In the first stanza the speaker is overjoyed with happiness and celebrates returning home. “O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful journey is over / the ship has withstood every obstacle, the prize we sought is won” (L1-2). They have achieved victory and freedom over whoever they were in battle with and are rejoicing in their victory. However, at the end of the first stanza, the speaker lets the audience know that the captain he is talking about is actually deceased. At this point the speaker denies that his captain is dead. Denial is said to be the first stage of grieving the death of a loved one. In the second stanza the speaker's excitement seems to intensify into an angrier excitement. The speaker is trying to wake the captain and get him to stand up. “Arise and hear the bells/Arise – for you the flag is hoisted – for you the trumpet trills” (L10). The narrator is in the second stage of mourning. He's angry that his captain doesn't wake up and celebrate with him, but how can the captain do that when he's really dead. It is only in the third stanza that the speaker finally comes to terms with the fact that the captain is dead and will not celebrate the victory with him. “My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still / My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse or will” (L17-18). The tone in the third verse changes