William Cullen Bryant was an influential Romantic poet in the 1800s. Common themes such as nature appear in many of Bryant’s poems. His poem “Thanatopsis” speaks directly to those who share a “love of Nature,” offering comfort regarding thoughts of death. Bryant’s use of structure, imagery, and selection of detail creates a unique perspective of death.
Bryant opens “Thanatopsis” by vividly describing one’s relationship with nature. He creates an image of a humanlike nature by using phrases such as “she speaks” and “she glides.” Bryant reflects on how during pleasant times nature has “a voice of gladness, and a smile….” His selection of detail shows readers that nature rejoices in one’s happiness. But “When thoughts of the last bitter hour come like a blight/Over thy spirit…” nature lovers may go out and take comfort in “Nature’s teachings.” Bryant’s description of how nature lovers view nature when they are experiencing different emotions creates a vivid image of nature and how they perceive it with different emotions.
In the second section of “Thanatopsis,” lines 18-30, Bryant attempts to comfort lovers of nature by explaining that they will become a part of nature after. He writes, “Earth, that nourished thee shall claim…” to convey that Earth will …show more content…
Bryant states, “Thou shalt lie down/With patriarchs of the infant world…” this shows readers that after death they are all equal and no one is separate. He describes Earth as “one mighty sepulcher” and all of its beauty as the decorations. An image of the tomb’s decorations is formed by using phrases such as “venerable woods” or “rivers that move/In majesty.” Bryant tells nature lovers not to worry if “[they] withdraw/In silence from the living…” and no one notices because “All that breathe/Will share thy destiny….” He is trying to convey the idea that no one escapes
Bryant opens “Thanatopsis” by vividly describing one’s relationship with nature. He creates an image of a humanlike nature by using phrases such as “she speaks” and “she glides.” Bryant reflects on how during pleasant times nature has “a voice of gladness, and a smile….” His selection of detail shows readers that nature rejoices in one’s happiness. But “When thoughts of the last bitter hour come like a blight/Over thy spirit…” nature lovers may go out and take comfort in “Nature’s teachings.” Bryant’s description of how nature lovers view nature when they are experiencing different emotions creates a vivid image of nature and how they perceive it with different emotions.
In the second section of “Thanatopsis,” lines 18-30, Bryant attempts to comfort lovers of nature by explaining that they will become a part of nature after. He writes, “Earth, that nourished thee shall claim…” to convey that Earth will …show more content…
Bryant states, “Thou shalt lie down/With patriarchs of the infant world…” this shows readers that after death they are all equal and no one is separate. He describes Earth as “one mighty sepulcher” and all of its beauty as the decorations. An image of the tomb’s decorations is formed by using phrases such as “venerable woods” or “rivers that move/In majesty.” Bryant tells nature lovers not to worry if “[they] withdraw/In silence from the living…” and no one notices because “All that breathe/Will share thy destiny….” He is trying to convey the idea that no one escapes