Monday, May 7, 2012

Civil War Poetry Prompt—Remembering the Past


A eulogy is a spoken or written tribute that reveals the virtues and accomplishments of a person who died.

Write a eulogy for the a soldier from your local cemetery. You could look at examples from local newspapers or historical newspapers to help with the writing process. Consider:
  • Biographical information: the name of the person, date of death, and age at death, and a possible cause of death as determined through your group analysis
  • Accomplishments/honors: What is this person known for? Why should we remember him or her? List two or three possible accomplishments of the person during his or her life. (For example: wife, mother, etc.)
  • One or two events that actually occurred in history during the life of this person that might have had an effect on his or her life.
  • Turn it into a Wordle—this example is drawn from Walt Whitman’s eulogy to Abraham Lincoln


  Walt Whitman

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!
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 a-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,
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

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