Abstract This paper compares and analyzes two poems about death that were written almost three centuries apart. The reviewer believes that the poems "Death be not Proud" by John Donne and "On Death, without Exaggeration" by Wislawa Szymborska demonstrate the beliefs of two different generations on the topic of death. The reviewer further describes the former as condemning death's pride, and the latter as mocking death's frailty. "Death Be Not Proud" speaks of death as a subtle reality of life, whereas the modern-day poem "On Death, without Exaggeration" criticizes the imperfection of death.
From the Paper "Donne goes on to say that death is similar to natural rest or sleep. "From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be" (1453) implies that every time a man falls into sleep, he is performing an innocuous practice for the experience of death; however, death remains a part of life from which no one is exempt. Death, inevitable as it may be, is an assurance of Donne's believe that there is a supreme destination after death. It is a component of humanity and causes the poem to reflect a reverence toward and optimism about death."
Tags: John Donne Death Be Not Proud Wislawa Szymborska On Death, without Exaggeration
This paper discusses the meaning of life and death, using the Bible and Greek mythology to explain and support the argument that there is life after death.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 69.95
Abstract This paper discusses the meaning of life and death, using the Bible and Greek mythology to explain and support the argument that there is life after death. The author examines the meaning of God, and spirituality, and how God has put us on earth for a purpose, and that purpose does not just end when we die.
From the paper:
"Another reason that I believe that we are supposed to end up in union with God is all the instances in literature that say the same thing. For instance, in Genesis, man is originally depicted as living in union with God while living in the Garden of Eden, and eventually man would be transformed into an even more unified being with God. However, this original union is broken by Eve's eating of the apple and Adam doing the same. This resulted in mankind being banished from the Garden, and having to live a life of struggle and pain. However, the possibility remains that man can once again be reunited with God in Heaven."
Abstract This paper deals with rules and standards that are put up by society by which one should live. It not only exploits Ilych's "perfect" life but also his relationships with his wife, work and spirituality.
From the Paper "Society has created its own version of a perfect, successful life. Along with that, it has also created rules and standards that every person within society must follow in order to achieve that perfect life. However, as more rules and standards are added, the instances of depression and suicide increase. Yet, people do not question the life society creates for them in fear of rejection from it. Sadly, it is not until their deathbeds that people regret living the life society wants them to have and realize that they should have lived their own lives. In "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", Tolstoy theorizes the harsh reality of death accentuates the insubstantial and superficial qualities of life."
Abstract The following paper concentrates on the variety of ways Emily Dickinson's expresses her thoughts and feelings about death in her poetry. One central focus of the analysis is to point out Dickinson's originality and creativity emerging from a gloomy topic. It looks at how Dickinson does not only reflect on death, she presents the intrepid self experimenting with the idea of its own cessation. The paper also provides short comments on some stylistic devices in order to clarify the interdependence between Dickinson's ideas and her use of language.
Outline:
Introduction
Death Understood as Eternal Sleep
Between Life and Death: Death from the Perspective of the Dying
Death as Emphasis on Love
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "Emily Dickinson is recognized today as one of America's greatest poets. Her reputation rests partly on a body of poems that forcefully portray death. Dickinson's death-poetry is marked by both the poet's enthusiasm and her willpower to face, grasp, and describe the circumstances of dying instead of evading the dreadful theme that often eludes language. Moreover, exploring the theme of death from various viewpoints, Dickinson appears to transcend a boundary that is impossible to penetrate in reality. Notwithstanding, she managed to remain the observer and recorder of her considerations and emotions."
Tags: Descartes, catharsis, purification, philosophy, metaphors, life, love
Abstract The certainty of death causes many people to feel many types of emotions and to ask some of the most probing questions we will ever encounter. William Cullen Bryant, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allan Poe give us very different interpretations of death and how it relates to life. This paper examines how these poets perceive the universality of death and how they choose to find some sort of resolution to the unanswerable question: What happens to us after death?
From the Paper "William Cullen Bryant's Thanatopsis is a such a meditation. In fact, the title means "a meditation on death" (Webster). This narrator of this poem speaks to us in a gentle and reassuring voice, telling us that instead of fearing death, we should instead consider it a natural progression of life. Death is not something to anguish over and the narrator urges us to look to nature for a elevated perspective on the process of dying. Lessons can be learned from ?Earth and her waters, and the depth of the air--? (16). The poem is speaking to the one who is troubled by mortality, knowing that one day he or she will die and no longer see the "all-beholding" sun (18) and the "Earth that nourished thee, shall claim/They growth, to be resolved to earth again" (22-3). By consoling nature, the distressed individual can discover three consolations to inevitable death. (Magill) "
This paper analyzes the structure as well as the predominant themes of death and despair that are clearly evident in both "The Voice" by Thomas Hardy and "The Widow's Lament in Springtime" penned by W.C. Williams.
