An Elegy On The Death Of A Mad Dog Analysis

Good people all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song;
And if you find it wondrous short,
It cannot hold you long.

In Islington there was a man
Of whom the world might say,
That still a godly race he ran—
Whene'er he went to pray.

A kind and gentle heart he had,
To comfort friends and foes;
The naked every day he clad—
When he put on his clothes.

And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,
And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends;
But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad, and bit the man.

Around from all the neighbouring streets
The wond'ring neighbours ran,
And swore the dog had lost its wits
To bite so good a man.

The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To every Christian eye;
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die.

But soon a wonder came to light
That showed the rogues they lied,—
The man recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died!

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Nothing especially protects the God-ly and simply living among one's peers with their plentitude of curs of low degree allows for exemplary men to be struck down . the whole paradox of the senseless and random punishment of the good and innocent is somehow atoned by the humor of the dog's dying.
(Earthclod, Orlando, Florida)

| Posted on 2009-07-12 | by a guest

.: :.

Nothing especially protects the God-ly and simply living among one's peers with their plentitude of curs of low degree allows for exemplary men to be struck down . the whole paradox of the senseless and random punishment of the good and innocent is somehow atoned by the humor of the dog's dying.

| Posted on 2009-07-12 | by a guest

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In this poem Oliver is talking about a very wise man in Islington. He used to sing and said that all good people heard him sing. The people said that he still competes with God whenever he goes to pray. He was very kind and gentle at heart. He helped everyone, be it his friends or his foes. He dressed up and went out everyday. That day he found a dog in the town, may be a lost dog. This dog became his friend. But though this man was loving by nature, he petted other animals also. This dog was jealous and wanted his master’s attention. In the rage of anger, he bit the man. All neighbours ran away from the dog towards this man. They banked that the dog had lost its senses, how could he bite such a nice man? The wound was very bad, every one pitied the man. They banked no doubt the dog had gone mad, but even the man would not survive. But soon a miracle happened. The man recovered of the bite and the mad dog died.
The poet is trying to say that if we are good human beings, God will always be kind wit us. If we do good deeds, we get good rewards. No doubt God tests the good people, but we should be good human beings and God will help us come out of every problem in life.
(Sweety Gurnani, India)

| Posted on 2009-05-14 | by a guest