Mr. Keating took this name from the poem "O Captain! My Captain!" by his favorite poet, Walt Whitman. Whitman wrote the poem as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln through the use of metaphor:
- The captain represents Abraham Lincoln.
- The ship represents the United States.
- The rack (which means storm) represents the Civil War.
| Walt Whitman. 1819–1892 |
| 743. O Captain! My Captain! |
| O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, | |
| The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won, | |
| The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, | |
| While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; | |
| But O heart! heart! heart! | 5 |
| O the bleeding drops of red! | |
| Where on the deck my Captain lies, | |
| Fallen cold and dead. | |
| O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; | |
| Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills, | 10 |
| For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores crowding, | |
| For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; | |
| Here, Captain! dear father! | |
| This arm beneath your head! | |
| It is some dream that on the deck | 15 |
| You've fallen cold and dead. | |
| My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still, | |
| My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; | |
| The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, | |
| From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won; | 20 |
| Exult, O shores! and ring, O bells! | |
| But I, with mournful tread, | |
| Walk the deck my Captain lies, | |
| Fallen cold and dead. |
Here are some things to think about:
- When you think of the word CAPTAIN, what thoughts come to mind (i.e. strong, brave, etc.)?
- Why might Mr. Keating suggest that students call him captain?
71 comments:
I think that the captian in this poem was a really good leader. It sounds like the crew person liked him, and they fought a great battle. This would also mean that he was brave and smart.
I think that Mr. Keating told his students that they could call him this was just to be funny and hopefully establish friendship with them.
I thought that the captain in this story was a strong leader. he is well liked and fought in a battle. he must be very brave to fight in a battle.
The reason he said to call him that was just to be funny and friendly.
I think of a Leader that everyone looks to for direction..
annnnndd...i think the Keating told them to call him O Captain, my Captain was because he wanted to show them he could show them that they should think for themselves....i think...
When I hear the word captain i usually think of someone who is couragous, strong, serious, and someone with a strong sense of leadership. I think that Mr Keating told this to the boys for 2 reasons. 1. So they think of him as how they would think of a captain, and so they know that hes in charge. 2. Just for a little humor on their first day!
When I think of the word captain: i think of someone who is strong and brave and someone who has a responsibility to lead a group of people through a journey.
Some reasons i think that Mr. Keating wanted them to call him captain was to be funny and freindly at the moment but in the end he wanted to show them that he is someone who is going to lead them and teach them things during there journey at school.
*Morgan*
When I think of the word captain, I think of someone who is a leader, and someone who makes decisions for a group of people. I think that Mr. Keating told them to call him captain, because he wanted them to know that he was in charge. What confuses me, is that he wants them to make there own decisions. Someone who is making their own decisions, usually does not refer to someone else as captain. That in my mind, is giving them power over you to make your decisions.
When I hear the word captain, I think of someone who is respected, courageous, intelligent, and someone with amazing leadership that you would look up to and depend on. I think Mr. Keating suggested to his students that they can call him "O Captain! My Captain!" because he wants them to know that he's someone they can depend on and look up to that will be respected, courageous, intellegent, and will have amazing leadreship too.
What the word captain means to me is a leader who has a responsibility and is willing to take on that responsibility, so in other words a captain is a brave person.
I also think that he wants his students to call him captain because it's sort of different and Mr. Keating is a very different kind of person. But maybe also because he thinks that he could be like a captain by being like a role model for the boys. Sweet.
When I think of Captain, I think of someone who is brave, courageous, big and loudspoken.
I think that Mr. Keating told the students to call him Captain, so that he would seem funny, and also to show that he was someone that the students could go to if they needed help.
Yes, I agree that the captain was a great leader. The reason he wanted his students to call him that was because he wanted his students to think of him as a leader and roll model.
When I think of the word Captain, I think about someone who is a strong leader and a good fighter. Mr. Keating suggest that students call him captain because he is going to lead the class with poetry.
when i think of the word captain i think of a smart, strong leader.
and i think that Mr.Keating told them to call him captain to be funny but also because he's kind of their leader for that class. he's the captain of the class.
I think a captain is a good leader, and someone who is brave and strong minded. I think Mr. Keating told the students that they can call him "O captain my captain" Because he was being friendly and he is the leader of the class but the students should think for themselves.
When I think of a captain, I think of someone who is strong, brave, and someone that people might have respect for.
I think that Mr. Keating told his class that they could call him that so they know that they should listen to him and give him respect!
when I hear the word captain I think of a leader. Strong,brave, and knows what he's doing.
I think he told them to call him that because he wants them to know that he's going to lead them to greatness.
When I hear captain I think of a really good leader and someone that his crew could look up to. It seems like he fought in a battle and that shows courage and bravery.
I think Mr. Keating told them to call him that because he was being humorous but also telling them that hes in charge and he is going to lead them in his class.
I think the captain was a great leader and that everyone loved him because he was fair and treated everyone with respect so they all liked his ways.
I think Mr.Keating told the students to call him captain because he is trying to teach them something important.
