Walt Whitman wrote this poem after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, just as the Civil War was coming to an end. Like his fellow countrymen, Whitman had deep love and respect for the beloved hero who held the nation together through such a time of crisis.00000O 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, 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.

Question

Walt Whitman wrote this poem after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, just as the Civil War was coming to an end. Like his fellow countrymen, Whitman had deep love and respect for the beloved hero who held the nation together through such a time of crisis.00000O 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, 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.

Which statement BEST reveals the central idea of this poem?%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AA. %0D%0APeople are all crowded at the shoreline to mourn the passing of the ship's captain because he has been killed in a furious battle.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AB. %0D%0APeople are celebrating the return of a ship, but they are shocked when they learn that nearly all of the crew has been slaughtered.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AC. %0D%0APeople are celebrating the safe return of a ship, but they do not realize that the captain of the ship has died in battle.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AD. %0D%0APeople are gathered to defend their shores against an enemy battleship, but they show mercy to the crew when they learn the captain is dead.

Answer 1

The best statement that 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.