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

2. What feature of the Captain's face does line 17 focus on?
(a) His brow.
(b) His mouth.
(c) His chin.
(d) His eyes.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Line 6, "O the bleeding drops of red," is an example of which technique?

2. Which details in the second stanza evoke a patriotic occasion?

3. Who is the author of "O Captain! my Captain!"?

4. In context, the word "fearful" in line 1 indicates that the trip was which of the following?

5. 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)?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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