1,525 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 0 sources, 2006, $ 50.95
Abstract The writer of this paper examines the underlying theme of death in both works of poetry. In "The Voice" poet Thomas Hardy questions the reality of the voice he's hearing by questioning if ,it is in fact the wind, and not his recently deceased wife. In his poem, Hardy believes his wife is still with him as she speaks to him in whispers of breeze. The poem "The Widow's Lament in Springtime" by William Carlos Williams is full of metaphorical content. From the beginning of the poem Williams describes the extent of grief which is felt by the widow as she finds memories of her life with her husband and cannot bear to gaze upon them. This paper also clearly details the structure of both poems.
From the Paper "Now, in this stanza Hardy introduces his second thoughts about the voice actually being the voice of his wife. He wonders if it is just the breeze, and a lazy breeze at that, which just seems to catch his attention as it floated past him. In the last two stanzas, Hardy describes the abandonment of his wife if it is the breeze. He describes that if he only hears the wind, then his wife has been cast into a realm where she will never be heard again. Therefore, these stanzas describe the other side of Hardy. He has created an elaborate poem in which his wife is remembered through her whispers to him. Then in this stanza he comes out and says that is could just be the wind. This sets him up to conclude his poem."
Abstract Emily Dickinson's approach to the concept of death is haunting, for it provides us with a unique point of view. Her poetry is extremely personal and allows us to discern much from a psychoanalytic perspective. The paper shows that Dickinson's attempts to come to terms with her own death illustrate her courage and curiosity. Although she never "solves" the mystery of death, her observations are astute, and her attempts to grasp such a solemn subject demonstrate her seriousness as a thinker and a poet. The paper shows that Dickinson's obsession with death led her to write powerful poetry that not only attempts to solve life's greatest mysteries, but also gives us insight into her character. The paper uses several of Dickinson's poems as references.
From the Paper "In the poem, ?I Felt a Funeral in My Brain,? Dickinson also explores the possibility of an afterlife. The analogy is the obvious funeral in her brain and the funeral service itself. This is quite an unusual poem because it is written after her death has occurred and her body is placed in the coffin. This is an excellent example of Dickinson delving into the world of possibility. She is able to confront the anxiety she has toward death by imagining herself dead, yet conscious. This mood of this poem is macabre in that it represents a type of desperation that cannot be avoided. That consciousness is a possibility after death, is quite a unique approach that obviously helps Dickinson face her fears about death, though not so pleasantly. Indeed, Dickinson may bring herself face to face with the solitary nothingness of life after death, but the act in and of itself is no reward."
Tags: Because, I, Could, Not, Stop, for, Death, macabre
Abstract This paper looks at the topics of fear and death as presented in Poe's literature and poetry. It examines how these issues are symbolic of events that occurred in Poe's life and how they are a common thread throughout most of his work.
From the Paper "To conclude, Edgar Allan Poe's life was one that seemed to be filled with an unusual amount of death and fear. His personal experiences point to the fact that what we live often seeps through in to our art. Poe's literature is filled with death in various forms. Revenge and madness motivate some of his characters, while others are tortured mercilessly. Death and fear are frightful things for most of us, and many of Poe's characters experience fear of death in unusual measures. These factors make for fantastical stories of suspense and terror."
Abstract This paper looks closely at the writer Sylvia Plath, the events of her life, and a glimpse into the poetry she left behind. The paper reveals little-known facts about her life that help unravel the mystery behind her untimely death, depression and unhappy marriage.
From the Paper "Plath was working on her Ariel poems at this time in London. She was also gaining professional recognition. Things seemed to being going well for Plath. Plath abandoned the restraints and conventions that marred much of her early work, and wrote with great speed. She produced numerous confessional poems of stark revelation, channeling her
longstanding anxiety, confusion and doubt into poetic verses of great power and pathos. Sylvia Plath's poetry progresses from early to late, from experimentation to maturity, just like the works of any poet. However, the themes she presents in her works remains fairly
constant throughout.
Early Poetry: Plath's early works can be dated between 1955 and 1959. Plath wrote some of the first Colossus poems when she was twenty-three and therefore, her early poetry displays an amateur, experimental quality. Her early poetry is collected in The Colossus. In these works, the sense of doom and death, the use of subtle humor, and the display of emotional conflict are identifiable themes (Barnard 37)."
Abstract This paper demonstrates through the example of Robert Frost that, contrary to popular notion, a poet does not need to have lived a tragic life in order to write great poetry. The paper gives a brief biographical account and points out that Frost's life was not nearly one of tragedy, but that his poetry, nonetheless, appeals to large audiences and has remained popular for generations. The paper points to the popularity of Frost's themes, the understanding and sensitivity expressed in his writing, and the different styles and techniques he used in his poems that have made his poetry so enduring.
From the Paper "Robert Frost was born in 1874 in the city of San Francisco and lead a relatively peaceful life in his early childhood. He was raised with a mother and a father who provided a warm and stable environment for him to grow up in but at the age of 11 Frost lost his father to illness. While many widows fell apart and the children had to grow up quickly Frost's mother reacted with forethought and calmness, making the decision to move her family to Massachusetts to be with her extended family members."
