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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1: "O Captain! My Captain!" lines 1-24.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the second quatrain of the second stanza, what becomes clear about the speaker's state of mind?
(a) He is afraid that he is in some way responsible for the captain's death.
(b) He has not fully accepted the captain's death.
(c) He is actually asleep and only dreaming of the captain's death.
(d) He hopes to hide the captain's death from the crowd.

2. Which technique is evident in the phrase "for you the flag is flung" (line 10)?
(a) Alliteration.
(b) Assonance.
(c) Sibilance.
(d) Cacophony.

3. What is a "keel" (line 4)?
(a) A measurement of the speed a ship is traveling.
(b) A part of a ship's steering mechanism, found at the back of the ship.
(c) The central and largest sail on a three-masted ship.
(d) A flat structure at the bottom of a ship, designed to add stability.

4. What type of rhyme is employed in line 20, "From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won"?
(a) Near rhyme.
(b) Eye rhyme.
(c) Identical rhyme.
(d) Internal rhyme.

5. In context, the literal meaning of the word "rack" in line two is which of the following?
(a) Storm or upheaval.
(b) A thorough sorting or sifting.
(c) A metal rod used for hanging things.
(d) Battle or confrontation.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is the ship in the beginning of the poem?

2. What does the phrase "swaying mass" refer to (line 12)?

3. What is the most common type of metrical foot in "O Captain! My Captain!"?

4. What feature of the Captain's face does line 17 focus on?

5. The poem's title and first line contain an example of which technique?

(see the answer key)

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