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O Captain! My Captain!

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
"O Captain! My Captain!" was written just after the end of the Civil War.  The speaker's description of a captain who dies most likely refers to
a)
Walt Whitman
b)
Abraham Lincoln
c)
Jefferson Davis
d)
Robert E. Lee
2.
The use of the phrase "my Captain" in the title and throughout the poem suggests that the speaker
a)
wants to be in charge of the ship.
b)
feels very loyal to the Captain.
c)
has a military background.
d)
is the only one with the Captain.
3.
Which phrase suggests that the ship has survived a difficult situation?
a)
"the prize we sought"
b)
"O Captain!"
c)
"the bells I hear"
d)
"our fearful trip"
4.
The speaker says that the Captain's death
 "is some dream" because he 
a)
has had many dreams about the Captain.
b)
has only imagined that the Captain is dead.
c)
wishes the Captain's death were a dream.
d)
realizes that the Captain has been sleeping.
5.
What does the phrase "the prize we sought is won" refer to?
a)
President Lincoln's death
b)
winning the Civil War
c)
discovery of a treasure
d)
the ship's arrival in port
6.
One extended metaphor in the poem is the comparison of 
a)
a journey to a ship's deck.
b)
a ship to the country.
c)
a captain to a ship.
d)
a captain to a victory.
7.
Which phrase suggests that the Captain caused the celebration?
a)
"It is some dream"
b)
"Here Captain! Dear father!"
c)
"This arm beneath your head!"
d)
"For you bouquests and ribbon'd wreaths."
8.
In line 21 the speaker says, "the ship is anchor'd safe and sound." The idea of safety is ironic, or unexpected because
a)
crowds are trying to take over the ship.
b)
the speaker fears that lives are in danger.
c)
the ship's Captain lies dead on its deck.
d)
the ship has other dangerous journeys ahead.
9.
The tone in the third stanza of "O Captian! My Captain" is best described as
a)
Sarcastic
b)
Mournful
c)
Resentful
10.
To emphasize a sorrowful tone, Whitman contrasts the narrator's grief with the 
a)
joy of the crowd.
b)
sorrow of the crowd.
c)
bright sunny day.
d)
beauty of the flowers.
11.

How does the speaker feel about the captain?

a)

Speaker is jealous of the captain.

b)

Speaker dislikes the captain's leadership.

c)

The speaker cares deeply about the captain.

d)

The speaker is indifferent to the captain.

12.

Which is an example of imagery that creates a mood on the ship?

a)

"Our fearful trip is done"

b)

"The people all exulting"

c)

"O the bleeding drops of red"

d)

"The vessel grim and daring"

13.

Define tone as it relates to poetry :

a)

Vocal pitch

b)

Speaker's/author's attitude about their subject

c)

Words that create mental pictures

d)

Direct description of elements in the poem

14.

Where is the ship headed?

a)

Back home, after a dangerous mission

b)

Out to sea, to take on a dangerous mission

c)

To an island, for a vacation

d)

To a defensive position

15.

You can tell that the poem is an elegy because the speaker is

a)

telling a story.

b)

sharing ideas about nature.

c)

describing a historical event.

d)

reflecting on a death.

16.

You can infer (figure out) that Whitman:

a)

feels great love and respect for the Captain.

b)

wishes he had been appointed by the Captain.

c)

wanted to be able to steer the ship.

d)

has a favorite cereal and it is Cap'n Crunch.

17.

Where is the shift in the first stanza?

a)

After the first line

b)

At the end of the stanza, before the last line

c)

There is no shift

d)

In the middle, after the first four lines

18.

What indicates the shift that happens in the stanza

a)

Change of rhyme scheme, line length, and tone

b)

Change of point of view from first to third

c)

Change of the speaker in the poem

d)

Change of setting