Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman

(May 31, 1819, New York – March 26, 1892, New Jersey)(May 31, 1819, New York – March 26, 1892, New Jersey)

By the age of eleven Walt By the age of eleven Walt WhitmanWhitman

had first worked as an office had first worked as an office boy for a prominent boy for a prominent

lawyer, who arranged for lawyer, who arranged for him a subscription to a library, him a subscription to a library,

where where his his self-educationself-education began. began.

He was interested in:He was interested in:literature, history, geography, literature, history, geography,

music, theater and music, theater and archeology.archeology.

““the proof of a the proof of a poet is that his poet is that his

country country absorbs him as absorbs him as affectionately affectionately

as he has as he has absorbed it”absorbed it”

Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman

created new poetry created new poetry

that celebrated the that celebrated the

democratic spirit of hisdemocratic spirit of his

native land. His native land. His

poems have been poems have been

translated into translated into

Ukrainian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Spanish,

French, German, Italian, French, German, Italian,

Chinese, Japanese.Chinese, Japanese.

Walt Whitman Walt Whitman created created

one of the greatest one of the greatest books books

in American literature in American literature – –

Leaves of GrassLeaves of Grass..His new style and His new style and method was method was free free

verseverse..Free verseFree verse ( (вільний вільний вірш) вірш) Poetry that has Poetry that has

nono fixed pattern of fixed pattern of

meter, meter, rhyme, line, length.rhyme, line, length.

Walt Whitman Walt Whitman

wrote democraticwrote democratic

collection collection

Drum-Taps and he Drum-Taps and he

supported supported

A. Lincoln in his A. Lincoln in his

poetry.poetry.

O O CaptainCaptain! ! MyMy Captain!Captain!

1.1. Walt Whitman wrote the Walt Whitman wrote the poem after Abraham poem after Abraham

Lincoln's assassination. Lincoln's assassination. Repeated metaphorical Repeated metaphorical

reference is made to this reference is made to this issue throughout the verse. issue throughout the verse.

The "ship" spoken of is The "ship" spoken of is intended to represent intended to represent

the United States of America, the United States of America, while its "fearful trip" recalls while its "fearful trip" recalls the troubles of the American the troubles of the American

Civil War. The title Civil War. The title role "Captain" is Lincoln role "Captain" is Lincoln

himself.himself.2.2. With a conventional meter With a conventional meter

and rhyme scheme that is and rhyme scheme that is unusual for Whitman, it was unusual for Whitman, it was the only poem anthologized the only poem anthologized during Whitman's lifetime.during Whitman's lifetime.

““O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!..”O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!..”

О Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, О Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought

is won, is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and

daring; daring; But О heart! heart! heart! But О heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red,O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies,Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead. Fallen cold and dead. О Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; О Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;

Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills, Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills, For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the

shores a-crowding,shores a-crowding, For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces

turning; turning; Here Captain! dear father! Here Captain! dear father!

This arm beneath your head! This arm beneath your head! It is some dream that on the deck, You've fallen cold and It is some dream that on the deck, You've fallen cold and

dead. dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,

My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will, nor will,

The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, and done,

From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; Exult О shores, and ring О bells! Exult О shores, and ring О bells!

But I with mournful tread, But I with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Walk the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.Fallen cold and dead.

Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman

- assembled true facts from life;- assembled true facts from life;- found his own style of expressing them;- found his own style of expressing them;

- created a new form of poetry;- created a new form of poetry;- believed a real democracy would be made - believed a real democracy would be made

possible;possible;- hoped that such democracy would come into - hoped that such democracy would come into

being after the complete victory of the being after the complete victory of the Northern states in the Civil War;Northern states in the Civil War;

- insisted that the human being can enjoy his - insisted that the human being can enjoy his right to human dignity and clear conscience right to human dignity and clear conscience only under a just and complete democracy.only under a just and complete democracy.

THE ENDTHE END

By Tetiana Hulatkan 11-cBy Tetiana Hulatkan 11-c