This is an online journal for Mr. Lucero's English classes. Students should leave their responses to weekly prompts as comments. Their responses will be graded twice a month.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Poetry Class Journal #1 (Thanatopsis)
What is the main theme/philosophy surrounding Thanatopsis and what characteristics make it Romantic? Do you think his youth plays a part in how he views mortality? How might he have written it 20-50 years later? (Due Friday)
Basically, the main philosophy surrounding Thanatopsis is that there is no reason to fret about death. Death is something everyone one has to deal with, it is something all humans share. Death makes you apart of the Earth again. And when you die, most people won’t care anyway. If feel as though Thanatopsis could almost be its own doctrine to some new, weird religion where nudists get leaves tattooed on their feet and dance during twilight. But I digress… This Poem has a lot of Romantic qualities. Bryant takes the dull reality of death and turns it in a way where the reader begins to unearth some sort of hidden truth about humanity. The reader at one point is told to go find their own truth in natural, outlandish locations because such experiences with nature will help the reader develop positively as an individual. The author’s youth plays a part in how he views morality; his youthful imagination gives his view of death a romantic twist and also gives death more of a whimsical vibe, which is probably as unrealistic as the author’s view about many important subjects at his age. Yet, teenagers also usually have an Iron Man complex, believing they are above death and are immortal. So Bryant’s view point on Thanatopsis is quite unique for his age as well… If Bryant had written this poem 50 years later, I do not think the philosophy behind it would have changed much due to Bryant’s obvious maturity at 18. I think it would have fewer metaphors regarding kings and such but I believe the inherent meaning would still be similar and just as powerful as it is now. But honestly, if it was written by some wrinkly sir, I would not be as impressed. Because youth being so prepared mentally for his new life is so rare…
The Main theme surrounding Thanatopsis is that even though people die, we actually do not really die. Instead we join the earth and become one with everything in this world. Also the theme of Thanatopsis is that we should not fear death, like I said before because we all die and we will all join the earth together and be forgotten forever. Thanatopsis has many romantic qualities. One of them is his constant use of imagery to describe earth and it's qualities. Also he goes into a lot of detail about the world and why we should value it even after death. If Bryant had written this piece when he was older, lets say closer to death, I believe that his outlook would be different. I think his outlook on death would be different because since he is older, I believe he will actually fear death. I say this because when you're young, you don't really give a shit about death because you're young and you think you're never gonna get close to death. I'm not saying that's what Bryant thought, but I think that's what most young people think. Back to why he would be more afraid of death, I think he would've written it differently because he, himself, would actually be afraid of dying since he is so near to death.
The team of Thanatopsis is that when we die we go to haven and no longer are part of earth but if you think deep about it, it depends in your beliefs because mentally we all say that we leave forever but spiritually our souls stay within nature. Even though when we die our characteristics fade away we live our characteristics towards the world as in that we would not be forgotten by others but individually. When we go to heaven we leave on our own which makes us more individual, therefore we are forever alone, but thinking about this should not make us fear death, because its like an illness all around the world that we will all suffer but we should always carry the best characteristics within our hearts to rest in peace. Also this shows how nature changes our moods by the seasons because the seasons have their differences just as we change our opinions towards nature over time.
This gives a romantic feelings because you can see how he is in love with the characteristics of nature and he doesn't want to over fear the characteristics that later on will fade away. That's why he gives great detail of the natural world that he forever wants to be in.
This plays a role on how he views mortality because since he is in a young age he uses his imagination to picture death in his last days. As you can see right now he is living the beauty of nature but he does seem concerned for himself and for others. Even though as a youth he took the time to write this not because he is afraid of death but because he might picture himself in a coffin, makes him different from us because us as youth or teenagers don't always picture ourselves that way. Yes there is times were we can sit and think deeply about how our death will be and the characteristics of what will happen that day, but what makes William significant is how he went deep with his taughts.
I believe that if he had written this or something like this 20-50 years later he wouldn't had changed much because since he is only a youth and he has an imagination of a old persons views, he would have about the same taughts or maybe more in his elderly age. It can be more powerful depending on his experiences and also regarding his skills in knowledge because as a right now his way of writing helps me draw an image of an old men being afraid of death.
