Death and Rebirth: Examinig Death Through Poetry

Although death seems to be a theme for many literary poems, it also appears to be the most difficult to express clearly. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “death” as, “A permanent cessation of all vital function: end of life.” While this definition sounds simple enough, a writer’s definition goes way beyond the literal meaning. Edwin Arlington Robinson and Robert Frost are just two examples of poetic writers who have used death successfully as the main theme of their works. Robinson, in the poem “Richard Cory,” and Frost in his poem, “Home Burial,” present death in different ways in order to invoke different feelings and emotions from their readers.

In the poems “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”, by Emily Dickinson and “Home Burial”, by Robert Frost, literary elements are used throughout both poems to get the message the authors are trying to portray. One main important literary element that is used to entice the reader, is symbolism, because it helps the authors describe something without actual describing it. Symbolism is also used because it shows how significant an object is. Characterization is also an important literary technique because it, gives the reader an idea on how the character would act, work, and their values in life. Death is a topic that is used in both poems. Also, every character express their opinion about death differently.

Poems reveal many inside thoughts of the speaker that can be interpreted by the reader. Death is expressed quite often in poetic work because of the simplicity to be able to express feelings. Suicide, for an example, is a form of death that may be used in poetry and is usually portrayed in a negative fashion. Surprisingly, some poems that involve death have a positive outcome. There are views found in poetry relating to suicide as a form of death that are both positive and negative. Suicide as a negative perspective is a common form of death displayed in poetry. A very good example of death brought upon by suicide is “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson. In the passage, “And he was rich-yes, richer than a king,” Robinson describes the wealth and riches in which he lived. Richard seemed to be a person without problems. Later at the end of the poem in line fifteen the speaker says, “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, went home and put a bullet through his head.” In one’s opinion, it may appear that money, wealth, and power is not everything. Perhaps Richard Cory was miserable because of the way people gazed at him which describes his suicide. Theoretically, the reader has to try to interpret the poem because of the lack of evidence explaining the reason of Cory’s suicide. This poem is an example of death in a negative perspective. Another poem that explains suicide as a form of death, but in a somewhat positive fashion, is “Résumé” by Dorothy Parker.

The word “death” is unique. In fact, we can imply both peaceful and horrific in it. Moreover, death definitely has a powerful message that nobody is ever prepared for it. We are not only unprepared at the loss of beloved one, but also the loss of our own life. The fear of death is related to the uncertainty of what follows death since nobody comes back to tell of an afterlife. Based on national polling in 1997, “Heaven is not just in your mind: It's a real place”, says 88 percent of a national sample of adults interviewed by Opinion Dynamics for Fox News. However, the poll found that far fewer Americans, 71 percent, believe in hell (Morin). It is not to surprise that many poems have been written on the topic of death: some offer ways to live life before death, some show the grieving for a loved one’s death, some depict inability to escape from death, and some tell about facing death itself. Gwendolyn Brooks, W.H. Auden, Emily Dickinson, and Randall Jarrell wrote poems about death and tried to explore the curiosity by creating a death scene that is familiar to the living. Through a good style of writing, vivid imagery and effective symbolism, these poems all created to be understood universally as the acceptance of death.

Death is a metaphysical concept that is abstract and theoretical in composition, but doesn’t embody a material form. From person to person, there are a vast array of interpretations of what death is and what it means to each individual. There is no single universal understanding of what death is, since it doesn’t embody any physical characteristics. I am the kind of person whose opinions are very easily influenced. Whenever I read a book, listen to a song, watch a movie, or look at artwork containing a strong message, my opinions (mainly metaphysical ones) are greatly impacted.

Death is always an interesting topic for discussion. Individuals will respond differently to it emotionally and physically. Some will see it as a nuisance and attempt to remain as busy as they can to not think of it but once death catches up to us we hope and pray that there is an afterlife where we can continue living. Others will do anything in their power to fight against it and make sure that they live their life to the fullest. These individuals are determined to leave some trace of them behind before it is too late. There are a few individuals who find the beauty in death. As if death is all around us and we simply need to take the time to look at it. In any case death is something we will encounter and in Dickinson’s “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”, Thomas’s, “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night”, and Seuss’s “Still-Life with Turkey” we are shown these different viewpoints in very different and unique ways.

