15. Below is an excerpt from the poem, O'Captain! My Captain!, by Walt Whitman. This was written after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and is a selfreflection on the loss of the Union leader. In a paragraph, talk about what was lost, during the Civil War. What do you think the thoughts of the people were after the war? Try to look at it from all sides: North, South, and slaves. Use evidence that occurred in the Civil War to back up your response. Try to put yourself in the shoes of each side and ask yourself, "How would I feel?" This response is about personal reflection on the events and backing it up with evidence. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, 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, From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; Exult O shores, and ring O bells! But I with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead.5th grdae answer
During the Civil War, many lives were lost and families were torn apart. The North and the South were fighting for different beliefs, with the North fighting to abolish slavery and preserve the Union, while the South was fighting for states' rights and the institution of slavery. The slaves, who were fighting for their freedom, were caught in the middle of this bloody conflict. After the war, the North may have felt a sense of victory and relief that the Union had been preserved, but also a deep sadness for the lives lost in the fight. The South may have felt defeated and devastated by the loss of the war, as well as mourning the loss of their way of life. The slaves may have felt a mix of emotions, hopeful for their newfound freedom, but also mourning the suffering they endured during slavery. The poem, O Captain! My Captain!, reflects the feeling of loss and mourning that many people may have felt after the Civil War.
