Analyzing Poetry: “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman

Introduce readers to the poem “O Captain! My Captain!” by American poet Walt Whitman with this seventh-grade reading comprehension worksheet! Written as an extended metaphor about the death of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln in 1865, Walt Whitman's acclaimed poem includes themes of death and sorrow, as well as themes of victory and joy. After reading the poem’s three stanzas, students will answer several multiple choice and short response questions to demonstrate their understanding of “O Captain! My Captain!” Readers will analyze word choice, tone, and point of view, as well as explore the author’s use of metaphor to better understand the meaning behind the symbols used in the poem.