Thanatopsis Analysis

To him who in the love of nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language; for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings, with a mild
And healing sympathy that steals away
Their sharpness ere he is aware. When thoughts
Of the last bitter hour come like a blight
Over thy spirit, and sad images
Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall,
And breathless darkness, and the narrow house,
Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart;--
Go forth, under the open sky, and list
To Nature's teachings, while from all around--
Earth and her waters, and the depths of air--
Comes a still voice. Yet a few days, and thee
The all-beholding sun shall see no more
In all his course; nor yet in the cold ground,
Where thy pale form was laid, with many tears,
Nor in the embrace of ocean, shall exist
Thy image. Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim
Thy growth, to be resolved to earth again,
And, lost each human trace, surrendering up
Thine individual being, shalt thou go
To mix forever with the elements,
To be a brother to the insensible rock
And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain
Turns with his share, and treads upon. The oak
Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy mold.

Yet not to thine eternal resting-place
Shalt thou retire alone, nor couldst thou wish
Couch more magnificent. Thou shalt lie down
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,
All in one mighty sepulchre. The hills
Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun, -- the vales
Stretching in pensive quietness between;
The venerable woods -- rivers that move
In majesty, and the complaining brooks
That make the meadows green; and, poured round all,
Old Ocean's gray and melancholy waste,--
Are but the solemn decorations all
Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun,
The planets, all the infinite host of heaven,
Are shining on the sad abodes of death
Through the still lapse of ages. All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom. -- Take the wings
Of morning, pierce the Barcan wilderness,
Or lose thyself in the continuous woods
Where rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound,
Save his own dashings -- yet the dead are there:
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid them down
In their last sleep -- the dead reign there alone.

So shalt thou rest -- and what if thou withdraw
In silence from the living, and no friend
Take note of thy departure? All that breathe
Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh
When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care
Plod on, and each one as before will chase
His favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave
Their mirth and their employments, and shall come
And make their bed with thee. As the long train
Of ages glides away, the sons of men--
The youth in life's fresh spring, and he who goes
In the full strength of years, matron and maid,
The speechless babe, and the gray-headed man--
Shall one by one be gathered to thy side,
By those, who in their turn, shall follow them.

So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan, which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

.: :.

Hi Im a 10th grader and believe it or not taking the time to read and analyze this poem is stress on my brain. I know that the poem is about life and looking to nature as a guide. But I have to analyze each line for a metaphor and that takes up too much time. Plus I don't even know if my metaphor is analyzed right or wrong and Im certainly not going to ask my teacher what the metaphor is for each line. P.S. My assignment is due very soon and I seriously need help in gettint this poem figured out!

| Posted on 2008-11-29 | by a guest

.: :.

oh my .. thank you to the person who wrote "my interpretation". I could only some of the peom when i first read it, but your post seriously made me understood what this poem is all about. Thank you so much :]

| Posted on 2008-11-20 | by a guest

.: :.

ok so im in honors english and i read this thing like 15 times and i still dont know whats going on!!

| Posted on 2008-11-20 | by a guest

.: :.

You guys are ridiculous. this isn't a blog. its a help site, so stop bickering like little children.

| Posted on 2008-11-13 | by a guest

.: :.

I am sorry to break it to you, but complaining is not going to get you anywhere on your assignments or in life...at all. The poem is not that difficult. Just take your time and read it carefully and analytically. Make wise decisions and make the most out of life!
The formula to being a happy person is to simply be pleased with what you have.

| Posted on 2008-11-12 | by a guest

.: :.

For the stupid person who thinks that Bryant literally means aske a tree what to eat for breakfast, he means that nature makes you think abou the deeper things in life and not just the "oh what boxers should i wear today?" Bryant is a genius and you need to study a little because you just got shown up by a 9th grader.

| Posted on 2008-11-03 | by a guest

.: :.

okay i have these questions for this poem and i have no idea what its talking abut someone help me plz .

| Posted on 2008-10-31 | by a guest

.: :.

this is an excellent poem... those high school students who do not understand must listen and ask questions during the teacher's lecture/dicussion... too quick to judge, too quick to despise the content of something you do not understand... study and study hard in order to have the level of understanding that is required to appreciate such eloquent type of poetry!

| Posted on 2008-10-16 | by a guest

.: :.

Quoteof the person several posts below me...
.: :.
To the person who wrote a post on 7/27/2008:
Thanatopsis is most certainly a poem. Rhyming is NOT a requirement of poetry (only nursery rhymes)! Signed: An English teacher who teaches both poetry and prose so she knows
| Posted on 2008-09-04 | by a guest
-
So, anything is poem is poems are things that rhyme or don't rhyme?
Another thing, Romanticism is the STUPIDEST era of literature I have ever studied. To the guy who said that we should look to nature for the answers to life... get real, I've never heard some tree tell me what stocks to invest in or what I should eat today.

| Posted on 2008-10-09 | by a guest

.: :.

