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Theme Of Death In Poetry

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Death is something all of us are forced to face at some point. It has been incorporated in some manner or another into all cultures around the world. Death’s universal inevitability makes it an extremely popular subject in the realm of poetry. As common as the theme of death is in poetry, the poems “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” do not convey the topic in a manner consistent with other poems of that type. However, before a thorough comparison of the two poems can begin, the poems must be summarized and reviewed individually. According to poets.com, the poem “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” was written by a man named Dylan Thomas as a final plea to his dying father. Thomas’s …show more content…

However, they differ in the way in which they mention the unexpected abruptness of death’s arrival. In “Because I could not stop for Death” death takes the form of a gentleman suitor for the speaker and takes her on a carriage ride. This is a very slow carriage ride, as death was quite patient, but the narrator is still surprised to learn that the ride death has taken her on has actually elapsed centuries. In “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” all men are surprised at the actual brevity of their lives. All of them are angered at the arrival of death and desperately fight for life. They always think that they have more time than they actually do to accomplish the things they want to do. Both poems showcase the surprise felt at death, but they differ in how they come about. “Because I could not stop for Death” showcases how gradually death approaches until it finally arrives at the grave, its final destination. Death’s greatest tool is its patience and determination. It hopes that its quiet, leisurely pace will allow it to stealthily approach its target. Even though the speaker knows death is coming, she nevertheless pays it no attention because of its incredibly gradual pace. “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” conveys how people get caught up in the activities they pursue during their lifetimes. Even though these people know death is …show more content…

It is often used to convey feelings of loss and sorrow. However, two poems use the theme of death to discuss its arrival, and these poems are “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” and “Because I could not stop for Death.” Though the poems are similar in the sense that they discuss the same topic, they are different in the manner in which they discuss the rapidity of death’s appearance. “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” discusses how people get distracted in the ebbs and flows of everyday life. Even though these people live full, enjoyable lives, they still are angry and surprised at the abruptness of death’s arrival. “Because I could not stop for Death” characterizes death as a suitor that takes the speaker on a carriage ride. Eventually the slow voyage death takes the speaker on ends at the grave, where the speaker realizes that hundreds of years have passed. This poem is meant to portray the gradual pace of death. Many people seem to forget about its approach and are unfortunately surprised in the end. Both poems more or less allow the reader to take away the message of life’s brevity. Though one may think they have all the time in the world, death is coming nonetheless. According to both poems, death is easy to forget about as we pursue the many events that life is overflowing with. The amount of days one has in their lifespan is numbered, so each day should be cherished and appreciated as it deserves.

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