both road not taken and o captin my captin are anologies

Poet, moving around this place, laments over his death. The ‘deck’ here refers to the cemetery of Lincoln. People are rejoicing but the poet is mourning over the death of Lincoln. horrors of the Civil War is over now and there is relief among the people. It is such a time when the ship has arrived at its destination. He can neither feel the arms of the poet not his heart is beating. The poet says that now the captain is dead. Whitman experiences the euphoria of their victory but at the same time laments over the death of Lincoln, which is a big loss for the nation. In the 3 rd stanza, we find the duality of emotions. The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,įrom fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will, Stanza 3 My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, Poet calls him father because, for him, Lincoln is not just a military leader but the father of the nation and laments over his loss. The poet goes in reminiscence and tries to consider this death to be fancy but at last, he has to believe that Captain is dead. It should be noted that the captain is dead now and hence these ceremonies are of his funeral. The people are eagerly waiting for his arrival, but he is dead now. The poet asks the captain to rise up as for him, bells are being rung, flags are being hoisted, musical instruments are being rung, flowers are being curled etc. This technique of talking to the dead is called apostrophe. In the second stanza, Whitman tries to talk to the Captain, who, he knows well, is dead. Rise up–for you the flag is flung–for you the bugle trills,įor you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths–for you the shores a-crowding,įor you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning Stanza 2 O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells This makes the poet exclaim ‘O heart! Heart! Heart!’ The captain, who was supposed to be praised by the people for his peerless bravery is now lifeless and motionless. The captain is dead now and blood is oozing from his body. In the next lines, this enthusiasm is replaced by gloom. Keel has been thrown off the ship so as to keep ship stable. The enthusiasm increases as the ship reach near the port. Poet tells the captain that port (home) is very near and now he can hear the sound of temple bells and the cries of the enthusiastic people who are eagerly waiting for him. The people have won the victory at last, which they quested for i.e. In the first stanza, Whitman calls upon the Captain (Lincoln) of the Ship (USA) that ‘fearful trip’ (dreadful Civil War) has come to an end. While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,

Stanza 1 O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The poem describes the victory of the Union after the end of the Civil War and also the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

It is a symbolic poem in which Captain refers to Abraham Lincoln and the Ship refers to the USA. It was published in his work Leaves of Grass. The poem O Captain! My Captain, written by Walt Whitman (1865) consists of 3 stanzas.

Both road not taken and o captin my captin are anologies