The guy who wrote this was only 16 at the time... and he wrote an 80+ line poem on death? He seems like quite a disturbed individual

| Posted on 2008-10-09 | by a guest

.: :.

dude these comments realy helped me out 4 my test b cuz i had absolutely no idea wat dat poem was talking about. thanks alot!

| Posted on 2008-10-03 | by a guest

.: :.

Haha, only people reading this are in Honors English in Highschool at like 10pm b/c they didnt read in clas
s!!!
goodluck guys

| Posted on 2008-10-01 | by a guest

.: :.

To the person who wrote a post on 7/27/2008:
Thanatopsis is most certainly a poem. Rhyming is NOT a requirement of poetry (only nursery rhymes)! Signed: An English teacher who teaches both poetry and prose so she knows

| Posted on 2008-09-04 | by a guest

.: :.

Don't worry if you don't understand the poem.
First of all it is prose not poetry as it doesn't rhyme.
Second W.C. Bryant was not very good.
Try some better ones like E. A. Poe or Sandburg.

| Posted on 2008-07-27 | by a guest

.: :.

I don't get this poem it is too complicated i am in summer school and i still don't understand it. I don't want to ask the teacher because yeah. Explain in english like something that a 13 year old could understand please?!

| Posted on 2008-06-17 | by a guest

.: Good Poem :.

When assigned this for a poetry project, I was a little disgruntled. I dislike most poetry I am forced to read for my AP English class. However, I was impressed that the author was able to achieve such a level of skill at my age. It is really a great poem.

| Posted on 2008-04-10 | by a guest

.: Thanatopsis :.

It's really sad that this beautiful piece of poetry is wasted on such unbelievably ignorant illiterates. Our nation is quickly on its way downhille.

| Posted on 2008-03-24 | by a guest

.: Hiii :.

well thnx fo all da commentz i actually figured da meaning of da poem by readiin deze commentz...i really appreciate that :)

| Posted on 2008-02-14 | by a guest

.: thanks :.

according to my teacher im a usless git that should go slit my wrists and kill myself by smothering myself in her privates but hey what do i know? i just wanted to thank all ya peoplez for takin your time and explaining these hard ass poems. freaks... lol jk thanks again! bye!

| Posted on 2008-01-28 | by a guest

.: yohooo :.

yoh.. this poem is such hard to understand honestly speaking im not really good in english thats why im having a hard time to analyze LOL but still there are some part that i understand it talk about DEATH.. yohh creepy it gives me goosebumps as if i am scred to DEATh...

| Posted on 2008-01-23 | by a guest

.: yohooo :.

yoh.. this poem is such hard to understand honestly speaking im not really good in english thats why im having a hard time to analyze LOL but still there are some part that i understand it talk about DEATH.. yohh creepy it gives me goosebumps as if i am scred to DEATh...

| Posted on 2008-01-23 | by a guest

.: help :.

I have to papaphrase this for english for Miss Hipp (huge bich). could somebody paraphrase it word for word for me please.

| Posted on 2007-12-17 | by a guest

.: the fall of the up :.

this poem is about life, or lack thereof. it may also be mirroring the views of Spartans in the battle of rhodes. whilst pinned down the Spartans created a makeshift crane with tree trunks and sheer spartan strength. the Spartans then used the crane to hurl themselves at the colithianites. this poem also regularly used the word, "the" which in ancient manuscripts was used to personify the beauty of flight in the wreckingballs we now know as "democracy". the author also reveals this point in his statement on line 56 where his says "Will...the gay...laugh[?]". it can be inferred from the author is a raging fan of the indianapolis colts and in no way tries to hide the shame of this. In the words of a man with no direction in life (more commonly known as a habitual player of xbox live): "i suck...at...balls".

| Posted on 2007-11-19 | by a guest

.: to anti-thanatopis people :.

this is a beautiful poem. yes it talks about death and the afterlife which may seem gruesome to you, but its not a pointless poem. its about accepting your destiny and knowing you're going to die. Bryant is a writter from the romantic era, therefore he loves nature. so by saying that we will all go back to nature when we die, he is taking a positive look on death. he says nature has a voice of gladness and a smile of eloquence and beauty. bryant says death is the earth taking back its children where they will mix with the elements, to be a brother t the insensible rock. during this time, all will be equal and you will be one with all the kings, wise and good. he sermonizes that death is a peaceful thing so think of it not as a a terriorizing thing adn go forth not as a quarry slave (a person who unwillingly mines rocks and carries them like a heavy burden to they're destination) but go rather and lay down in this couch (the earth) to pleasant dreams.