The theme of Thanatopsis is enjoying life, enjoying what's around you because death is inevitable, death will come to everyone but death should not be feared. When we go to the "eternal resting place" and we lie down with the poweful of the good. We enter into this entire new world. We do not just disappear we are still apart of earth but not in an image form.
The characteristics that make this poem romantic are the way Mr. Bryant describes this eternal resting place. His imagination challenges the readers mind to actually think about the place we go to when we pass on.
His youth does play a part with how he views mortality, although one of the characteristics of romantism is that they cherish their youth, innocence. So even if he was an old man. I still believe he would think of mortality in ways that still connected to his youth and innocence.
If Mr. Bryant wrote this poem twenty to fifty years years, It would have been different in some aspects, considering he would be older and have been through more life experiences,I believe the poem would still have the the thoughts of mortailty coming from a youth as he viewed it then but as the poem progressed he would talk about how he views mortality now as an older man.
The main theme of Thanatopsis could be death and human vs the natural world. What it teaches is that even though we die, spiritually we are still alive and in the earth. It also teaches us that we shouldn't fear death. We will all die eventually and just go into the world, that's what thanatopisis teaches us. Romantic characteristics in it is the relationship we have with earth. It will always take care of us even when we are dead.
I think since he wrote in his youth years he really saw death as a beautiful thing and not a sad thing. He knew how to cherish his life when he was young and thought about him living the moment instead of the experiences he'd be facing later on. I think his morals were in the right place at the time because of his youth but he still had a lot to learn.
If this poem were written twenty to fifty years later I think it'd be different in certain ways. I think he would of written on how we really need to cherish life more and he would of had a different aspect of death. Because when we're young we just live in the moment and death isn't really a concern to us. But when you're old, death is really different thought that it was when you were younger, so Bryant would of really written this poem differently.
Two major themes that I notice in "Thanatopsis" is spirituality and death. For example, spirituality because the author shows in the poem how nature offers comfort to those who are not accepting of death as a choice in life. As how, religious people go to their own different god/s for comfort when life is dealing with obstacles. Death is a major theme because it gives us readers a clearer picture of being at one with the earth. We're born, we live our lives to the fullest, until death calls us back to dirt, and the cycle continues.
This poem is Romanticism because it proves the innocence of time. Today, we may spend it with a love one and lose them tomorrow thinking there wasn't enough time to say goodbye. There is a better place with eternal rest, which time waits for no one and William C Bryant. proves that in this poem.
I believe that if Mr. Bryant were to write this kind of poem in today or the later generations, it would be totally different. First and foremost, an increase number of teenagers are dying before their own grandparents. Too many people play with their lives not understanding that they only have one unlike cats. William Bryant. would have probably written about why life is really important and how people waste time instead of spending it with those who are important. He probably would've even written about the affects of violence on lives now.So yes, if Mr. Bryant were to write this poem today or later, it would have been different in so many ways.
The theme of Thanatopsis is obviously detach. But how is it seen. Many people are afraid of death. Some are happy about it and some aren't. In this case, Death is a part of nature. As many humans have lived on this planet, they have all died. Where are they now? They are now part of the Earth. Their remains are now in the Earth as we are all forever forgotten together. Death is a part of nature and we shouldn't be afraid of it. We should accept it as we accept nature.
Its Romantic characteristics are very strong here. It shows nature and expresses nature as death's reason. Also Bryant used his strong imagination to give us a brand new perspective on death. Using his powerful imagination and strong figurative language to show us all reading this a new perspective on death. It's deep, passionate, and he describes it in many different ways so we can all understand.
Youth has a huge involvement in this too. When someone is young they don't really care about death as much as an older person does. This ties in with what if Bryant wrote this poem 20-50 years later. I believe that he would have a brand new outlook on death because he is older, but his main ideas on death that he has stated before will not change. In fact, he will share more and he has more age and experience. Maybe even use his imagination again to give us a brand new perspective on death. It could be a different poem. No one knows, I believe it would've changed a little bit.
Everyone has a different way on how they see death. Good or bad, it's different. Opinions change and so does the outlook of death to humans. Death is a part of nature.
The main theme of Thanatopsis is that everyone is going to die and how we should not fear death but to learn how to accpet it because we become the earth when we die and we fed other creatures then when they die the fed other things.
The characteristics that make this poem romantic is the way the writer is describing our "Resting place" . The imagery and imaginations makes the reader have to really think deeply about death and our resting place and whats reallu going to happen when we die.
