A person’s life experiences shape the way they see the world, both in life and death. Lord Alfred Tennyson’s Crossing the Bar considers the subject of death from the viewpoint of someone experiencing their own death, and expressing the hope that their loved ones can feel the same sense of closure and peace. Dylan Thomas’ Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night tackles the same subject from the viewpoint of someone watching their father die, and asking him to fight against death. The authors’ different viewpoints and opinions on the subject of death allow them to use similar literary elements in opposite ways.
Both authors use figurative language to exhibit their views on death. Tennyson uses figurative language in the form of darkness and night …show more content…
In Crossing the Bar, Tennyson views death as a peaceful, inevitable thing, not something to be afraid of. Tennyson writes, “And may there be no sadness of farewell, / When I embark” (Tennyson 11-12). While most would view death as a journey coming to an end, Tennyson views death as embarking on a new one. He states that there should be no sadness because once he has died and crossed the bar, he will be happy. He wants others to accept his death just as he has. Thomas’ view of death, on the other hand, is contrasting to that of Tennyson. His poem Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night paints a terrifying image of death, and portrays it as something that should be resisted. Thomas writes, “Though wise men at their end know dark is right, / Because their words had forked no lightning they / Do not go gentle into that good night” (Thomas 3-5). Although Thomas acknowledges that death is inevitable, he does not believe that it should be accepted. He believes that men should resist death because their words have forked no lightning. They have not made an impact on the world, and should not accept death until they can die without regrets of what they have contributed to the world. Tennyson describes death as something peaceful that should be accepted, while Thomas portrays it as a terrible thing that should be resisted. The authors use of
Both authors use figurative language to exhibit their views on death. Tennyson uses figurative language in the form of darkness and night …show more content…
In Crossing the Bar, Tennyson views death as a peaceful, inevitable thing, not something to be afraid of. Tennyson writes, “And may there be no sadness of farewell, / When I embark” (Tennyson 11-12). While most would view death as a journey coming to an end, Tennyson views death as embarking on a new one. He states that there should be no sadness because once he has died and crossed the bar, he will be happy. He wants others to accept his death just as he has. Thomas’ view of death, on the other hand, is contrasting to that of Tennyson. His poem Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night paints a terrifying image of death, and portrays it as something that should be resisted. Thomas writes, “Though wise men at their end know dark is right, / Because their words had forked no lightning they / Do not go gentle into that good night” (Thomas 3-5). Although Thomas acknowledges that death is inevitable, he does not believe that it should be accepted. He believes that men should resist death because their words have forked no lightning. They have not made an impact on the world, and should not accept death until they can die without regrets of what they have contributed to the world. Tennyson describes death as something peaceful that should be accepted, while Thomas portrays it as a terrible thing that should be resisted. The authors use of