Introduction What is the meaning of the phrase ‘There’s light at the end of the tunnel’? In what situations do people claim to see a light? Development You are going to read a poem about death by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. One word has been removed from the title and the poem’s refrain. As you read, think about what the word could be. Do not go __________ into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go __________ into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go __________ into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go __________ into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. What part of speech do you think the missing word is: adjective, noun, verb, adverb or other? Consider that the poem’s penultimate line and the final line stand in opposition. Therefore, the missing word contrasts with (though does not have to be an antonym of) ‘rage’. Discuss with a partner for two minutes. Your teacher will then reveal the missing word. © Education Umbrella, 2015 1 What part of speech is ‘gentle’? Read the following explanation from Jane Strauss’ grammarbook.com: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.” You read that right:
Thomas said “gentle,” not “gently.”
In the poem Thomas exhorts his dying father not to be meek when
facing the end, but rather to “Rage, rage against the dying of the
light.”
The poem’s title is also its opening line, a line which since its first
appearance in 1951 has been “improved” by a host of armchair
grammarians who prefer gently.
It happened again last week, in a sentence written by a good
journalist: “You know what Dylan Thomas wrote about going gently
into that good night.”
A 2007 documentary called “Do Not Go Gently” received the Gold
World Medal in Humanities at the New York Festivals Film and Video
Awards. I am sure the film is a fine piece of work, despite its
bungled title.
An Internet search turned up this article: “Poem Analysis of ‘Do Not
Go Gently into That Good Night’ by Dylan Thomas.” One can only
hope that the person who wrote that heading did not also write the
essay.
In Thomas’s poem, go is an action verb, which is why these
clueless critics insist on the adverb gently. True, we modify action
verbs with adverbs, but certain sentences complicate the issue. We
could say Don’t go into that meeting angrily, but we could just as
properly say Don’t go into that meeting angry.
Action verbs and adjectives combine forces all the time. In Joe
sanded the table smooth, the adjective smooth describes table, not
sanded. Same with The book is lying open: no one would argue for
the adverb openly, even though is lying is an action verb.
There is a subtle but pronounced difference between go gentle and
go gently. And great poetry raises subtlety to an art form.
Thomas would never have chosen gently because it trivializes and
vitiates his message. As an adverb, gently lasts only as long as the
action it describes. Thomas is concerned with much more than one
finite action. By choosing gentle (Do not go gentle = “This is not
the time for you to be gentle”), Thomas puts the focus on you, all
of you; all of us. He implores us to be tenacious and unwavering as
we brace for the battle no mortal will ever win. © Education Umbrella, 2015 2 Now read the explanation of the difference between action verbs and linking verbs: Main verbs fall into two broad categories: action verbs and
linking verbs. In a sentence with an action verb, A does B. In a
sentence with a linking verb, A is or is like B.
An action verb describes something being done (He left home) or
taking place (The building collapsed). A linking verb is a kind of
equal sign. It connects a noun with an adjective (They appeared
restless) or with another noun (Bill was being rude), or it fleshes
out the subject (I remain your friend always).
Where action verbs take adverbs, linking verbs require adjectives.
This is why it is incorrect to say I feel badly about what I said.
When feel is a linking verb, we feel bad (adjective), not badly
(adverb); we only feel badly when our hands are numb. And when
we feel with our hands, feel is an action verb.
Many verbs we think of as action verbs can sometimes be linking
verbs. In They were getting breakfast, it’s clear that were getting is
an action verb. But They were getting sleepy makes were getting a
linking verb.
Now try the quiz on the following page. © Education Umbrella, 2015 3 Action verb or linking verb quiz 1. She looked fond of her husband.
A) In this sentence looked is a linking verb.
B) In this sentence looked is an action verb.
2. She looked fondly at her husband.
A) In this sentence looked is a linking verb.
B) In this sentence looked is an action verb.
3. Katie says that when she and Ana grow older, they will
grow the best tomatoes in the county.
A) The first grow is a linking verb; the second grow is an
action verb.
B) The first grow is an action verb; the second grow is a
linking verb.
C) Both the first and second grow are linking verbs.
D) Both the first and second grow are action verbs.
4. When I turned to reply, her face turned red.
A) The first turned is a linking verb; the second turned is
an action verb.
B) The first turned is an action verb; the second turned is
a linking verb.
C) Both the first and second turned are linking verbs.
D) Both the first and second turned are action verbs.
Grammarbook.com
© Education Umbrella, 2015 4 Development Structure Read the opening line (and title) of the poem again, first stressing the odd-­‐
numbered syllables, then the even-­‐numbered syllables: 1) Do not go gentle into that good night 2) Do not go gentle into that good night Which is more natural? This rhythm of five alternating stressed syllables is called iambic pentameter. What is the rhyming scheme of the poem? For example, A, B, C, D or A, A, B, B, C, C, etc. Comprehension Match the description with the appropriate stanza: 1) Serious men who do not have long to live are comforted to see their lives flash before their eyes. Stanza:______ 2) Honest men complain that their actions might have brought greater reward in a more fertile setting. Stanza: _______ 3) Savage men who only live for the moment realise that they ought to have planned for the future. Stanza: _______ 4) Experienced men in their final years know that death is a part of life, but regret certain unsaid things. Stanza: ________ Can you find any pairs of antonyms in the poem? For example, dark / bright. List them below: © Education Umbrella, 2015 5 Activity The message of Thomas’ poem is that one should die at peace, but with passion. Imagine a different scenario or setting in which one would need passion. For example, an interview for an important job, a sporting contest, a battle. Write a poem imploring your reader to meet the challenge with passion. You may begin with the line, ‘Do not go gentle into that…’ if you would like. © Education Umbrella, 2015 6