Literary Analysis Of 'An Athlete Dying Young'

Glory over Long Life

To some people life might be an even trade for fame and recognition. It is in the human nature to desire honor and admiration from society, but can the price of fame exceed the price of life itself? Would one be willing to die at the peak of one 's fame to avoid the chance of losing it? The central theme in Housman’s poem “An Athlete Dying Young” is that it is better to die young and famous than living a long life and losing your fame. The poet uses imagery, personification, and speaker to develop the theme.

Housman uses imagery to develop the theme. The story takes place in the streets of the young athlete’s home town. He is dead in his coffin and is being carried by the town’s people on their shoulders to his grave. The narrator starts by saying “The time you won your town the race we chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, and home we brought you shoulder-high” This quote gives a vivid image of the time when the athlete brought victory home to his people and how the people carried him on their shoulders to his home

It is obvious to the reader that the speaker and the young athlete have a very close and personal relationship. The speaker describes the athlete as someone he admires. He speaks directly to the athlete congratulating him for dying at top of his game. In the first stanza, the speaker reminds the athlete of the time not too long ago when the young athlete won a race and was carried and celebrated in by the people in his town. Housman uses this to compare it to the present time as the town once again carries the athlete on their shoulders, but now his dead and is being taken to the cemetery. Housman here is saying to the athlete that even though he is now dead, he is still being honored by his people and will be remembered for his accomplishments and for bringing home victory. The speaker also says Now you will not swell the