Question: What makes ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ an elegy?
Answer: ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ by Walt Whitman is considered an elegy because it is a mournful poem that laments the death of a beloved figure. In this case, the poem mourns the death of President Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated in 1865. The poem uses the metaphor of a ship’s captain to represent Lincoln, and the ship represents the United States. The poem expresses the deep sorrow and loss felt by the nation after Lincoln’s death.
The structure and tone of the poem also contribute to its classification as an elegy. The poem has a somber and reflective tone, which is typical of elegies. It also follows a traditional elegiac structure, with a lament for the dead, praise for the deceased, and a consolation or acceptance of the loss. The repeated refrain ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ emphasizes the speaker’s grief and admiration for the fallen leader.
In summary, ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ is an elegy because it mourns the death of a significant figure, uses a mournful tone, and follows the traditional structure of an elegy.