Out of Many, One: Rhetoric in The Gettysburg Address and "O Captain! My Captain!"

Question 1

The keel is the part of a ship that provides stability. What is Whitman referring to with the phrase “the steady keel”?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

the idea of freedom that the United States stands for

Question 2

In this final stanza, what does the speaker mean with the phrase “its voyage closed and done”?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The army has won the war.

Question 3

Based on the extended metaphor, how does the speaker feel toward Abraham Lincoln?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The speaker wants to honor and celebrate Lincoln’s accomplishment of winning the war.

Question 4

Explain how Whitman develops an extended metaphor in his poem.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Whitman begins by comparing Lincoln to the captain of a ship and his army to a boat. The metaphor honors Lincoln and the army for helping defend and win the idea of freedom. Whitman ends the poem by saying that Lincoln, the captain, has died. The army and the United States have lost an important leader.

Question 5

What did you include in your response? Check all that apply:

Revolt · Accepted Answer

the comparison of Lincoln to a captain; the comparison of his army to a boat; the comparison of the keel to US values; the comparison of a prize to winning the war; the comparison of Lincoln’s death to losing a captain

Out of Many, One: Rhetoric in The Gettysburg Address and "O Captain! My Captain!" Answers

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