PART 2

教师进入正文讲解：

Q1: Why does Whitman use the first person in first stanza?

A1: By using the first person, the poet describes the marvelous sight of the succeeding returning of the captain Lincoln and his crew and his astonishment at Lincoln’s death.

Q2: Why does the poet repeat “ O Captain! My Captain!” ?

A2: The repetition of the noun “Captain” conveys the poet’s infinite sorrow over Lincoln’s death and longing for him.

Q3: What do “ship” and “captain” stand for?

A3: “Ship” represents the United States of America; “captain” represents Abraham Lincoln.

Q4: What’s the function of “done” and “won” at the end of the first and second line ?

A4: The “done” and “won” sound simple and powerful and inspiring, filling with optimistic spirit, conveying a musical beauty.

Q5: Why does the poet repeat “heart”?

A5: The repetition of the words with the simple syllable “Heart! Heart! Heart!” achieves the great change from excitation to sorrow, stressing a heart-breaking atmosphere of art.

Q6: Why does the poet use the second person in the second stanza?

A6: By using the second person the poet participates in the conversation with the captain to express his longing for the captain and his sorrowful mourning over the death of the captain. He is so sad that he is not clear on the reality and dream.

Q7: Why does the poet use “for you” several times?

A7: The continuous use of “for you” not only express the love and support from the American people for Lincoln, but also suggests the poet’s doubt about Lincoln’s death, bringing the sad feeling to the highest point.

Q8: What does “Dear father” suggest?

A8: “Dear father” conveys a strong affection between American people and Lincoln.

Q9: In the third stanza, what’s the function of “still” and “will”?

A9: “Still” and “will” sound like bugle, creating a mournful atmosphere.

Q10: How does the poet use contrast in the third stanza?

A10: The poet presents a striking contrast between “the bleeding drops of red” and “his lips are pale and still”, enriching the reader’s vision and imagination.

Q11: Why does the poet repeat “cold and dead”?

A11: The repetition of “cold and dead” in the poem enforces a sorrowful effect of art. And it emphasizes the cruel fact that the captain has dead.

Q12: What’s the theme of the poem?

A12: Whitman was born in 1819 and died in 1892, and the American Civil War was the central event of his life. He was initially indifferent to Lincoln, but as the war pressed on, Whitman came to love the president, though the two men never met. He wrote this poem after the assassination of the president to emphasize or show his deep grief and sorrow.

Q13: What’s the language style of the poem?

A13: This poem is written to express Whitman’s sorrow and grief, so that the keynote should be sad. In order to express this strong feelings, the poet used repetition to emphasize. The repetition of “heart” emphasizes his grief at the death of his captain. “Fallen cold and dead” is repeated at the end of each stanza to emphasize the poet’s deep loss.

Q14: What’s the intention of the layout of this poem?

A14: The poem is organized into three eight-line stanzas, each with an AABBCDED rhyme scheme. Each stanza closes with the words “fallen cold and dead”, and the first four lines of each stanza are longer than the last four lines. Because this poem is an elegy to the dead, the more traditional format adds to its solemnity. Additionally, the regular meter is reminiscent of a soldier marching across the battlefield, which is fitting for a poem that commemorates the end of the Civil War.