Comparing the Portrayal of Death in Various Literature

Death Comparison

There are so many different definitions of death as well as there are ways to write about death. One can check every dictionary in the world, and a person can most assuredly find at least five or six different definitions for the one word. Death brings about so many different emotions as well. One can be sad, depressed, in despair, frantic, angry, and guilty, in disbelief, yearning for the person, searching for the person, along with many more feelings. ?Legal definition of death, in most states, requires "irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem."(Dryer, 2008) ? The loved one may even attempt suicide to be with their lost loved one. Many of the writings were sad, melancholy, but had happy moments as well. Others have moments of unusual behavior and yet even stranger endings that kept one motivated in reading the story, poem, or play to the end. In the literature that was assigned, the authors have explained death in very different and expressive ways that one can compare in many ways. Comparing ?Because I could not stop for Death,? ?The Raven,? ?When I have fears that I may cease to be,? Poem for My Father?s Ghost,? and ?The Story of an Hour? will be interesting because these brilliant writers describe death in unique ways.

Poe, Dickinson, Keats, Oliver, and Chopin are all from different eras and have unique styles of writing to express death. Chopin takes death from an abuse standpoint, to relief, and back to total horror for the wife. Dickinson describes death as riding into deaths door. Poe brings one into death with the torture of misadventure. Keats addresses death with all his fears of death and the things he wishes he had accomplished in his young life befo...

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...kinson, E. (2007). Because I could not stop death. In E. Barrosse, Ed. Literature READING FICTION, POETRY, and DRAMA (6th ed. p. 810). New York City: McGraw - Hill Companies, Inc.

Dryer, K. A. Palliative Care: "Legal Definition of Death" About.Com. Retrieved March 17, 2008, from dying.about.com/od/glossary/g/legaldeath.htm

Keats, J. (2007). Literature READING, FICTION, POETRY, and DRAMA. In E. Barrosse, Ed. When I have fears I may cease to be (6th ed. pp. 1131-1132). New York City: McGraw - Hill Companies Inc.

Oliver, M. (2007). Poem of My Father's Ghost. In E. Barrosse, Ed. Literature Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (6th ed. pp. 1165-1166). New York City: McGraw - Hill Companies Inc.

Poe, E. A. (2007). The Raven. In E. Barrosse, Ed. Literature READING FICTION, POETRY, and DRAMA (6th ed. pp. 1173-1175). New York City: McGraw - Hill Companies, Inc.