QUICKWRITE
How does the thought of
death make you feel?
What comforts you when you
think of your own death?
“Thanatopsis”
By
William Cullen Bryant
Objectives
analyze
poem
a Romantic
identify
examples of
figurative language and
imagery
Understanding the Title
From Greek Mythology:
Thanatos was Death personified,
the son of Night and Darkness and
the brother of Hypnos (Sleep).
He was not portrayed as a
frightening being but as a winged
man who lived in the Underworld.
Theme
“Death
is not to be
feared; it is everyone’s
destiny, a union with
nature and all who have
already died.”
“Thanatopsis” Chart
Create a three column chart
for the following:
EXAMPLES OF IMAGERY
EXPLANATION OF IMAGE
SENSES APPEALED
“Thanatopsis” Chart
Explain
the images and
their purpose (What
does it help the reader to
understand about the
poem’s theme?)
“Thanatopsis” Chart
Identify
the five senses
to which each image
appeals.
FIND EXAMPLES OF THE
FOLLOWING FIGURES OF
SPEECH:
5
METAPHORS
3 SIMILES
5 PERSONIFICATION
FIND THE ALLUSION!
Hint: Look in the footnotes.
LINE BY LINE
ANALYSIS
Lines 1-4
Nature
speaks to those
who know her, in both
happy and sad times,
and has a comforting
voice for both occasions.
Lines 5-13
When horrible
thoughts of death
frighten one to the
point of agony and
sickness, one
should look to
nature for comfort.
Lines 14-17
Go
outside and
listen to Nature’s
teachings. From
all around, both
earth and water,
a still voice will
come to him/her.
Lines 17-30 (1)
Nature speaks to the poet
and reveals that life is
short and all will die soon.
Lines 17-30 (2)
One
will no longer see the
sun; one’s body/image will
no longer exist on land or
sea once it is placed in the
ground.
Lines 17-30 (3)
The
Earth that
has nourished
you will reclaim
your form
(ashes to ashes).
Lines 17-30 (4)
The
body will lose its
physical form to be mixed
with the earth’s elements.
The earth will become your
family, feeding upon you.
Lines 31-45 (1)
When
one dies, he will
not be alone. All will be
laid in one mighty tomb
(the earth) with royalty,
the wise, seers, the good,
and all people.
Lines 31-45 (2)
All
aspects of nature
will decorate one’s tomb:
hills, woods, rivers,
brooks, and meadows.
Lines 49-58 (1)
The number of people
living is smaller than
the number who have
died. People are buried
in the earth, from the
desert in Libya to the
woods in Oregon.
Lines 49-58 (2)
All
will rest in this
eternal place.
Lines 58-72
If
one dies alone,
do not fear.
Eventually, the
living will share
this experience as
well.
Lines 73-81
Do
not live life in fear like
a slave trying to escape at
night. Rather, live like one
who, when he dies, will be
lying down to dream
pleasant dreams.