1. The poem's title and first line contain an example of which technique?
(a) Synechdoche.
(b) Apostrophe.
(c) Simile.
(d) Personification.

2. Where is the ship in the beginning of the poem?
(a) On the open sea.
(b) Just coming into port.
(c) Docked in the port.
(d) Just leaving the port.

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

4. Which details in the second stanza evoke a patriotic occasion?
(a) The captain and the bells.
(b) The flag and bugle.
(c) The crowd and the shore.
(d) The bouquets and wreaths.

5. What is the most common type of metrical foot in "O Captain! My Captain!"?
(a) The spondee.
(b) The iamb.
(c) The trochee.
(d) The dactyl.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which term describes the poem's repeated use of the phrases "O Captain! My Captain!" (lines 1 and 9) and "fallen cold and dead" (lines 8, 16, and 24)?

2. What is the most accurate way to describe the poem's stanza form?

3. In context, the literal meaning of the word "rack" in line two is which of the following?

4. By which other term, besides "Captain," does the speaker address the captain of the ship?

5. What does it mean that the people are "exulting"?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 246 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample