The poem, "Thanatopsis," written by , is a wonderful literary work which explores the often controve
rsial questions of death. Within his well written lines Bryant attempts to show the relationship be
tween death's eternal questions and the ongoing cycle of nature and life. Upon concluding the poem
many readers are able to reaffirm their faith of an afterlife, while others are left aimlessly ponde
ring this strange possibility.
Throughout the poem Bryant creates images which connect
death and sleep. In fact, once the reader gets halfway through the poem they discover that Bryant
uses these words almost interchangeably. In the second stanza he writes, "All that tread the globe
are but a handful to the tribes that slumber in its bosom." Instead of referring to death he uses t
he word "slumber." These connections continue in a number of places. Other examples include lines
57 and 66. In line 57 he writes, "In their last sleep the dead reign there alone," and in line 66,
referring to death and burial, Bryant writes, "And make their bed with thee." This connection betwe
en death and sleep creates an intriguing metaphor which adds depth and meaning to the poem.
By using this strange metaphor I believe Bryant wishes to suggest his faith in an afterlife.
While examining the differences and similarities of death and sleep the reader is left with some ver
y thought provoking questions. The answers to these questions reassure some readers while confusing
others. Sleep is a time of rest. It allows preparation for the next day or event, and by relating
this definition to death Bryant gives new insight on one's fate after earthly existence. When iden
tifying sleep with death Bryant gives death many characteristics of slumber. People generally wake
from sleep, and Bryant expands this occurrence to death. Death could simply be a time of rest that
retires the bodies' of earthly beings, and allows the soul to wake. Upon waking the soul is freed,
and enters a new plane of existence. This idea of a spiritual awakening is demonstrated in "Thanato
psis." In lines 50 and 51 Bryant writes, "Take the wings of morning, pierce the Barcan wilderness."
To me, the wings in this statement symbolize a spiritual, angelic being, and the morning suggests
a time of waking. After waking, the angelic being breaks through the confinement of the human grave
, and continues its existence elsewhere. In my opinion these lines indicate Bryant's belief in an a
fterlife.
After reflective meditation in the wilderness Bryant comes to terms with dea
th. He knows death is a conclusion to the material world, but in this conclusion is a type of rebir
th. Bryant believes death prepares the soul for its next journey. With this belief he is put at ea
se, but I cannot say the same for myself. I am truly confused about the subject. It is a source of
great frustration for me. I, like many people, talk about the possibility of an afterlife, but it
seems rather pointless. I spend countless hours pondering a question that shall never be answered i
n this lifetime. In addition, I realize death, along with being the end of the earthly life, is an
end to all earthly traits. The afterlife begins following death, and cannot contain earthly charact
eristics. Therefore, it is illogical for me to attempt the comprehension of an afterlife. Even if
it exists it is still impossible for me, as a living person, to understand or fathom.poem thanatopsi
s written wonderful literary work which explores often controversial questions death within well wri
tten lines bryant attempts show relationship between death eternal questions ongoing cycle nature li
fe upon concluding poem many readers able reaffirm their faith afterlife while others left aimlessly
pondering this strange possibility throughout poem bryant creates images which connect death sleep
fact once reader gets halfway through they discover that bryant uses these words almost interchangea
bly second stanza writes that tread globe handful tribes that slumber bosom instead referring uses w
ord slumber these connections continue number places other examples include lines line writes their
last sleep dead reign there alone line referring burial writes make their with thee this connection
between sleep creates intriguing metaphor which adds depth meaning using this strange metaphor belie
ve wishes suggest faith afterlife while examining differences similarities reader left with some ver
y thought provoking questions answers these reassure some readers while confusing others time rest a
llows preparation next event relating definition gives insight fate after earthly existence when ide
ntifying with gives many characteristics slumber people generally wake from expands occurrence could
simply time rest retires bodies earthly beings allows soul wake upon waking soul freed enters plane
existence idea spiritual awakening demonstrated thanatopsis lines take wings morning pierce barcan
wilderness wings statement symbolize spiritual angelic being morning suggests time waking after waki
ng angelic being breaks through confinement human grave continues existence elsewhere opinion indica
te belief afterlife after reflective meditation wilderness comes terms knows conclusion material wor
ld conclusion type rebirth believes prepares soul next journey belief ease cannot same myself truly
confused about subject source great frustration like many people talk about possibility seems rather
pointless spend countless hours pondering question shall never answered lifetime addition realize a
long being earthly life traits begins following cannot contain characteristics therefore illogical a
ttempt comprehension even exists still impossible living person understand fathomEssay, essays, term
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