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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 5 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does it mean that the people are "exulting"?
(a) They are cheering excitedly.
(b) They are crying out in grief.
(c) They are quietly watchful.
(d) They are drinking and celebrating.

3. Line 5, " But O heart! heart! heart!" is an example of which technique?
(a) Apostrophe.
(b) Aphorism.
(c) Paradox.
(d) Euphemism.

4. Line 4, "While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring," contains examples of which techniques?
(a) Synecdoche and personification.
(b) Alliteration and synecdoche.
(c) Personification and simile.
(d) Simie and alliteration.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. Which technique is evident in the phrase "for you the flag is flung" (line 10)?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the allegorical nature of the poem's central conceit.

2. What ironic contrast do the poem's images highlight?

3. Describe the form of "O Captain! My Captain!"

4. What elements of the poem's diction establish a warm and personal relationship between the speaker and the captain?

5. What evidence is there that the speaker is struggling to understand and process the captain's death?

(see the answer keys)

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