When I think of the word CAPTAIN, I think of a very strong leader who knows how to lead a lot of people. I also think of a captain to be brave and strong and wise and intelligent.
I think Mr. Keating wanted his students to call him captain because that way, they would think of him as being strong, wise, brave, intelligent etc. They would think of him as they would of a real captain.
when i think of captain i thnk of a leader who is very wise and brave. and he wants to be called o captain my captain because he wants his class to think of him as the captain and the leader.
When I think of the word Captain I think of a leader. I think this because with out leadership the crew wouldent listen to him. I also think its courage, with out courage the captian would not take any risks and probably be in a lot of trouble in a bad situation.Mr.Keating wants the kids to call him O Captain My Captain because he wants the kids to know hes there leader.
i think he want them to call him captain because he want them to think about why they call him captain. So they would know that they could be captains too. If they make their own decisions and if they were brave.
Captain to me reminds me of like someone who is in charge, [ex. CAPTAIN of some sports team]
i think he wanted them to call him that so they would be reminded that while he is their friend and teacher, they also have to obey him.
When I hear the word captian, I think of someone brave and very daring. I think that Mr. Keating asked his students to call him that because he survived Welton just like a captain of a ship survives in a storm.
i think that the captain is a very strong and courageous leader. he has to be very brave and strong to fight in battle.
the reason why he said they could call him captain was to make friends with them on the first day.
When I think of a captain, I usually think of a person strong, willing and someone who people can lookup to for directions. The reason why Mr. Keating wanted the class to call him captain was because he wanted them to look to him if they needed directions.
1. When I think of the word captin I think of Captin Hook and Smee from Peter Pan. I think of them as Stong, Self brained idots. but other captins I think of Like blackbeard and the captin of the titanic I think of them as heros and great leaders of their time.
2.Me might want them to think of him as the captin of the class or the leader of the class
I thought that the captin in the store was a very strong leader and well respected and everyone liked him. It almost was like he was mans best friend (not the dog way).
I think of the word captain I think of a leader some one who can listen while at the same time able to make good decisions. Someone who teaches and can be taught.
I think that he did it to be funny and also to let the kids know that he is the leader but, if they have any questions they know that they can come to him for it.
In the poem the captain had perished in a battle and lay dead upon the ship and people gathered at the shores to see if what they had heard was true that the captain had died. For me this means that this was no ordinary captain he was a man who was very well respected and a man who was bold enough to take a stand.
I feel that Mr. Keating thought that this was a good name for himself not because it sounded cool and made him feel important but because he was a man deserving of the name and that he lead a life of blood decisions and had the courage to take a stand.
When I hear the word captain, I usually think of someone who is brave, couragous and strong. I think that Mr. Keating told his students to call him captain so that they know that he is in charge.
It seems like the whole poem is a metaphor. The captian of the U.S.A. "ship" was Abe Lincoln, and during the "rack" of the Civil War, he stood strong and steady. They made it through, but then the "captain" died. The whole mood of the poem is sad, so I think it's all about the tragedy of his death and what a great man he was. Mr. Keating wanted them to call him that to establish a loose, friendly air and to show that this class was different.
I think the word captain is someone who is brave and responsible for a bunch of people.
I think Mr. Keating told them they could call him Captain because it means that he will teach them and lead them.
well, its friday and i had you thursday but i'll still respond....
i believe that Mr. Keating had the students call him "O Captain! My Captain!" because he want them to think of him as a great leader and whats them to fallow in his footsteps where ever that may be. and also at the same time be who they want to be as well.
When I think of the word "Captain," I think of a leader. Some guy in a goofy white hat with an anchor on it (a boat captain). Or it could be the captain(s) of a sport's team, who is determined and takes charge. Mr Keating wants his students to call him captain maybe because he wants them to look up to him and see that he is an important individual with intelligence and leadership.
I think captain means a good strong leader. like they would look up to him and follow him to the end the earth. He might want them to call him O captain my captain so they look up to him.
When I think of a Captin, I think of a stong leader on a navy ship going into battle; because a captin needs to be stong and courageous to go into battle. I think Mr. Ketting wanted his students to callhim "O Captin, My Captin!" because he thinks that they should veiw him as a strong, smart, and courageous leader. (Oh, and I also found out that the poem "O Captin, My Captin!" is in the LA Textbooks in case anyone needed to know!)
I think the captain in this poem is someone who is strong and brave and who can lead a group. Mr. Keating told his students to call him that maybe because he thought he could lead as well as the captain on the ship?
i think the reason why they had them call him oh captin my captin, because abraham lincon was obviously a great leader, and the civel war gave him a lot of pressure and stress. so i think that it means that he will hel his students through bad times.
The word CAPTAIN makes me think of a strong, brave leader who is well liked and fights their obstacles side by side with his/her followers.
I think Mr. Keating told his students that they could call him Captain because he will be their leader in class and he will help them fight the "textbook" poetry.
When I think of the word "captain" I think of many things. I think of a leader that everyone looks up to. I also think a captain is kind of the glue that holds certain groups together.
