement best explains why comparing Lincoln to a ship captain is an appropriate comparison?

• Being a ship captain is an important leadership position that takes dedication and hard work, much like being the president.

• Being a ship captain is an adventurous job that allows you to spend a lot of time out at sea, much like being the president.

• A ship captain’s job is much harder than being the president during a time of war.

• Being the president is much harder than being a ship captain who just sails around in a ship.

Read Lincoln’s statement from "The Gettysburg Address."

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

In this excerpt, Lincoln uses brevity to create a dramatic impact

• by saying that the people do not have the power to make the land sacred.

• by saying that it is up to the people to consecrate the land for the soldiers.

• by discussing how the land should be considered sacred and holy.

• by repeating how people cannot make the land as sacred as the soldiers have.