when you look at it that way, Bryant makes death seem almost like a pleasant thing and a natural event in life. it is merely a step in the cycle of the earth, so death is not just the end of a life, but also a continuous step cycle in the world.

therefore, this poem isnt a pointless assignment like one of the prior posts says, because it teaches you about an outlook on life that accepts death and shows you that in order to fully enjoy life, you must accept death.

| Posted on 2007-11-10 | by a guest

.: :.

Ok. so yes this poem is about death. It is to reasure you that death is not bad but that it is good. the reason why the arthor (William Cullen Bryant) chose the topic of death is because at the time (but still goes on today) we wonder about death. death has always been a mystery and a phemomenal topic to write about if you want to captivate your audiences imagination. this was a strategy that Edgar Allen Poe also used. that's why his work seemed dark and because of his writing he too seemed dark. but back to the poem. the arthor was 16 when he wrote the poem... 17 when the poem was published.

we had a discusion over this in my eng. II class.

| Posted on 2007-11-09 | by a guest

.: :.

Ok. so yes this poem is about death. It is to reasure you that death is not bad but that it is good. the reason why the arthor (William Cullen Bryant) chose the topic of death is because at the time (but still goes on today) we wonder about death. death has always been a mystery and a phemomenal topic to write about if you want to captivate your audiences imagination. this was a strategy that Edgar Allen Poe also used. that's why his work seemed dark and because of his writing he too seemed dark. but back to the poem. the arthor was 16 when he wrote the poem... 17 when the poem was published.

we had a discusion over this in my eng. II class.

| Posted on 2007-11-09 | by a guest

.: ..,aloha..hello :.

..,im a filipino person and my teacher told us to search this poem. first i can't understand the whole meaning of this poem maybe because the word they used were very hard analyze and i need a dictionary either for me to know whats the meaning of it and also because not an american thats why it's hard for me to know the real analyze it. but as far as i see it's a very nice poem. maybe someday i will know what was the poem want to say and i will realize why it was all about death.

P.S - 15 yrs.old from(philippines)

| Posted on 2007-11-07 | by a guest

.: ..,aloha..hello :.

..,im a filipino person and my teacher told us to search this poem. first i can't understand the whole meaning of this poem maybe because the word they used were very hard analyze and i need a dictionary either for me to know whats the meaning of it and also because not an american thats why it's hard for me to know the real analyze it. but as far as i see it's a very nice poem. maybe someday i will know what was the poem want to say and i will realize why it was all about death.

P.S - 15 yrs.old from(philippines)

| Posted on 2007-11-07 | by a guest

.: Nope, sorry... :.

This message is for whoever wrote, "you spelled sepulcher wrong... you spelled it sepulchre just figured you should know." This is the spelling that the British use, and it is not wrong at all. In fact, it is the original way to spell it and is therefore probably the RIGHT way to spell it. Just thought YOU should know...


| Posted on 2007-10-17 | by a guest

.: Lecture & Review :.

As much as I hate these idiot bratty children who don't know who the real ones with a stick up their ass are...they can give their reviews. Still they shouldn't talk about their life...noone cares. A poem is a poem and not everything you learn in school will be used in real life...you should allready know that. A poem is art like music and other things. You may like it, you may not...but noone cares about you whinning idiots with sticks so far up their asses that they come out of their mouth so they take it out on a poem...written in paper...pathetic.
In a lighter note:
This poem is tight but it is basically those thoughts that you eventually think about one day...nothing new but I guess it is written in old school english so it sounds all fancy. But basically has that hippy or atheist thought of going back to nature after death.
P.S.I win. Always.

| Posted on 2007-10-16 | by a guest

.: Wheeler Smith :.

She sounds like a real beast. This is a good poem if you do not tell your students that noone will remember them when they die. The story is about becoming one with nature through death (natural that is). Maybe she should think about teaching you guys instead of tearing you down.

| Posted on 2007-10-03 | by a guest

.: Tao-ism :.

Curiously, the last stanza of this poem is one by father enticed me to memorize...by his example, some 36 years ago prior to his death.

As I reread it I share many of the same reactions as "My Interpretation" as well as this: The poet's references to Nature, union, decompostion to Earth, and Nature/Humanity Oneness is pararell to a basic understanding of the Tao and Taoism.

