Literary Analysis Of Thanatopsis

Poetry as a literally work in which the expression of ideas and feelings is given strength has had great authors overtime who took different perspectives in this genre of literature. These poets used distinctive rhythm and style to express their styles, poetic themes, outlook on life, and had their share of influence on the American society. This paper uses the basis of these styles, themes, outlook on life and subsequent influence on the American society to compare three prolific poets who ventured into this literature genre: Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, and Maya Angelou. Robert Frost (1874-1963) holds a unique and almost sole position in the career span which mostly encompasses

In the poem “Thanatopsis” the desire to connect with nature is expressed throughout. Unlike “Rip Van Winkle,” Thanatopsis has a very deep meaning within it, not just a whimsical story. The poem explains that we as humans should embrace death and know that we are a part of the ever cycling earth. We have a bigger purpose. William Cullen Bryant personified nature in his poem. He made nature woman-like by calling nature her and she. “To him who in the love of Nature holds Communion with her visible forms, she speaks a various language…” (171) He also expressed this beautiful simplicity and vulnerability to nature and man. “The hills rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun, - the vales stretching in pensive quietness between; the venerable woods – rivers that move in majesty, and the complaining brooks that make the meadows green…” (171) This poem seems to connect with nature in a different way. It’s almost like it embodies nature along with human to create a smooth transition or meld of the two, and I think that is what creates the desire to connect with nature for the poem.

We can see Bryant’s view in “Thanatopsis” as he believed that nature could comfort an individual at the face of death. Similarly, we see Lowell’s view in “The First Snowfall” is that nature can comfort those in despair after a lost of a loved one. While in “The Tide Rises and The Tide Falls” Longfellow expresses his view on nature as he believed it could also comfort those who have fallen. In the period of Romanticism, many author explored the value of nature keying in its comforting effects on any individual. They express nature’s selflessness in its ability to comfort at any given moment. Nature time and time again has proven its self to comfort those in time of despair in various situations even at the face of

against the standard poets to say the least, “I wanted to break the linearity of poetic text — to mess with it, if you will.” (poetryfoundation.org) He was not born into the wealthiest of families and found himself unable to pay for education, yet he has pushed boundaries for many

American transcendentalism was a vital movement in philosophy and literature that grew over time. One person who stood out from american transcendentalism was, Ralph Waldo Emerson. He expressed his ideas and values through one of his works, Nature. There he broadcasted the relationships between God, man, and nature. Someone who would be seen in this movement would be, Chris McCandless as a transcendentalist. The novel,, Into the Wild, shares the decisions Chris made during his nomadic life style. The lives of Chris McCandless and Ralph Waldo Emerson as exhibited in the novel, Into the Wild and the essay, Nature fulfill as examples of the contrasts of each man’s journey through life and transcendentalism.

Bryant went through many hard times throughout his life; from losing family members to being socially isolated. He lost many family members and close friends. The one death that hurt him the most was his father’s. Bryant’s father was a very important part of his life; his father taught him many things throughout his lifetime. His father submitted five of his poems into the North American Review, one of those were the first version of “Thanatopsis”. It is said that Bryant mourned his father’s death and that his death is what gave him the emotional passion to write with.

John was an American with a dream and plenty of drive and his work shows this. John’s father was a high school math teacher and his mother had dreams of being an author. He attended Harvard university and majored in English which gives a incite of what his writing style is. While attending Harvard his junior year he met his wife in 1953 (3). The year after he majored John went on to further his education at Ruskin School of Drawling and Fine Arts in Oxford London. His writing career started in 1954 when he published “Friends from Philadelphia”. Four years later john started his career as a poet when he published his first poetry book titled “The carpentry hen” (1). John has won two national book awards and has been nominated for six others. (2) It is said that “his work is worth reading for no reason other than to enjoy the piquant phrase, the lyric vision, the fluent rhetoric” that his style of writing has. (2)

In the William Cullen Bryant's "Thanatopsis, we see a romantic trait of nature, where the poem states that nature has a voice of gladness and eloquence of beauty. This excerpt, "The golden sun, the planets, all the infinite host of heaven are shining on the sad abodes of death," is a good example of being a part of nature. Another good example is, "Earth that nourished thee shall claim Thy growth." Nature is described as a