His youth plays a big part becaus e he learned to cherish daeth and he understood that when we die we really dont die. He also learned that we all have to die.
If he wrote the poem twenty or fifty years later i think it would be the same because he would have been an old man that has lived his life and is ready or waiting for death. -Ramisha Jennings 6th period
The main theme surrounding the poem Thanatopsis is the personal perspective people have about death. Though death appears frightening, William Cullen Bryant paints it as the opposite-- as a form of connection to nature and a metamorphosis of sorts. This view of death truly validates Bryant's romantic beliefs and themes-- the connection to nature and the focus on emotion versus logic and reality. In a left-brained, realistic perspective, death is a feared, inevitable part of life. But in a much more romantic perspective, death should be embraced with open arms and seen as unity with the deceased and their habitat of forest and earth.
Youth has a major part in Bryant's views of death. When people are younger, death seems to be so far-fetched that it is the last thing young people worry about. Yet Bryant's youth illustrated a major part of not only writing, but of life: age does not take away wisdom, and though Bryant was only seventeen when he wrote this poem, it shows his capacity for thought and self-reflection, another true key of romanticism. Though Bryant was young, he did not see death as too far away to anticipate. Instead, he prepared for it with an optimistic point of view and a refreshing take on a natural part of life.
Had Bryant written this poem twenty to fifty years later, I believe that he would still think of death in this manner. Having thought of death so eloquently at such a young age proves his capability to delve in to harsh subjects, and that can only grow with age and experience.
The main theme of Thanatopsis is Bryant's view of death. We are all connected in some way. We have all be part of the plants and other animals He tells that we shouldn't fear death. We fear death because we don't know what happens to us. We are accustomed to knowing, and unknown can be scary. Thanatopsis is a great example of romanticism . Bryant talks about our connections to nature, and uses imagery and metaphors to set his point across people's mind. There is also this emotion he puts into his writing that we can sort of get what death means to him.
I don't think his age had to do with anything. It's pretty amazing that as a teen he was able to view this. That he accepted death. I have open views when it comes to life, but in truth I do fear it at a young age. I want to experience this life before I go, and I haven't done that in the seventeen years that I have been alive. I believe that Bryant had the same views from then on when he wrote the piece.
I think that he would still have the same mentality if he wrote it a few decades later. He seemed very mature for his age, and seemed to have an open mind.
The main theme of Thanatopsis is viewing death in a different perspective. Many view death as an end and Thanatopsis does the opposite. Thanatopsis makes death seem as a beginning to an end because we have no eternal resting place. The perspective at which death is viewed is very much romantic writing. The characteristics that make this poem romantic are the great connection to nature as almost saying that nature or death are equally beautiful and should be accepted with the same mind set.
In my opinion I think that Bryant's age had a great deal to do with how the poem was written. Bryant's young age gave him the opportunity to optimistic about death and how it would affect him or others when death rolled around. Bryant was only seventeen when he wrote the poem and he created a to prepare for death.
If the poem were to be written 20-25 years later i don't think it would have changed because of the fact that death is still a mystery and to many people death is scary. I also think that people would have accepted the poem just the same.
Vanessa Garcia 6. The theme in Thanatopsis is to know that sooner or later we are going to die that death is out there, but we should not fear it. Death is a part of nature. When we die we join the earth becoming a part of nature, with our remainings in the earth. We are slowly forgotten because our characteristics have vanished when our souls have wondered off. The characteristics that make this poem romantic are the ways he uses imagery in describing the earth and the imagination on his perspective of death. Also his idea of the relationship between humans, death, and earth. I think his youth does play in on how he viewed mortality. When you are young, you are all about imagination and living in the moment and you only lived once concept. If he would have wrote this poem 20-50 years later it would be so different. I don't think he would change his beliefs toward death, but he will focus more on spending the time that you have alive and doing more important things. The importance of time and not wasting it, trying to make us understand that you should make your time count.
