Thanatopsis
William Cullen Bryant wrote “Thanatopsis” when he was
about 17. He was influenced by the British “Graveyard
Poets” (ex. Thomas Gray and Robert Blair), William Wordsworth and Samuel
Taylor Coleridge. For more about Bryant, look on p. 124 in the red book.
After reading and annotating the poem, answer the following questions as a
group on a separate sheet of paper to turn in after our discussion.
Before Discussion:
1. What is the mood of this poem? In other words, how would you describe
the feelings you have after reading this poem? Be sure to explain your
response. You might want to share a specific line or an overall observation
that will help explain why you have the feelings you do.
2. What lines stand out to you as important and why?
3. What lines stand out to you as beautiful or awkward or confusing or??
Why?
4. As you know, the type of landscape art during this time period favored
sweeping panoramas, wild vistas, untamed landscapes, and views of the sky.
Look at “Thanatopsis” as a visual description of a painting. What would this
poem look like if it were a painting? Be as descriptive as possible and quote
key images from the poem for support.
5. Theme Part 1: What do you think is the overall message in this poem?
After Discussion:
6. There are two speakers in this poem. Who are they?
7. The tone of this poem shifts. Where does the shift occur? How is the
tone in the first part similar to or different from the tone after the shift?
8. “Thanatopsis” is considered an elegy, a poem of mourning. In what ways is
this an elegy? In what ways is it not?
9. Theme Part 2: Now that we’ve discussed the poem, what can you add to
your understanding of the poem’s theme?
10. Evaluate this poem. Do you like it or not and why?