In this poem, she connects philosophical thinking of death and the poem, which breaks the restriction of time and space. She takes advantage of a large amount of rhetorical devices, for instance, symbolizes and metaphor to express her opinions about the relationship of death, and immortal. She makes efforts to model a different image of death; Mr. Death is not ruthless or relentless anymore. Death is the common and eternal topic in the world; philosophers from all over that word try to find out the truth about the death. There are some similarities between Dickinson’s opinions and Chinese philosophies. Life is short and unstable; however, death is destined and eternal. If we want to have eternity, we cannot pin our hope on the human body because it will die sooner or later. But, human beings’ spirit and humanity which are not controlled by natural laws which can exist forever. Therefore, it is unnecessary to be afraid of death. Treated him like your old friend-accept and welcome

Death can strike at anytime, sometimes expected, but too often unannounced. Denise Levertov wrote a poem entitled "During a Son’s Dangerous Illness" about the unmerciful side of death. This poem emphasied on emotions, visualization, and a consice structure that symbolizes how perplexing and awful death can be. It is a poem of desolate mood and brought a horrifiying feeling to me. In my opinion, works of literature like this that bring a sense of awarness to the world to cherish every moment, for it could be your last.

to describe the funeral of a woman that no one seems very attached to. The three

Death, feared by one, embraced by the other, it is the inescapable fate of all living beings. From death granting you access to the realm of God in Catholicism, to it being nothing more than a stepping stone in the cycle to Enlightenment in Buddhism, the topic of death is the root of many cultures and religions around the world. Poetry has taken upon itself to describe all aspects, and views, of death. Emily Dickenson, author of the poem “Because I could not stop for Death,” pleads that death is a journey. She has a positive outlook on death, and describes the passage that one would take, through memories, to the afterlife. Famous Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas thinks differently. In his poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” he portrays that death is discriminating entity, and should be resisted. Both “Because I could not stop for Death” and “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” illustrate the positive and negative aspects of death, the main ways that they express death is through the use of imagery, the structure of the poem, and the common theme of mortality.

Bones are structure to hold us up so that we may move. It gives us

There are many poems and stories that are written about death. Death is something everyone fears, but also respects it. Some people in this world fear that they won’t accomplish something in their lives when death creeps up on them. Some prefer to live life not doing anything worth a lot. Some prefer to do a lot before they die so that they can be remembered. In the text, “Elegy” by Thomas Gray, a poet sitting in a churchyard thinks about the lives that the people in the graves left. He then starts to wonder about his own life and if he’s accomplished enough. In the text “Elegy” by Thomas Gray the poet provides messages about how death is the equalizer, no one remembers you, and confronting death.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes (BrainyQuote).” Of these two unavoidable aspects of life, death is the still most certain. Many authors use poetry to try and describe death, but Emily Dickinson by far has one of the best poems describing death. In Because I could not stop for Death, Dickinson successfully brings the reader with her on her journey into the afterlife, and she uses a few techniques to make the poem into an amazing, descriptive narrative. What makes Emily Dickinson’s Because I could not stop for Death such a descriptive poem of death is her use of language and symbolism.

Poems about death can either take on the tone of depression or joyousness. Emily Dickinson has written many poems regarding a person’s earthly passing; one of her most famous ones being, “Because I could not stop for Death.” Poet Walt Whitman has also manufactured a poem known as “Song of Myself, Number 6.” Dickinson’s’ and Whitman’s poems take on completely opposite tones; yet, they still seem to have consistencies between them.

In poetry, death is referred as the end of literature and it is associated with feeling of sorrows. However Emily Dickinson demonstrates that death is not the end of literature or feeling of sadness but death is a new element of inspiration in poetry and is the beginning of a new chapter in our life. In the poem ‘’Because I Could Not Stop for Death’, she discusses the encounter of a women with death, who passed away centuries ago. Dickenson uses metaphors and similes to show that the process of dying can be an enjoyable moment by appreciating the good moments in life, and by respecting death rather than fearing it. Also Dickinson portrays death in a humorous way as she compares it to man seducing her to go to her death as well, to childhood games that show the innocence of this encounter (Bloom). The poem is a reflection of how unpredictable death can be. Death is a scary process in life that should not be feared because it should be celebrate as new start.