Question

Read these excerpts. Lincoln’s "The Gettysburg Address." It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this earth. Whitman’s "O Captain! My Captain!". 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; Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. How does “The Gettysburg Address” and “O Captain! My Captain!” compare in their use of pathos (the use of emotional appeals to affect the audience’s feelings)? Neither the speech nor poem rely on the use of pathos. Both the speech and poem are equal when it comes to the use of pathos. The poem relies more on pathos than the speech does. The speech relies more on pathos than the poem does.

Answer 1

The poem relies more on pathos

Pathos is the use of emotional appeals to affect the audience's feelings. Throughout the poem, "O, Captain! My Captain!" the speaker uses description to create a sad, mournful tone. The description of the dead captain with no movement or pulse helps to evoke these emotions. The speaker also uses the words "mournful" and "fearful" to capture emotions. In "The Gettysburgh Address" Lincoln uses pathos to speak about the fallen soldiers. However, the emotional appeal is greater when speaking about the death of Lincoln.