Tom Thomson Death Analysis

Tom Thomson: An Honorable Death Robert Kroetsch uses various ways to tell the story of Tom Thomson, an artist whose death remains a mystery. Kroetsch was appreciative for Thomson’s artwork and death. Kroetsch references to many pieces of Thomson's artwork, allowing readers to understand how Thomson lived his life. By referencing to Thomson’s paintings it allows readers to imagine the bliss of Thomson’s artwork. The structure of his poem shows the calm, yet confusing thoughts towards the mysterious death. Kroetsch use of specific words show his passion towards the artwork and death to Tom Thomson. “Meditation on Tom Thomson” is a poem that reflects and pays homage to the death of Tom Thomson. The author references to various aspects of Thomson’s

There are commas and question marks, but no periods. The comma and question mark cause another break or pause in the reading, but a period is the end of a thought. Without punctuation it makes readers think that, although Tom Thomson has died it is not the end of his legacy. With no punctuation it makes readers wonder if these are Kroetsch unaltered, and unfiltered thoughts. With few punctuation marks it also makes it difficult for readers to understand through the first read, which also happens to be similar to how many people thought of Thomson’s

He says, “I loved the way you drowned all alone” (Kroetsch, 6). Some may think this is odd, but really Kroetsch is admiring how Thomson became one with the earth when he died, and how he could not be bothered by a ripple in the water, none the less people. This line also represents Kroetsch position on Thomson’s death. Many say Thomson had been murdered, as he was found with a “fishing line wrapped around his leg, and obvious head trauma” (Walker, 11). Although many believe that Tom Thomson was murdered, in line six we see that Kroetsch is choosing to believe that Thomson was un-pestered and had a peaceful passing, all