Bryant explains that death, like life, is a part of nature, which was a loved and cherished aspect of the nineteenth century. In the period of Romanticism, nature was an important ideal; it was viewed as the source for everything. In “Thanatopsis”, Bryant uses nature as a comfort zone, saying that when one dies, they will become a part of nature. He says that the bodies will be used to nurture the earth. Bryant also mentions that we once were made as a part of nature and that people will die as a part of it as well. He states: “…and lost each human trace, surrending up thine individual being shalt thou go to mix forever with the elements.” Bryant is saying that bodies will decay and eventually become one with the earth and nature. Along with becoming a part of nature, Bryant explains that the deceased people will be with some of the finest people who walked the earth.

Why would Bryant pair the images of a woman with earth, and death with a pleasant sleep? It would not make since unless you view the poem from the correct time period, and then the purpose and themes of the poem become clear. Transcendentalism started in the 1820’s and 1830’s, right when William would be writing this poem. Promoting the rejection of the Theistic God and the love of nature, transcendentalism obviously had an impact on young Bryant’s mind. In Thanatopsis nature takes a lead role as a God like figure to take us when we die, and to take our hopes, dreams, and sorrows. So going back to the earth would be an honor, which is exactly how he expresses it in the poem. He views going back to the “Earth Mother” as the ultimate goal. His

By going to Williams College, Bryant had hoped to do well in school so that he could transfer into Yale University. Unfortunately, William could not go to Yale because his family could not financially afford the tuition (Britannica). After that William knew that he could not go there, he worked hard in school and would shortly after graduate in four years. With college all finished, William was admitted to practice law in August of 1815. The following december, Bryant would settle in Plainfield. Not long after Bryant received a job with partnership with George H. Ives at the Great Barrington. Bryant did not enjoy law, but it did support his family financially and it helped them to stay healthy and safe at all times. Since law was not what Bryant would had wished to do, after nine years with his partner George H. Ives he bought him out so that William did not have to work there anymore. William could not have been more happy; Bryant could go back to working on his writing. Once Bryant had been at the writing for a while he came out with his first book, called “The Embargo.” While in 1825, WIlliam Cullen Bryant was not working anymore he would just write and develop his own style of writing.

William Bryant did not have a happy childhood. Bryant was born to a surgeon who lost everything and was forced into moving the family in with his Grandparents. Bryant grew up in Cummington, MA, and was a reserved child due to family circumstances. Bryant worked on the farm as a child and was fascinated with nature at an early age. His education consisted of being a prized pupil with an imposed strict regimen which was enforced under the threat of a switch. Bryant’s surroundings required him to make companionships of his thoughts that he gathered from nature. At a young age he learned meter and poetry through hymns from Isaac Watts, taught by his grandfather, a deacon in the church. His continued education consisted of homeschooling by his

Another technique that Bryant uses in “Thanatopsis” is setting. This entire poem takes place somewhere in nature. However, when both aspects of the poem are looked into, the poem may also take place in the speakers mind. The speaker is using nature as a way to think about death. In a way, it seems as though nature will help make death more understandable. Bryant’s “Thanatopsis” contains specific details: Go forth under the open sky, and list/ To Nature’s teachings, while from all around--/ … /--Comes a still voice”(14-17) There are many key words in this single thought. “Go forth under the open sky” means when one dies and ascends upon heaven. Another key phrase is “Nature’s teachings.” It is what nature has to teach about death to help the speaker understand the concept of death. Also, it sets the theme for the entire poem. In lines 16 and 17 when

William Cullen Bryant was well known for writing poems on nature, and he beautifully shows us the Romanticism view of one of their key themes. As with numerous other poems from the Romanticism Period, Bryant uses the imagery and ideas of a woman to convey his love for nature. An example of this trait is in the poem, “Thanatopsis”, Bryant’s most famous work. The first three lines of the poem shows both his love for nature and that he is going to use the image of a woman for the rest of the poem. “To him who in the love of nature holds/ Communion with her visible forms, she speaks/ A various language; for his gayer hours” He expressly says

You should comment upon and compare at least two of his poems and describe the tone he writes in the imagery he uses and the poetical techniques he includes to convey his opinions.