Stephanie Guerrero 6th Thanatopsis The theme of thanatopsis is that there is no reason to fear the concept that is death. Referring to the discussion in class, death is like a farmer and grass. Grass never knows when they are going to get cut, it is just a natural occurrence. When it is your time, death will come. It's not an idea worth stressing about because generations before you have died for your presence to exist, and it would be selfish to want someone back from the dead.This is odd but it is selfish because it is a personal selfish and anger that we have when someone close to us passes away. Yet we know little if they are okay or they are in a better place. Our sorrow does not help anyone. We have to accept and move on no matter how hard it may be. Eventually, after a death, everyone moves on. They go through their daily routine. It is normal because that is just how the cycle of life is. We all go through it, we all experience it. Thanatopsis shows romanticism because when someone dies and that person is buried underneath the ground, their remains are covered with dirt and soon they become just that, dirt. We really do end up being a part of nature. Grass and roots grow above us and we become a part of it. We become the grass.
The prevailing ideology in Thanatopsis is that life dies not end once we are considered "dead". Bryant makes it very clear that he believes life is everlasting and a simple cycle. The view of death that most people have is what Bryant is trying to drive people away from. He makes his point evident in the line where he states that the earth is basically one big tomb; it's a sacred place we should not be terrified to become one with once we die. Bryant also brings forth the point that everyone who has ever lived has died, so we do not need to fear it. Thanatopsis is a Romantic poem because of the strong theme tying to nature. William Cullen Bryant is a true Romantic poet because he focuses more on emotion and feeling rather than logic. Logically, one might fear death because it is the end of all they know, but if one embraces nature, they can come to terms with death as just another part of life.
Quite frankly, I do not think youth played a huge role in how he viewed mortality. However, I do believe that the time he grew up and the other views during the time period did influence him. He was writing at a time when other authors were writing the same things, when people were challenging science and connecting more with nature and the inner self. While many may say that youth provides us with this sense that we are unbeatable, unbreakable, and unstoppable, Bryant proves to the critics that we're merely less frightened at the idea of death. Bryant obviously is more advanced than your average teenager, but his view is just that we become one with nature, a very logical view. Had he written this in his later years, I still believe he would have written it the same way. His era shaped him. He was a true Romantic, age would not break his point of view. While he might have written it differently, incorporating other aspects he had acquired throughout life, he still would have believed we become one with earth in an endless cycle.
Basically, the main philosophy surrounding Thanatopsis is that there is no reason to fret about death. Death is something everyone one has to deal with, it is something all humans share. Death makes you apart of the Earth again. And when you die, most people won’t care anyway. If feel as though Thanatopsis could almost be its own doctrine to some new, weird religion where nudists get leaves tattooed on their feet and dance during twilight. But I digress…
ReplyDeleteThis Poem has a lot of Romantic qualities. Bryant takes the dull reality of death and turns it in a way where the reader begins to unearth some sort of hidden truth about humanity. The reader at one point is told to go find their own truth in natural, outlandish locations because such experiences with nature will help the reader develop positively as an individual. The author’s youth plays a part in how he views morality; his youthful imagination gives his view of death a romantic twist and also gives death more of a whimsical vibe, which is probably as unrealistic as the author’s view about many important subjects at his age. Yet, teenagers also usually have an Iron Man complex, believing they are above death and are immortal. So Bryant’s view point on Thanatopsis is quite unique for his age as well…
If Bryant had written this poem 50 years later, I do not think the philosophy behind it would have changed much due to Bryant’s obvious maturity at 18. I think it would have fewer metaphors regarding kings and such but I believe the inherent meaning would still be similar and just as powerful as it is now. But honestly, if it was written by some wrinkly sir, I would not be as impressed. Because youth being so prepared mentally for his new life is so rare…
Andriana Malhi
6th
The Main theme surrounding Thanatopsis is that even though people die, we actually do not really die. Instead we join the earth and become one with everything in this world. Also the theme of Thanatopsis is that we should not fear death, like I said before because we all die and we will all join the earth together and be forgotten forever.
ReplyDeleteThanatopsis has many romantic qualities. One of them is his constant use of imagery to describe earth and it's qualities. Also he goes into a lot of detail about the world and why we should value it even after death.
