Theme Of Death In 'To An Athlete Dying Young'

A true tragedy is an unexpected death. Housman’s poem “To an Athlete Dying Young” provides us with a true tragedy. In this poem, a young, healthy Olympian has just died.
Death is often times linked with darkness and sadness; however, in Housman’s poem he is able to manipulate his words and describe a different viewpoint of glory. He argues that the athlete’s death was not a misfortune but actually has a positive result. Through Housman use of parallel structure, diction, and symbols Housman reassures the athlete that his or her death was at a pivotal point for the athlete’s legacy; as a result of the athlete’s short life, he will not have to suffer from fading glory. Housman justifies the tragic death of this young athlete by drawing parallel structure between his glory and death. In Housman’s poem, it presents …show more content…
The poet uses specific word choice to mold the reader’s ideas to fit the message Housman is trying to portray. The poem illustrates a scene of darkness around glory because of Housman’s word choice, and the athlete’s death seems to have a bright and positive perspective. The poet uses “Slip betimes away” (9) to describe death as an escape seeing it in a positive manner. Housman use of these words to make it seem like his death is an escape and makes it seem like the athlete is seeking freedom from the evil slaveholding glory. Now for glory, it is the opposite. Glory is always followed by negative, reflecting words such as “Fade” (21) or “Rout”(17). With the light being drawn towards death and darkness being cast on glory it backs up Housman’s argument, that glory is not a positive attribute of life it makes athletes suffer. Glory is an element most athletes try to seek, but when the athletes achieve their glory, it eats their soul like acid does to skin. Another device used by Housman is symbols which help to demonstrate the time period glory last in comparison to