Oh Captain! My Captain!

The printout describes Walt Whitman’s famous Oh Captain! My Captain! elegy to President Lincoln and then asks students to think of their own hero and to write a similar poem.

Objective:

• Students will analyze Walt Whitman's elegy for Abraham Lincoln to understand tone, imagery, and emotion in poetry.
• Students will identify personal heroes and write original poetry honoring them.
• Students will connect personal emotion and historical understanding through creative expression.

Step 1 – Introduction to Walt Whitman and Context (10 minutes)

• Introduce Walt Whitman as a Civil War-era poet and journalist who volunteered as a nurse for the Union Army.
• Explain that "O Captain! My Captain!" was written to mourn the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.
• Share historical context: Lincoln was seen as a heroic leader who had just led the country through the Civil War when he was killed.

Step 2 – Read and Discuss the Poem (15 minutes)

• Read the poem aloud slowly and with emotion.
• Discuss vocabulary and figurative language (e.g., the ship represents America, the "Captain" is Lincoln).
• Ask:
  • What emotions does the speaker feel?
  • Why do you think Whitman calls Lincoln both "Captain" and "Father"?
  • How does the poem show love, admiration, and grief?

Step 3 – Writing Activity: Your Own “O Captain” Poem (20–25 minutes)

Students will write their own version of an “O Captain!” poem honoring someone they admire. It can be a historical figure, family member, teacher, or fictional hero. Students may follow this structure:

1. Start with "O Captain! My Captain!" or create their own version like "O Hero! My Hero!"
2. Use imagery to show what this person has done or achieved.
3. Describe how the writer feels about them — admiration, gratitude, sadness, etc.
4. Include emotional tone and vivid description.

Step 4 – Share and Reflect (10 minutes)

• Invite volunteers to share their poems aloud.
• Ask reflection questions:
  • Why did you choose this person?
  • What do you want others to understand about your hero?