Poetic Elements Analysis Outline PEAO

Title: O Captain! my Captain!

(How the title relates to the subject/content of the poem) the title is perfect for this poem
because it represents the son's unwillingness to believing his father is dead by talking to him as
if he was still alive

Author: Walt Whitman

Tone: the tone of the story is grim yet also respectful to the captain

Mood/Atmosphere The mood of the poem very sad and gloomy.

Speaker: the captains grieving son

Audience: The audience of this poem is either the crew or it is just the people, so they
know that the captain was respected by the crew.

Subject or Topic: (what is the topic of the poem?) The subject of this poem is about the
protagonists talking about how the battles they have fought is over and how his captain
has died after all of this time.

Type of Poem: (name formal poem style): A narrative poem

Rhyme Scheme: Free verse

Rhythm: Iambic

Meter : Iambic pentameter

Structure: three stanzas that all consist of eight lines.

 Enjambment or end stops:

Diction and syntax

Arrangement of verse and stanza

Paraphrase:
(Explain what the poem SAYS in black and white on the page IN YOUR
OWN WORDS. You can paraphrase line by line, by each stanza, or holistically.
NOTE: it will take longer to paraphrase than it does for the poem to state its
point.)

A sailor sings a song. No, not that song. Hes singing a song that praises his
captain for leading the ship and crew into the harbor after a long and
dangerous voyagewithout GPS, even. Everyones on shore celebrating the
safe homecoming, when the sailor notices that the captain is lying dead on
the deck of the ship.

Analysis:
The poem is actually about a sailor, his trip is finally done and now he
returns home although, he is sad because his captain is dead. They have
services for his captain with bells and bugles.

Sound Devices:
Consonance, when he mentions words as trill or call, and bells. He also
uses words as still and will.

Metaphors, Allusions & Symbols: for you the shores a crowding it means
that everyone showed up for the captain's funeral.
Imagery:The ship has weatherd every rack;The port is near, the bells I
hear, the people all exulting;O the bleeding drops of red,
Theme: Even when you die, you can leave a legacy behind and youll be
remembered.
O Captain My Captain Walt
Whitman
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weatherd every rack, the prize we sought is won,

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,

Where on the deck the Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,

For you the bouquets and ribbond wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,

For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning,

Here Captain! dear father!

The arm beneath your head!

It is some dream that on the deck,

Youve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,

The ship is anchord safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;

Exult O shores, and ring O bells!

But I with mournful tread,

Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead