A. E. Housman's To An Athlete Dying Young

Alfred Edward Housman, also known as A.E. Housman was most popular for his poem, “To an Athlete Dying Young.” In this poem, Housman poses the idea that the best way for an athlete to achieve greatness is to die before his fame dies. Housman’s difficult childhood led him to write poems with a very bleak outlook on life. “To an Athlete Dying Young” encompasses some of the feelings A.E. Housman felt as a child. This thought provoking poem convinces readers to think about life, death and the loss of glory (“Death in Poetry: A.E. Housman”). Alfred Edward Housman was born on March 26, 1859 in Fockbury, Worcestershire, England. Housman’s family moved to Bromsgrove when he was one year old. He attended college at St. John’s College in Oxford. At this

The somber mood is established in the beginning and continues throughout the poem. It is no surprise that Housman’s poems are morbid and depressing because of the hard and troublesome childhood he experienced. The poem is written about a young, talented athlete that dies at a young age. Housman poses the idea that it is better to die in one’s prime than to die after his or her accomplishments have been forgotten. When A.E. Housman writes, “and home we brought you shoulder high,” he reminiscing about the athlete’s victory moment. The poem takes a dark twist when A.E. Housman writes in the second stanza, “Shoulder-high we bring you home,” because this time we are at the athlete’s funeral, and he is being carried in a casket. A.E. Housman is looking on the bright side of this athlete’s death throughout the entire poem. He explains that it is better for the athlete to die at a young age because he will never have to feel disappointed about his records being broken. The athlete will never have to live in silence after hearing the loud cheers from the crowd. A.E. Housman explains that most athlete’s fame dies before they do. However, for this athlete he will never have to worry about that. Housman uses many literary devices in this poem to create a melancholy tone. Housman uses the metaphor, “the road all runners come”, to represent death. When Housman writes, “Smart lad, to