If Bryant had written this piece when he was older, lets say closer to death, I believe that his outlook would be different. I think his outlook on death would be different because since he is older, I believe he will actually fear death. I say this because when you're young, you don't really give a shit about death because you're young and you think you're never gonna get close to death. I'm not saying that's what Bryant thought, but I think that's what most young people think. Back to why he would be more afraid of death, I think he would've written it differently because he, himself, would actually be afraid of dying since he is so near to death.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe team of Thanatopsis is that when we die we go to haven and no longer are part of earth but if you think deep about it, it depends in your beliefs because mentally we all say that we leave forever but spiritually our souls stay within nature. Even though when we die our characteristics fade away we live our characteristics towards the world as in that we would not be forgotten by others but individually. When we go to heaven we leave on our own which makes us more individual, therefore we are forever alone, but thinking about this should not make us fear death, because its like an illness all around the world that we will all suffer but we should always carry the best characteristics within our hearts to rest in peace. Also this shows how nature changes our moods by the seasons because the seasons have their differences just as we change our opinions towards nature over time.
ReplyDeleteThis gives a romantic feelings because you can see how he is in love with the characteristics of nature and he doesn't want to over fear the characteristics that later on will fade away. That's why he gives great detail of the natural world that he forever wants to be in.
This plays a role on how he views mortality because since he is in a young age he uses his imagination to picture death in his last days. As you can see right now he is living the beauty of nature but he does seem concerned for himself and for others. Even though as a youth he took the time to write this not because he is afraid of death but because he might picture himself in a coffin, makes him different from us because us as youth or teenagers don't always picture ourselves that way. Yes there is times were we can sit and think deeply about how our death will be and the characteristics of what will happen that day, but what makes William significant is how he went deep with his taughts.
I believe that if he had written this or something like this 20-50 years later he wouldn't had changed much because since he is only a youth and he has an imagination of a old persons views, he would have about the same taughts or maybe more in his elderly age. It can be more powerful depending on his experiences and also regarding his skills in knowledge because as a right now his way of writing helps me draw an image of an old men being afraid of death.
The theme of Thanatopsis is enjoying life, enjoying what's around you because death is inevitable, death will come to everyone but death should not be feared. When we go to the "eternal resting place" and we lie down with the poweful of the good. We enter into this entire new world. We do not just disappear we are still apart of earth but not in an image form.
ReplyDeleteThe characteristics that make this poem romantic are the way Mr. Bryant describes this eternal resting place. His imagination challenges the readers mind to actually think about the place we go to when we pass on.
His youth does play a part with how he views mortality, although one of the characteristics of romantism is that they cherish their youth, innocence. So even if he was an old man. I still believe he would think of mortality in ways that still connected to his youth and innocence.
If Mr. Bryant wrote this poem twenty to fifty years years, It would have been different in some aspects, considering he would be older and have been through more life experiences,I believe the poem would still have the the thoughts of mortailty coming from a youth as he viewed it then but as the poem progressed he would talk about how he views mortality now as an older man.
-Lauryn Chew.
Period 6th.
The main theme of Thanatopsis could be death and human vs the natural world. What it teaches is that even though we die, spiritually we are still alive and in the earth. It also teaches us that we shouldn't fear death. We will all die eventually and just go into the world, that's what thanatopisis teaches us. Romantic characteristics in it is the relationship we have with earth. It will always take care of us even when we are dead.
ReplyDeleteI think since he wrote in his youth years he really saw death as a beautiful thing and not a sad thing. He knew how to cherish his life when he was young and thought about him living the moment instead of the experiences he'd be facing later on. I think his morals were in the right place at the time because of his youth but he still had a lot to learn.
If this poem were written twenty to fifty years later I think it'd be different in certain ways. I think he would of written on how we really need to cherish life more and he would of had a different aspect of death. Because when we're young we just live in the moment and death isn't really a concern to us. But when you're old, death is really different thought that it was when you were younger, so Bryant would of really written this poem differently.
Two major themes that I notice in "Thanatopsis" is spirituality and death. For example, spirituality because the author shows in the poem how nature offers comfort to those who are not accepting of death as a choice in life. As how, religious people go to their own different god/s for comfort when life is dealing with obstacles. Death is a major theme because it gives us readers a clearer picture of being at one with the earth. We're born, we live our lives to the fullest, until death calls us back to dirt, and the cycle continues.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is Romanticism because it proves the innocence of time. Today, we may spend it with a love one and lose them tomorrow thinking there wasn't enough time to say goodbye. There is a better place with eternal rest, which time waits for no one and William C Bryant. proves that in this poem.
