O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;00000The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, 0000While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:5 But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;10 Rise up–for you the flag is flung–for you the bugle trills;00000For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths–for you the shores a–crowding;00000For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;00000 Here Captain! dear father This arm beneath your head;15 It is some dream that on the deck,00000 You've fallen cold and dead.00000My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;00000My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;00000The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;20 From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;00000 Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!00000 But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies,00000 Fallen cold and dead.
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.
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:
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:
The correct answer for the central idea of the 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:
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:
The central idea of the 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 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 suggest that while the ship has safely returned, the captain has died.