Death; Death is a short simple word that holds an abundance of meaning. Everyone has felt deaths powerful, heart-wrenching grip and some have a difference of opinion on death. Many believe death is the beginning of a new life and others believe it is the end of a life. William Cullen Bryant, and Dylan Thomas have rather contrasting views on death, and this is primarily due to differences in their lives as well as their religion. These are both important aspects pertaining to death and can be influential to a person’s thought process. This all made obvious in their poems “Thanatopsis” and “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.” In Bryant’s poem, “Thanatopsis” and Thomas’s poem, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” there are obvious
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Bryant has a much more positive attitude and outlook towards death. Bryant reveals this in one instance by writing, “Yet not to tine eternal resting-place / shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish / Couch more magnificent” in “Thanatopsis” and by him saying how wonderful death can be he is furthering the evidence of his good attitude (l. 31-33). Bryant feels that there is comfort in death, which is shown in these lines: “All that tread / The globe are but a handful to the tribes / That slumber in its bosom” (l. 48-50). This reference sounds very similar to a child being comforted into slumber on its mother’s chest. Bryant references death as though it is a nap or a time of rest, at several points in “Thanatopsis,” by using words and phrases such as “Pleasant dreams,” “resting place,” “Slumber,” and he also calls death a “Couch” (l. 80,31,50,33). Bryant feels as though death is a comforting experience. He characterizes death as “soothing” in line 78 and in line 7 he says that death is “healing.” These words bring life to the notion that Bryant is certain in his feelings of death. Bryant feels that death is natural and because he is certain of his destination, he is not afraid, like many. Thomas’s contrasting view is evident, which can plainly
Bryant has a much more positive attitude and outlook towards death. Bryant reveals this in one instance by writing, “Yet not to tine eternal resting-place / shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish / Couch more magnificent” in “Thanatopsis” and by him saying how wonderful death can be he is furthering the evidence of his good attitude (l. 31-33). Bryant feels that there is comfort in death, which is shown in these lines: “All that tread / The globe are but a handful to the tribes / That slumber in its bosom” (l. 48-50). This reference sounds very similar to a child being comforted into slumber on its mother’s chest. Bryant references death as though it is a nap or a time of rest, at several points in “Thanatopsis,” by using words and phrases such as “Pleasant dreams,” “resting place,” “Slumber,” and he also calls death a “Couch” (l. 80,31,50,33). Bryant feels as though death is a comforting experience. He characterizes death as “soothing” in line 78 and in line 7 he says that death is “healing.” These words bring life to the notion that Bryant is certain in his feelings of death. Bryant feels that death is natural and because he is certain of his destination, he is not afraid, like many. Thomas’s contrasting view is evident, which can plainly