I believe that if Mr. Bryant were to write this kind of poem in today or the later generations, it would be totally different. First and foremost, an increase number of teenagers are dying before their own grandparents. Too many people play with their lives not understanding that they only have one unlike cats. William Bryant. would have probably written about why life is really important and how people waste time instead of spending it with those who are important. He probably would've even written about the affects of violence on lives now.So yes, if Mr. Bryant were to write this poem today or later, it would have been different in so many ways.
Jessica Pousini
Period 6
The theme of Thanatopsis is obviously detach. But how is it seen. Many people are afraid of death. Some are happy about it and some aren't. In this case, Death is a part of nature. As many humans have lived on this planet, they have all died. Where are they now? They are now part of the Earth. Their remains are now in the Earth as we are all forever forgotten together. Death is a part of nature and we shouldn't be afraid of it. We should accept it as we accept nature.
ReplyDeleteIts Romantic characteristics are very strong here. It shows nature and expresses nature as death's reason. Also Bryant used his strong imagination to give us a brand new perspective on death. Using his powerful imagination and strong figurative language to show us all reading this a new perspective on death. It's deep, passionate, and he describes it in many different ways so we can all understand.
Youth has a huge involvement in this too. When someone is young they don't really care about death as much as an older person does. This ties in with what if Bryant wrote this poem 20-50 years later. I believe that he would have a brand new outlook on death because he is older, but his main ideas on death that he has stated before will not change. In fact, he will share more and he has more age and experience. Maybe even use his imagination again to give us a brand new perspective on death. It could be a different poem. No one knows, I believe it would've changed a little bit.
Everyone has a different way on how they see death. Good or bad, it's different. Opinions change and so does the outlook of death to humans. Death is a part of nature.
Josh Benitez
Per. 6
The main theme of Thanatopsis is that everyone is going to die and how we should not fear death but to learn how to accpet it because we become the earth when we die and we fed other creatures then when they die the fed other things.
ReplyDeleteThe characteristics that make this poem romantic is the way the writer is describing our "Resting place" . The imagery and imaginations makes the reader have to really think deeply about death and our resting place and whats reallu going to happen when we die.
His youth plays a big part becaus e he learned to cherish daeth and he understood that when we die we really dont die. He also learned that we all have to die.
If he wrote the poem twenty or fifty years later i think it would be the same because he would have been an old man that has lived his life and is ready or waiting for death.
-Ramisha Jennings 6th period
Carolina Navarro 6
ReplyDeleteThe main theme surrounding the poem Thanatopsis is the personal perspective people have about death. Though death appears frightening, William Cullen Bryant paints it as the opposite-- as a form of connection to nature and a metamorphosis of sorts. This view of death truly validates Bryant's romantic beliefs and themes-- the connection to nature and the focus on emotion versus logic and reality. In a left-brained, realistic perspective, death is a feared, inevitable part of life. But in a much more romantic perspective, death should be embraced with open arms and seen as unity with the deceased and their habitat of forest and earth.
Youth has a major part in Bryant's views of death. When people are younger, death seems to be so far-fetched that it is the last thing young people worry about. Yet Bryant's youth illustrated a major part of not only writing, but of life: age does not take away wisdom, and though Bryant was only seventeen when he wrote this poem, it shows his capacity for thought and self-reflection, another true key of romanticism. Though Bryant was young, he did not see death as too far away to anticipate. Instead, he prepared for it with an optimistic point of view and a refreshing take on a natural part of life.
Had Bryant written this poem twenty to fifty years later, I believe that he would still think of death in this manner. Having thought of death so eloquently at such a young age proves his capability to delve in to harsh subjects, and that can only grow with age and experience.
The main theme of Thanatopsis is Bryant's view of death. We are all connected in some way. We have all be part of the plants and other animals He tells that we shouldn't fear death. We fear death because we don't know what happens to us. We are accustomed to knowing, and unknown can be scary. Thanatopsis is a great example of romanticism . Bryant talks about our connections to nature, and uses imagery and metaphors to set his point across people's mind. There is also this emotion he puts into his writing that we can sort of get what death means to him.
ReplyDeleteI don't think his age had to do with anything. It's pretty amazing that as a teen he was able to view this. That he accepted death. I have open views when it comes to life, but in truth I do fear it at a young age. I want to experience this life before I go, and I haven't done that in the seventeen years that I have been alive. I believe that Bryant had the same views from then on when he wrote the piece.
