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Dickinson Vs Thomas

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Death is one of most imposing entities in the cycle of life, due to its finality. We still remain to this day uncertain of what happens in death, but even that uncertainty will be wiped away once it eventually claims us all. Death is as natural as breathing and eating, and it is the commonality of this unknown entity that has inspired poets for decades. The endurance of death in poetry is evident in famous poets Dylan Thomas’s and Emily Dickinson’s respective works addressing the topic, despite the fact that the pair was born nearly eighty years apart. Thomas wrote the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” in honor of his dying father in 1947 and published it 1951, while Dickinson wrote “Because I could not stop for Death--(479),” which …show more content…

In “Do not go gentle into that good night,” Thomas stresses one or both of the phrases “ Do not go gentle into that good night” (1) and “Rage, rage against the dying of the light” (1) in every stanza. He uses this repetition to emphasize his point that death should be fought against and to essentially beg with his dying father to follow through with his son’s wishes and live. Dickinson also uses repetition in the lines, “We passed the School, where Children strove / At Recess – in the Ring – / We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – / We passed the Setting Sun –” (9-12) and does so in an almost whimsical manner as describes dying similarly to going on a scenic journey. Both poets wordplay to their advantage. Thomas writes, “Though wise men at their end know dark is right / Because their words had forked no lightning they / Do not go gentle into that good night,” (3-5). He establishes an image of darkness to be associated with death and contrasts that image with the metaphorical lightning of man’s accomplishments, further emphasizing the need to keep living a full life before death. Dickinson introduces her poem with some equally clever wordplay: “Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me – / The Carriage held but just Ourselves – / And Immortality,” (1-4). She uses playfully uses the idea that death will stop for her …show more content…

She believes death to be an unavoidable requisite for all living beings to eventually fulfill, and she writes “Because I could not stop for Death--(479)” to express her acceptance of this as well as imagine what she thinks the afterlife might be like. The lines, “Because I could not stop for Death – / He kindly stopped for me – / The Carriage held but just Ourselves – / And Immortality,” (1-4) state how death will find her someday even if she does not ever ask for it, as no one is immortal. She nonchalantly boards the figurative carriage alongside Death and remarks, “We passed the School, where Children strove / At Recess – in the Ring – / We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – / We passed the Setting Sun – / Or rather – He passed Us – / The Dews drew quivering and Chill – / For only Gossamer, my Gown / –My Tippet – only Tulle –,” (9-16). Dickinson frames death in a light and optimistic manner, in which she joins Death for a scenic journey to the afterlife. She portrays herself as casual and curious about this experience, and there is not one feeling of pessimism nor regret in Dickinson’s account of death when compared to that of Thomas. Putting forth her imagination and creativity, Dickinson also describes what the actual afterlife might be. The lines, “Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet / Feels shorter than the Day / I first surmised the Horses' Heads/ Were toward Eternity,” (21-24) portray the

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