Dealing with Death in Whitman’s O Captain! My Captain! and Tennyson’s C

Dealing with Death in Whitmans O chieftain My Captain and Tennysons Crossing the BarLife and death are recurring topics in literature they are not often referred to directly, simply are inferred from figurative language. In Walt Whitmans poesy entitled O Captain My Captain from his anthology of poems, Leaves of Grass, he describes the passing of Abraham Lincoln through the physical exercise of an broad metaphor. Similarly, Crossing the Bar, by Lord Alfred Tennyson, from his collection of poetry, Demeter and Other Poems, alludes to superstars preparation for his or her own death. At times, the deuce authors exp finale similar techniques, employing various figurative language devices such as extended metaphors, diction and format, which all work to highlight their differences in meaning. Through the accustom of imagery, the authors poems invoke various emotions moreover end up leading to the news of two different journeys, one that is elegiac in memory of a historical fi gure, and the other applicable to all those who are facing death.The two poems share some common characteristics, as both make oceanic references and deal with various stages of death. The two authors use capitalization to place stress on the titles of the characters in the poem. As in Whitmans poem, he addresses the qualified of the poem as O Captain My Captain, who is the one leading the air (2) that is nearing the port. This is an allusion to President Abraham Lincoln, who led the United States after the Civil War. Tennysons poem discusses the time when one will be put out to sea (4) to see the Pilot face to face (15). The subject in Tennysons poem lacks a name, and therefore can be applied to all individual, but the Pilot (15) refers to t... ...n, metaphors and imagery to memorialize the fallen captain, Abraham Lincoln and to prove him the proper praise for his work for the United States. Tennysons subject is preparing for the end of his time, which is demon strated through word choice and imagery. Through the use of literary devices, one can see the true similarities between the two poems, as both discuss death related topics through nautical metaphors, but also highlight the true differences in themes and meanings between Whitman and Tennysons poems. whole shebang CitedAlfred Lord Tennyson. Ed. J.D. Robins. 1997. University of Toronto. 28 Oct. 2002 Walt Whitman. Ed. Ian Lancashire. 2002. University of Toronto. 28 Oct. 2002 47131Marlow ENGL.12.05