Thanatopsis Essay

The poem Thanatopsis tells a story to not be sad when thinking about death, that we should approach death peacefully and carefully. William Cullen Bryant speaks about death in a positive way. Meaning when we look at death we mourn at what pain it brings us. Wanting his readers to understand death is going to come, and by using such content words and neutral tones he expresses his meaning of the work. Throughout the poem he expresses his feelings through imagery and symbolism. Throughout the reading that death can come at any point and that we should not be physically prepared for it but, we should understand and accept it will come one day. “ She has a voice of gladness, and a smile and Eloquence of beauty”. By using these types of lines and
By comparing joyful tones to death is difficult to understand, by comparing them to things that have similar meanings which makes it more understandable. “Take note of thy departure? All that breathe will share thy destiny”. By comparing him dying and using a comparison to the other it also shows his meaning of the work. That no matter what, no matter what breath you take, you will end up in the same boat. Once again comparing and showing the meaning of the work throughout each quote in the poem. This quote most importantly proves his meaning, by comparing the people who don't understand death as a timeless thing and as something that shouldn't be spoken of until it happens. This interrupts the meaning of how death is a concept that is terrifying. “The speechless babe, and the gray-headed man man- -Shall one by one be gathered to thy side, By those, who in their turn, shall follow them”. Once again continuing the process of which the author continues to use and compare the people who never thought about death in this way, to believe him and what he preaches. As spoken in the quote before this has a more unique meaning to what he compares death too. Going strait to the point in which people all are going to end up in the same