Free Essays on Thanatopsis

â€Å"Thanatopsis† â€Å"Thanatopsis† written by William Cullen Bryant in 1817, is an explication of death. Thanatopsis, which is Greek for â€Å"meditation on death† (Michael et. al. 712), is an exploration into the ambiguity of death and Bryant attempts to show the relationship between death’s eternal questions and the continuance of the cycle of nature and life. William Cullen Bryant is often described as an early Romanticist who also exhibits some characteristics of earlier types of thinking such as, Calvinism. In this poem, he establishes a clear link between God and Nature through his use of images in relation to; society, destiny, social status and everlasting trust in the afterlife. Although he views these entities from a mainly romanticist viewpoint, the poem also has many underlying attributes to a Calvinistic way of thinking. William Cullen Bryant was born November 3rd, 1794. He was born into a Puritan family yet has was influenced by early English Romantics during his teens and by his father who encouraged him to spend time outdoors and learn from it. He wrote his first draft of â€Å"Thanatopsis† when he was just sixteen years yet the poem wasn’t actually published until 1821, when his first book of poetry, Poems was published (Bryant). Romanticism began in the early 19th century as a way of moving away from the Enlightenment, where everything was based on reason and science. People were consistently trying to explain things in cold, hard facts. What the Romantics were trying to get people to do was do away with that rational, constricted view of life and focus on the â€Å"emotion and sentimental side of humanity† (Romanticism). It was a focus on society as being part of a group rather than individuals clearly delineated by social distinction. In â€Å"Thanatopsis† Bryant expresses theses views in his contemplation of death and sees the beauty in it. He wants society to realize that when one dies they do not die al... Free Essays on Thanatopsis Free Essays on Thanatopsis â€Å"Thanatopsis† â€Å"Thanatopsis† written by William Cullen Bryant in 1817, is an explication of death. Thanatopsis, which is Greek for â€Å"meditation on death† (Michael et. al. 712), is an exploration into the ambiguity of death and Bryant attempts to show the relationship between death’s eternal questions and the continuance of the cycle of nature and life. William Cullen Bryant is often described as an early Romanticist who also exhibits some characteristics of earlier types of thinking such as, Calvinism. In this poem, he establishes a clear link between God and Nature through his use of images in relation to; society, destiny, social status and everlasting trust in the afterlife. Although he views these entities from a mainly romanticist viewpoint, the poem also has many underlying attributes to a Calvinistic way of thinking. William Cullen Bryant was born November 3rd, 1794. He was born into a Puritan family yet has was influenced by early English Romantics during his teens and by his father who encouraged him to spend time outdoors and learn from it. He wrote his first draft of â€Å"Thanatopsis† when he was just sixteen years yet the poem wasn’t actually published until 1821, when his first book of poetry, Poems was published (Bryant). Romanticism began in the early 19th century as a way of moving away from the Enlightenment, where everything was based on reason and science. People were consistently trying to explain things in cold, hard facts. What the Romantics were trying to get people to do was do away with that rational, constricted view of life and focus on the â€Å"emotion and sentimental side of humanity† (Romanticism). It was a focus on society as being part of a group rather than individuals clearly delineated by social distinction. In â€Å"Thanatopsis† Bryant expresses theses views in his contemplation of death and sees the beauty in it. He wants society to realize that when one dies they do not die al... Free Essays on Thanatopsis The poem, â€Å"Thanatopsis,† written by William Cullen Bryant, is a wonderful literary work which explores the often controversial questions of death. Within his well written lines Bryant attempts to show the relationship between 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 pondering 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, â€Å"All that tread the globe are but a handful to the tribes that slumber in its bosom.† Instead of referring to death he uses the word â€Å"slumber.† These connections continue in a number of places. Other examples include lines 57 and 66. In line 57 he writes, â€Å"In their last s leep the dead reign there alone,† and in line 66, referring to death and burial, Bryant writes, â€Å"And make their bed with thee.† This connection between 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 very 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 identifying 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....