Topic:  “Thanatopsis”  by  William  Cullen  Bryant
Questions
Notes_________________________________________________
Title:    The  title  means
Literary  Terms:
Simile  -­‐
Metaphor  -­‐
Personification  -­‐
Summary:  In  “Thanatopsis”  by  William  Cullen
Bryant,    the  speaker  presents  his
view  of  death.    He  explains
lines  1-­‐8  –  The  first  8  lines  explain  that  for  he     who  appreciates  nature,  she  ,  nature,     makes  him  happy  when  he  is  in  a     happy  mood  and  comforts  him  when
he  feels  dark  and  gloomy.
Lines  8-­‐22  –  Speaker  advises  reader,  when     you  are  depressed  about  dying,  listen     to  nature.
Lines  22-­‐30  –  The  speaker  explains  that  when     we  die,  we  lose  our  individuality  and     become  a  part  of  the  earth.    A  country     boy  may  walk  over  us;    the  roots  of  an     oak  tree  may  “pierce  our  mold”.
Lines  31-­‐45  –  These  lines  talk  about  lying     down  in  a  permanent  resting  place
(nature).    You  will  lie  in  a  majestic     place.    You  won’t  be  alone  and  it  will  be     beautiful.
Lines  45-­‐57    -­‐  These  lines  suggest  that  there     are  more  people  resting  in  the  earth
(dead)  than  there  are  alive  on  the     earth.

Reflection:
Lines  58-­‐72    This  passage  explains  that  all     humans  have  the  same  destiny.    It  goes     on  to  list  all  types  of  people  and     concludes  by  saying  that  everyone  will     do  the  same  in  the  end,  pass  away.
Lines  72  -­‐80
Mood/tone:
Theme: