Mr. Randazzo ELA 8
Argumentative Essay
Take-Home Test
“Oh’ Captain! My Captain!” is one of Walt Whitman’s most famous poems. Whitman
not only shows his own remorse for the loss of Lincoln, but also represents the somber
feelings of many Americans during a time when the country should have been celebrating
the Union Victory. By comparing Lincoln to the Captain of a ship, Whitman uses this
among other extended metaphors to speak for the nation. You are to determine if
Whitman was justified in his comparisons.
Your Task: Does Walt Whitman’s use of extended metaphors adequately portray the
sense of loss felt by Americans after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination? After reading
“Oh Captain, My Captain,” write a 5-paragraph argumentative essay that addresses the
question and support your position with evidence from the texts in class. To receive full
credit, your essay should:
(1) Discuss slavery and draw information (cite) from the Frederick Douglass reading
(2) Draw directly from Whitman’s “O Captain, My Captain”
(3) Look ahead to the future after Lincoln’s death and cite from our novel,
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
This assignment is due on Friday, March 21 in class.