The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A:
Which statement BEST reveals the central idea of this poem?
A
.
People are all crowded at the shoreline to mourn the passing of the ship's captain because he has been killed in a furious battle.
B
.
People are celebrating the return of a ship, but they are shocked when they learn that nearly all of the crew has been slaughtered.
C.
People are celebrating the safe return of a ship, but they do not realize that the captain of the ship has died in battle.
D
.
People are gathered to defend their shores against an enemy battleship, but they show mercy to the crew when they learn the captain is dead.
Multiple Choice Question
Part B:
Which pair of lines from the poem BEST supports the correct answer in Part A?
A
.
O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;
B
.
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
C
.
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths–for you the shores a–crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
D
.
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
Part A: C. People are celebrating the safe return of a ship, but they do not realize that the captain of the ship has died in battle.
Part B: C. For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths–for you the shores a–crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Part A:
The statement that BEST reveals the central idea of this poem is:
C. People are celebrating the safe return of a ship, but they do not realize that the captain of the ship has died in battle.
Part B:
The pair of lines from the poem that BEST supports the correct answer in Part A is:
A. "O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;"
Part A:
To determine the central idea of the poem, we need to analyze the statements and identify the one that best represents the main message or theme. Let's examine each option:
A. People are all crowded at the shoreline to mourn the passing of the ship's captain because he has been killed in a furious battle.
B. People are celebrating the return of a ship, but they are shocked when they learn that nearly all of the crew has been slaughtered.
C. People are celebrating the safe return of a ship, but they do not realize that the captain of the ship has died in battle.
D. People are gathered to defend their shores against an enemy battleship, but they show mercy to the crew when they learn the captain is dead.
Based on these options, the statement that BEST reveals the central idea of the poem is option C:
C. People are celebrating the safe return of a ship, but they do not realize that the captain of the ship has died in battle.
Part B:
To identify the lines that support the correct answer in Part A (option C), let's examine each option:
A. "O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;"
These lines express a sense of accomplishment and completion of a challenging journey, but they do not directly support the idea of people celebrating the ship's return while remaining unaware of the captain's death.
B. "The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:"
These lines describe people celebrating the ship's arrival, which aligns with the idea of people celebrating the safe return. However, they do not address the unawareness of the captain's death.
C. "For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths–for you the shores a–crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;"
These lines directly support the correct answer in Part A. They depict people offering tribute to the captain and gathering at the shores to celebrate the ship's return, oblivious to the captain's demise.
D. "My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;"
These lines describe the narrator's personal experience of losing their father, but they do not directly relate to the central idea of people celebrating the ship's return while being unaware of the captain's death.
Therefore, the pair of lines that BEST supports the correct answer in Part A (option C) is option C:
C. "For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths–for you the shores a–crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;"