O Captain! My Captain! Resources

Websites

Whitman, Archived

Want to know anything, ever, about Whitman? Click here.

A Little History

Check out the Library of Congress’s explanation of the origins of the poem.

Library of Congress

Here's more background on the poem, but this site also has an image of one of Whitman’s proofs from a printer. Check out the handwriting.

Whitman and Lincoln, Best of Buds

Take a look at the relationship that Whitman had with Lincoln.

Video

Walt and the Civil War

Here's a short, but we think really interesting, news clip about the unveiling of Whitman's Civil War-era records.

Dead Poet’s Society

Mr. Keating gets daring.

A Reading

Here's a somber reading of the poem, along with the text.

In the Name of Love

Here's a funky mash-up of the poem, a U2 song, 1960s news footage, and some dude reading part of the Gettysburg Address.

Dude on a Beach

This is a pretty…interesting performance of the poem by Ed Peed. No, we're not making that name up.

Audio

LibriVox

Here are free readings of “O Captain! My Captain!” for iTunes.

The (Vincent) Price is Right

So spooky! Check out the horror icon's reading of the poem.

Images

The Poet

Here's Whitman, around the time the poem was written.

Hipster Walt

Check the beard on younger Walt.

Drawing of Lincoln’s Actual Funeral

Get an idea of what the fanfare on shore (as described in the poem) might look like.

Lincoln as Captain

Walt would approve.

O Crayon! My Crayon!

Here's a school art project inspired by the poem.

Whitman Claus

Ah, Photoshop. Is there anything you can't do?

Historical Documents

Draft of “O Captain! My Captain!”

This is a proof sheet from 1988, on which Whitman has written revisions. Very cool.

Manuscript

Here's a manuscript in Whitman’s own hand. Good luck reading it, though.

Articles & Interviews

Walt's Advice

Check out this recently discovered interview Whitman gave, offering advice to New Jersey scholars. Take notes, kids.

Walt Whitman and Mental Science, an Interview

This fictional interview is a bit hard to read, but it's worth it for Whitmanian gems like: "To the Mental Scientist, there is no Devil but Fear."

Books

1855 Edition of Leaves of Grass

This first edition is a very approachable way for the beginning Whitman fan to expand his or her horizons. Dive in, everybody.

Whitman: Poetry and Prose

Here are the collected works—not for the faint of heart, nor the short of cash.