Thenatopsis

On Dictionary.com, The word thanatopsis is defined as "a view or
contemplation of death".

The poem "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant is a poem that is about
death and the circle of life and how death and nature exist together. It is kind
of a weird poem, because it talks about death so much. I think that the poem is
showing you that you should not fear death, because it is natural and it happens
to everyone.

"Their
sharpness, ere he is aware. When thoughts Of the last bitter hour
come like a blight Over thy spirit, and sad images. Of
the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, And breathless
darkness, and the narrow house, Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart"
(Bryant ).

This passage in the poem makes death seem very dark and scary.
It talks about how people view death as sad and full of agony. "Breathless
darkness" were two words that really stuck out to me in this passage. When I
think of breathless darkness I think of the bottom of the ocean. I do not think
that that is probably the image that the author was trying to get across, but
that is one thing that pops in my mind when I hear that phrase. At the end of
this passage, William Cullen Bryant says that when people think of death, they
"grow sick at heart" This is another phrase that is very strong and shows how
much people really hate death.





"Thy growth, to be resolved to earth again,


And, lost each human trace, surrendering up


Thine individual being, shalt thou go

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To mix forever with the elements;


To be a brother to the insensible rock,


And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain


Turns with his share, and treads upon."This
passage in the poem is a much lighter passage. It talks about how when you die,
you return to the earth. It makes death seem like it is not as bad as a lot of
people believe it to be. I think that by writing this in his
poem,