For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The original poem was shorter, covering only what we now consider to be lines 17-66.
Up until now, we’ve only been talking about the sad and scary aspects of dying. This is a big turn in the poem. He tells us that, when we start to worry about death, we … JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser.
This free poetry study guide will help you understand what you're reading. A detailed summary and explanation of Lines 31-37 in Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant. It has a smooth, breathy voice, never sharp or harsh or grating. The sound we hear running through this poem is always calm and cool. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. It rustles and whispers, instead of crashing and thundering. The poem, “Thanatopsis,” written by William Cullen Bryant, is a wonderful literary work which explores the often controversial questions of death. This also makes us think of the Biblical patriarchs, like Abraham. Even though there’s some bad news about going to our "eternal resting place," the speaker wants us to know that we won’t go there ("retire") all by ourselves. All of these important people from lines 34-36 will lie down with you in one giant tomb ("sepulcher"). JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Thanatopsis Summary "Thanatopsis" starts by talking about nature's ability to make us feel better. It was published by Bryant’s father for him, and the original version lacked lines 1 to 17 and lines 32 to 44. The ocean is another powerful and important representation of the natural world in this poem. Now we get a big "Yet." By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. In-depth explanations of the themes found in Thanatopsis. Yet not to thine eternal resting-place Shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish, Couch more magnificent. Maybe it’s hard to see where this is headed, but he’s building to a point, we promise.
There will also be old ("hoary") prophets ("seers"). The Ocean. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. William Cullen Bryant ’s poem “Thanatopsis” is considered to be the best of a number of poems he wrote on the subject of death. The breeze might change a little. The ocean in "Thanatopsis" is giant, scary, and a bit sad. That’s what this whole section of the poem is about, the idea that when we die we all lie down together in one big grave. With patriarchs of the infant world—with kings, The powerful of the earth—the wise, the good,Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past, © 2020 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. That sounds pretty good, right? You're feeling a bit special now, aren't you. Free, fun, and packed with the most important details! To add to our summary of “Thanatopsis,” we’ll give a little background information on the poem. Sometimes it can be cool and steady, sometimes it’s just an occasional warm gust.
Just like this poem. We’re making a big swing here, from creepy to comforting. The fame he won as a … It can even lighten our dark thoughts about death. There will be "patriarchs" (that means fathers, heads of families, or male leaders) from long ago when the Earth was young ("the infant world"). There will also be kings and others who are "powerful," "wise" and "good.". Is the idea of your body turning into oak tree Miracle-Gro comforting? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Way better than the "narrow house" we were worrying about in line 12.
Thanatopsis Lines 31-37 | Shmoop
In fact, the speaker tells us we’re headed for a "magnificent" and comfy resting place, like a "couch." It’s a symbol of everything unchanging and pure and eternal. Within his well written lines Bryant attempts to show the relationship between death’s eternal questions and the ongoing cycle of nature and life. Even when the topic is sad and grim, the sound is soothing. Sure it's better than that claustrophobic coffin, but it's still not great. Even as the sound and feeling shifts, though, it’s always gentle and calm and full of love and peace.
By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. The speaker tells us that nature can make pain less painful. Thou shalt lie down. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
Try saying these lines aloud: […] while from all around—Earth and her waters, and the depths of air—Comes a still voice— […] (lines 15-17). Thanatopsis By William Cullen Bryant About this Poet Poet and editor William Cullen Bryant stood among the most celebrated figures in the frieze of 19th-century America. It was first published in the North American Review in 1817. © 2020 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. In "Thanatopsis" the sun is always separate from the world of death and sadness and fear that humans live in. The first version of "Thanatopsis" appeared in that magazine in the September 1817 issue. They almost force you into a smooth, calm, quiet tone of voice.
In this final resting place, there will be beautiful people ("fair forms"). The poem was a hit, and it was republished, with an added introduction and conclusion, in Bryant’s Poems , which came out in 1821. What’s cool is how Bryant can make that sound like a good thing. All of this reminds us of the sound and feeling of a summer breeze, the kind you might hear while you are lying out in a field with your eyes closed, the bright sun on your face. Just a phrase like "depths of air" is full of soft sounds. The speaker tells us that when we die, we’ll "lie down" with all kinds of fancy and important people.
That giant tomb, of course, is the Earth. “Thanatopsis” was written probably in 1811, when Bryant was 17 years old.
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