Thanatopsis

1
Thanatopsis

• By William Cullen Bryant
• Pages 261 264

2
Background

• Read Bryants biography on page 261
• What does the title mean?
• thanatos death
• opsis - seeing
• Bryant added the first 17 lines and last 15 lines
  after the original poem was first published.

3
Interpreting

• Nature begins to speak in line 17. What is the
  main idea that Nature is trying to get across?
• In death, the Earth reclaims us and we mix with
  the elements.
• What response does Nature have to those that fear
  death?
• Death puts us in the company of the greatest,
  wisest, and most powerful humans who have ever
  lived.

4
Figure of Speech

• What figure of speech is used in lines 37-45?
• Metaphor
• What is being compared?
• The Earth to a tomb

5
Interpreting

• According to the last stanza, how should one
  approach his own death?
• by living in such a way that one has few, if any
  regrets and accepts death, anticipating the
  welcome rest