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The, Not All A Dream

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The speaker begins his poem as a "dream" but "not all a dream" (line 1), immediately casting doubt upon the story to follow. The poet then imagines the end of the world through a series of natural, social, and possibly supernatural events. The sad/dark, cold earth reduces/lessens for weeks or months, long enough for men to "forget their strong emotions" (line 7) and turn their hearts only to survival or feelings that there is no hope. To stop/hold back the darkness, they burn everything they can, including their homes. Both palaces and huts are burned to give light and warmth. Around the fires, men are at first glad to see other faces--but then they see in those faces such feelings that there is no hope that they begin to cry, smile (in a …show more content…

Soon all the world is dead from the widespread death from starving, with the exception of two men--and they are in some way enemies. They terribly and unfortunately approach a (high table at the front of a church) (in which/during which/in what way/in what) holy interesting (old) objects were used in unholy ceremonies (such as burning (related to religion or the soul) things not meant to be burned), there to add fuel to the glowing pieces of wood of a nearly gone forever fire for a few moments ' more light. Once the fire is bright enough, the two men look at one another, seeing each other 's terrible, scary, starving face; what each man sees frightens him to death, this way ending the human race. With people gone forever, the earth becomes a dead rock. The moon, long since destroyed, no longer moves the waves or wind, so all is totally still upon the planet. Darkness wins (by force) all: "She was the Universe" (line 82). Analysis Byron wrote "Darkness" in July-August 1816. The poem is at least partly influenced by the mass panic/very strong emotion of the time brought about by an Italian astronomer 's (statement about a possible future event) that the sun would burn itself out on July 18th, this way destroying the world. The prediction gained members due to the increase in sunspot activity at the time and the (what people

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