I think that he would still have the same mentality if he wrote it a few decades later. He seemed very mature for his age, and seemed to have an open mind.
The main theme of Thanatopsis is viewing death in a different perspective. Many view death as an end and Thanatopsis does the opposite. Thanatopsis makes death seem as a beginning to an end because we have no eternal resting place. The perspective at which death is viewed is very much romantic writing. The characteristics that make this poem romantic are the great connection to nature as almost saying that nature or death are equally beautiful and should be accepted with the same mind set.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think that Bryant's age had a great deal to do with how the poem was written. Bryant's young age gave him the opportunity to optimistic about death and how it would affect him or others when death rolled around. Bryant was only seventeen when he wrote the poem and he created a to prepare for death.
If the poem were to be written 20-25 years later i don't think it would have changed because of the fact that death is still a mystery and to many people death is scary. I also think that people would have accepted the poem just the same.
-Emilio Elenes
-Period 6
Vanessa Garcia 6.
ReplyDeleteThe theme in Thanatopsis is to know that sooner or later we are going to die that death is out there, but we should not fear it. Death is a part of nature. When we die we join the earth becoming a part of nature, with our remainings in the earth. We are slowly forgotten because our characteristics have vanished when our souls have wondered off.
The characteristics that make this poem romantic are the ways he uses imagery in describing the earth and the imagination on his perspective of death. Also his idea of the relationship between humans, death, and earth.
I think his youth does play in on how he viewed mortality. When you are young, you are all about imagination and living in the moment and you only lived once concept.
If he would have wrote this poem 20-50 years later it would be so different. I don't think he would change his beliefs toward death, but he will focus more on spending the time that you have alive and doing more important things. The importance of time and not wasting it, trying to make us understand that you should make your time count.
Stephanie Guerrero 6th
ReplyDeleteThanatopsis
The theme of thanatopsis is that there is no reason to fear the concept that is death. Referring to the discussion in class, death is like a farmer and grass. Grass never knows when they are going to get cut, it is just a natural occurrence. When it is your time, death will come. It's not an idea worth stressing about because generations before you have died for your presence to exist, and it would be selfish to want someone back from the dead.This is odd but it is selfish because it is a personal selfish and anger that we have when someone close to us passes away. Yet we know little if they are okay or they are in a better place. Our sorrow does not help anyone. We have to accept and move on no matter how hard it may be. Eventually, after a death, everyone moves on. They go through their daily routine. It is normal because that is just how the cycle of life is. We all go through it, we all experience it.
Thanatopsis shows romanticism because when someone dies and that person is buried underneath the ground, their remains are covered with dirt and soon they become just that, dirt. We really do end up being a part of nature. Grass and roots grow above us and we become a part of it. We become the grass.
The prevailing ideology in Thanatopsis is that life dies not end once we are considered "dead". Bryant makes it very clear that he believes life is everlasting and a simple cycle. The view of death that most people have is what Bryant is trying to drive people away from. He makes his point evident in the line where he states that the earth is basically one big tomb; it's a sacred place we should not be terrified to become one with once we die. Bryant also brings forth the point that everyone who has ever lived has died, so we do not need to fear it.
ReplyDeleteThanatopsis is a Romantic poem because of the strong theme tying to nature. William Cullen Bryant is a true Romantic poet because he focuses more on emotion and feeling rather than logic. Logically, one might fear death because it is the end of all they know, but if one embraces nature, they can come to terms with death as just another part of life.
Quite frankly, I do not think youth played a huge role in how he viewed mortality. However, I do believe that the time he grew up and the other views during the time period did influence him. He was writing at a time when other authors were writing the same things, when people were challenging science and connecting more with nature and the inner self. While many may say that youth provides us with this sense that we are unbeatable, unbreakable, and unstoppable, Bryant proves to the critics that we're merely less frightened at the idea of death. Bryant obviously is more advanced than your average teenager, but his view is just that we become one with nature, a very logical view. Had he written this in his later years, I still believe he would have written it the same way. His era shaped him. He was a true Romantic, age would not break his point of view. While he might have written it differently, incorporating other aspects he had acquired throughout life, he still would have believed we become one with earth in an endless cycle.
Ellie Erickson, Period 6