Tags: massachusetts, teaching, newspaper, journalist, my, buterfly, an, elegy, writer, the, death, of, the, hired, man
Abstract This paper examines in depth the works of Emily Dickinson, a nineteenth century poet and recluse. It includes a discussion of the biographical details in Emily's life and how her life experiences shaped her writings with such themes as nature, loss and love and her poetic tecniques, language and form. Eleven of her poems are reviewed, including "Because I Could not Stop for Death", "I Know Some Lonely Houses off the Road", "A Bird Came Down the Walk", and "I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain".
From the Paper "Her shifting attitude towards immortality is paralleled by her ambivalence about the existence of a god. Although she continued to search, Dickinson's poems reveal that she never rests comfortably in belief and certainty. She struggles for proof of god and eternal life in her interpretations of experience and in her participation in the natural world. In the end, however, the skeptic and the believer simultaneously characterise Dickinson's stance."
This paper goes into the biographical details of Philip Larkin's life and makes speculations as to how his upbringing and personal life reflected the mood, style, and topics of his poetry.
Abstract For being one of the most famous modern poets, the author finds it is strange that Philip Larkin lived such a reclusive and mysterious life. This paper deals with how his work, especially the "High Windows" compilation, reflected his strange lifestyle and outlook.
From the Paper "Philip Larkin stands as one of the greatest in twentieth century British artistry. His manipulation and control of words is some of the most masterful to have come out of his homeland. He was a quiet and self-embittered man who overcompensated his insecurity with a boastful and egotistical persona towards his audience. Timidity, anxiousness, and misunderstanding shrouded most of his adult life; the theme chokes at the heart of most of his writings. Confusion, seclusion, and what is seemingly feigned indifference, comprise the backdrop on which he paints his words."
Abstract This paper discusses how Emily Dickinson's influences, as well as her thoughts, can certainly be seen in the context of her poetry. It analyzes four of her poems to determine how, from her Puritan upbringing and her secluded lifestyle, Dickinson was able to ponder life's mysteries and express her attitudes toward them in poems rich with detail and imagery. The poems reviewed are "Some Keep The Sabbath Going To Church", "I Never Saw a Moor", ?Because I Could Not Stop For Death?, and "The Bustle in the House" .
From the Paper "An example of Dickinson's almost hermit existence can be seen in her poem, ?Some Keep The Sabbath Going To Church.? Here, she tells us that she keeps the Sabbath by staying home "With a Bobolink for a Chorister"/And an orchard, for a Dome?(326-7)?. This indicates how she is comfortable at home with a bird serving as a choir and an orchard for a church dome. These metaphors successfully indicate that Dickinson can see and experience God in her home as well as others can in church. Dickinson sees herself as having wings (329) and not in desperate need of a sermon. This poem is important today because society is filled with distractions that compete for our attention. ?Some Keep The Sabbath Going To Church.? also illustrates Dickinson's approach to the afterlife."
Details the continuing theme of death in the works of Pre-Raphalite poet Christina Rossetti, focusing on three of her poems and how they relate to events in her life.
Abstract Details the theme of death in three works by Christina Rossetti, a Pre-Raphalite female poet of the Victorian Era. "Resurrection Eve," "An End," and "Love, Strong as Death, is Dead" are all cited, and their themes are illustrated in a review of her own life. All poems used are included at the end of the paper.
From the Paper "As a young woman succumbs to the unknown, there is no fear in her lyric. She is unafraid and grateful for the shelter that is provided for her in the dark cover of death, surrounded by the beauty of nature, and away from those who might try to keep her in the "struggle and horror" of the living. There is certainly no mistaking Christina Rossetti's voice in her work, nor her deep Romantic ties. Her work was always simple but complex, her dramatic gestures never overt or overplayed. Unlike other Romantic poets, Rossetti's heavy sigh and grand laments were much more obscure, never over the top. While Rossetti was ?romantically in love with her woes,? (106, Guide) shown in great detail in her many poems dealing with death, she made no real dramatic gestures."
A comparison of John Donne's message of life and love after death in in his poem, "Valediction Forbidding Mourning" with that of Andrew Marvell in his poem, "To His Coy Mistress."
1,301 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 0 sources, 2009, $ 43.95
Abstract This paper discusses the nature of life and human love after death as discussed by 17th century poets, Andrew Marvell and John Donne. The paper compares the imagery and messages presented by Donne in his poem, "Valediction Forbidding Mourning" and by Marvell in his poem, "To His Coy Mistress." The paper also compares the language that the poets use in conveying their messages.
From the Paper "Marvell's poem is addressed to a specific woman, a mistress unlike Donne's more vague, spiritual, androgynous and anonymous beloved. Marvell openly begs his coy mistress to come to bed with him--the poem begins as if he is rejecting a refusal she has just given him to do so. "Had we but world enough, and time, /This coyness, lady, were no crime." The poem then evolves in a series of hyperboles, or deliberately extreme statements, that make his appeal to his mistress humorous, rather than crassly sexual. To add to the humor of the poem, and to make the hyperbole even more delightfully absurd, Marvell uses religious references, like stating he "would Love you ten years before the Flood;" that he would wait for his beloved until "the conversion of the Jews," at the end of time, if it were not for his awareness that death awaits them both, and after death there is only a "desert" of "vast eternity.""
