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WALT WHITMAN - Coggle Diagram

- - - - This poem, having historical value, was written as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, the American President, whom Whitman used to admire.
        
        This poem is written in the form of an elegy meaning a funeral song. Whitman used very strong figurative language throughout the poem to express his respect and to mourn the loss of Abraham Lincoln. The expression of mourning and grief mark the center of the poem. However, what stays in the mind of the readers is the speaker’s passionate expression of his love for his dead «captain».
    - - There are three extended metaphors in the poem. The first extended metaphor is “Captain,” used in the first line that runs throughout the poem. Here Captain represents Abraham Lincoln who loses his life in the battle.
        
        The second metaphor is “Voyage,” which presents the Civil War. The journey of the voyage is full of tests and trials. The third metaphor, “ship” represents the United States that has undergone the Civil War.
        
        An apostrophe. Is used to call somebody or something from afar. Here the poet has used an apostrophe to call his dead captain. The phrase, “O Captain! My Captain!” expresses love and attachment of the speaker with his captain.
      - https://youtu.be/j64SctPKmqk
- - - - Right from the start of his journey, he separates himself from all worldly needs. He is traveling alone on the road, feeling the pressure of society.
        He admits that he and his "burden" share a meaningful relationship. Therefore, he has to carry it along everywhere. As the poem progresses, he catalogs the diversity of people he encounters on that road.
    - - He understands that the key to happiness is to be true to his ideals, his soul, and his intelligence. He encourages everyone to live their dreams, leaving the obstacles behind.
- - - - As the poem continues, the poet universalizes the ferry, believing that his physical existence and spiritual quest have become a ferry that connects him to mankind.
      - He addresses the future generations and says that their experience on the bank, shore would not be a wonder, as people before them had already enjoyed these pleasures.
        
        While addressing the reader, the speaker says that what they experience today is already experienced by the previous generations and will be experienced in the same manner by the coming generations.