I think that the students could call him that because Mr. Keating wanted to establish a relationship with them. He also wanted to let them know that he would keep the class together.
I think that mr. keating wants the boys to call him captain because he wants them to know that they can look up to him, and that he will help them if things are getting hard for them. (thats also what i think of the word captain). Also, a bit of humor for the 1st day of school.
When I think of a captain I think of someone who is experienced, wise, and a leader. Mr. Keating might want his kids to call him captain because he is a leader. Also he might just have thought it was funny.
When I think of a captain, I think of someone who is a brave leader, someone that everyone looks to for direction and guidance.
I think that the reason Mr. Keating wanted his students to call him that because he wanted to show them that his class wouldn't be like any of the other classes that they had to take. Also, he wanted them to look to him for guidance and direction.
I think captain means brave, strong, and someone who is responsible to lead a lot of people. Mr.Keating told the class to call him that just to be friendly.
Hey Mr. Buckley!!!
I think that the captain in this poem was a bold and strong leader. I think he symbolized many traits such as responsible, courageous, etc. It seems as though the crew really enjoyed his personality and liked him.
I think Mr. Keatng told his students to call him that because he wanted them to respect him and like his personality, almost like what the poem symbolized.
1. When I think of the word CAPTAIN I think of a person who is a strong leader who will lead his "crew" through all their hardships.
2. I think Mr Keating suggested that his students call him CAPTAIN beacause he wanted them to think of him a role model and also just for a little humor!
I think that the captian in this poem was very well liked and thought of as brave by his crew. They fought a great battle so he must have been ever intelligent on strategies of battles.
I think that he told them to call him O Captian my Captian because he wanted to let them know that he wasnt a teacher who was to uptight and he could have fun.
I think that the word Captain in this poem represents a good, brave leader. I think he wanted them to call him Captain to be funny.
I think that the word captain is refering to someone who you respect and trust.
I think that Mr. Keating told them that they could call him "Oh captain my captain" so they could have a choice to think for themselves and so it would show that they have trust in Mr. Keating
I think that captain means a trustful leader. It sounds like this person has charisma.
The reason Mr.Keating wanted to be called this, is because he thought it was funny, but also they probably didn't think he was as uptight as the other teachers are.
the word Captian makes me thing of bold and courageous, important. Mr. keating suggest for them to call him captain because he wants them to think of him as an idol, a strong leader. To add a little humor too.
I think this captain in this poem was a good leader.
I think that Mr. Keating made them call him this because it shows that he really cares about what hes doing.
I think the captain is the leader.
and he asked them to be friendly. And he faced a war with welton and so the kids do also.
hy might Mr. Keating suggest that students call him captain?
When I think of Captain I think of someone who is brave, courageous, and responsible for leading a group of people to their final destination.
I think that Mr. Keating suggests that his students call him captain to be humerous and friendly. I also think he suggests this because he wants to let them know he's in charge and is going to teach them important lessons through their journey.
i think that the captin was a good speaker and that then his crew would listen to him when they went to battle.
he wanted to have his students call him this because he wanted to know that he was respected
I hitnk that captin means leader(strong, willing and insparational) I think that mr keating wanted them to call him captin because he wanted them to think of him as an inspeational and strong person tht can help them acheive anything.
~griffin
i believe it is about a good leader.
When I think of the word "Caption" I think of leaders. I think Mr. Keating would have wanted people to call him caption because he is their leader or teacher.
When i think of captain i think of the leader on a ship at sea..
When I hear the word captain, I think of someone who is respected, courageous, intelligent, and someone with amazing leadership that you would look up to and depend on. I think Mr. Keating suggested to his students that they can call him "O Captain! My Captain!" because he wants them to know that he's someone they can depend on and look up to that will be respected, courageous, intellegent, and will have amazing leadreship too.
The word "captin" means leader and strong to me. I think that Mr. keating wants his students to call him that bacause he wants them to look up to him as a leader.
When I hear the word captain i thik of a pirate, but in this story it made me think more. I thought that it meant to have courage and leadership.
I think Mr. Keating told all his students that they can call him "O Captain! My Captain!" because he wants them to know that he's someone they can depend on and look up to that will be respected, courageous, and intellegent
I thought the captain in this poem was a great leader.
He was brave and strong and smart. Mr. Keating makes the students call him captain because he is their leader.
I think the captain in this story was a great leader. He is respected, and i think that's why mr. Keating wanted to be called that because of what it represents.
captain: brave, leader, strong, hero, ship, better then rest
They might call him that because he wants them to respect him and he wants them to treat him the same way like in the poem.
1) captain makes me think of a leader.2) because he is a leader to them.
mr keating likes the name O captin my capting because its his favorite poet and the captin contributes abraham lincoln
When I hear captain, i think of someone who is brave, and strong. A captain also leads, which is why Mr Keating asked them to call him O' Captain! My Captain!
Chip
i think of smart and courageous, sometimes charismatic.
he thinks of himself as a captain guiding them thru learning.
i think the caption in this poem was a very good strong person and thats what made him a leader. they fought a good battle and to do that you need to be brave and courageous.
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