Part 2 – Chapter 2 – W. Whitman, O Captain! My Captain! (p. 133)
READING
1. Read and listen to the lines below, which are part of a poem written by Walt Whitman on the death of President Lincoln. Then answer the questions.
a. What is the main image in the poem?
b. How is Lincoln represented?
c. How does the poet feel?
d. What do the words underlined in the poem mean?
b. How is Lincoln represented?
c. How does the poet feel?
d. What do the words underlined in the poem mean?
2. Then read the text in the box and find out
a. who was Walt Whitman.
b. what is his best known work.
O Captain! my Captain!
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
Walt Whitman (1818-1892) is regarded as the first distinctly American poet. In his poems he celebrated America, both the land and the people. He showed his admiration and faith in the American people and in a nation which he believed represented the idea of democracy and the realization of the American Dream. He believed in the dignity of man, the unity of body and soul, the regenerative power of nature, the life process, sex and fertility.
His most famous work is Leaves of Grass, a life-long collection of poems. The first edition published in 1855 contained 12 poems. Then nine editions followed, each containing new poems.
His most famous work is Leaves of Grass, a life-long collection of poems. The first edition published in 1855 contained 12 poems. Then nine editions followed, each containing new poems.
Questo file è un’estensione online del corso M. G. Dandini, NEW SURFING THE WORLD.
Copyright © 2010 Zanichelli Editore S.p.A., Bologna [1056]
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