At least in my world.


| Posted on 2007-01-20 | by a guest

.: My Interpretation :.

A quick insight on what I view to be the semi-indepth meaning and overall meaning of this poem:
The name Bryant chose for this poem is rather fitting, being that "thanatopsis" is the contemplation of death. He begins by telling the reader that any who are in tune with Nature will be comforted (by Nature), and each way will be different from the last person. Later in the first stanza, our authro advises that if one is down and are fear-ridden, he should go out and enjoy Nature, who will cause him to realize happiness, because in the end, all will join Nature in its beauty through Death.

The second stanza speaks of the comfort one may hope for in death. It refers to death as a "couch" that is greater than any other, and it claims that one will not lie in death alone. The poem reminds the reader that through death all will be forever connected with the greatest men of all time around the world. It then describes how Nature is beautiful with "The hills/ Rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun..." etc. Then it portrays even the duller parts of the world (Old Ocean's gray and melancholy waste") as decoration of man's final resting place. The end of the second stanza ensures the reader that the dead alone reign supreme in Nature.


The third and fourth stanzas are much shorter, but carry the overall message:
The third stanza warns the reader that if he does not live a full and happy life, no one will notice whne he is gone. They will all live life as if nothing happened. But to avoid depicting death as a bad thing, Bryant then re-ensures his audience that even if one's death goes unnoticed, all who lived that did or did not notice the person's death, will soon join that person regardless, for all are joined in death.

The fourth stanza is intended to end the poem on a hopeful note, and its purpose is also to drive home the strongest point in the poem: If one lives life to its fullest, he may embrace death with comfort and pleasure. He may die peacefully.


This poem had three main points it wished to make, the final one being to most important:
1. Live life fully in order to die well and comfortably.
2. In death, all are joined with Nature and with each other for eternity.
3. This comfort and togetherness in death may only be obtained through death.


NOTE: This is strictly a PERSONAL interpretation.

| Posted on 2007-01-16 | by a guest

.: :.

I read this poem in my English Class today, and My teacher made us look up the word Thanatopsis, it means "meditation of death", a poem written because Bryant was thinking about death. As far as I know, there is a lesson learned in blank verse poems. In this particular poem the lesson is live your life to the fullest! Do everything that you want to do now, so when its time for you to die, you can go happy and peacefully. Also, if you keep thinking that you are going to die a sick, painful death..go outside to NATURE and look around, for it is beautiful!

| Posted on 2006-05-08 | by Approved Guest

.: Ooopppsss.... :.

You know its vague in my part about this poem (thanatopsis). When my professor storyt this poem I did not really give my full attention in it. I am a slow learner in literature.
This poem is really confusing and if you think and think you might be insane and your head might be broken yet you did not get the main poet of it.
As far as I know it talks about death. That death is somewhat a person might be happy for the next destination of her/his life. It's good for him that he already passed the thinga here on earth.

| Posted on 2006-01-16 | by Approved Guest

.: :.

According to my English teacher, the beginning of this poem reveals the whole meaning. It basically says that if you are in communion with Nature, then she will give you a message. This message will tell you how to live your life, and it will be unique to everyone else who is in communion with Nature. By receiving this message, you are somewhat connected to everyone in the world who has also received a message. If you live out this message, even if it is to be a poor man, then you will die and be buried in the Earth, at the roots of Nature, with everyone else who lived their message. Then, you will be equal to everyone else! Hope this helps!

| Posted on 2005-12-20 | by Approved Guest

.: Poetry Newbs :.

I find it interesting that the majority of these posts are simply a flame on a teacher that noone has ever heard about.

Thanatopsis is actually a rather good poem. The recurring theme of death seems to be quite constant throughout the genre of Romanticism. Bryant attempts to make death a comfortable feeling, referring to the word couch as something you can simply curl up and feel good in.

Nature is also important in this poem. As previously posted, it refers to a message being conveyed between nature and the individual. That message is clearly to live your life to the fullest, that you may lie with great men, though not at all in a gay way.

| Posted on 2005-12-15 | by Approved Guest

.: :.

The name Thanatopsis means "views of death" just so you guys know, and the literal meaning of the poem (at least what I put in my paper) was that Nature can heal the broken soul. There was also something about death, like that it isn't so bad. The symbolic meaning that I put was that death is the equalizer and when you die you become one with Nature. Just like all these Romantic poets believed. The only way to be close to God is to be in Nature and that society corrupts.


| Posted on 2005-12-14 | by Approved Guest

.: wow gay-er :.

Wheeler-Smith...Oh man, she hates asians, she forces her students to cook for her; i mean honestly, she is like jaba the hut or something.The school administration hates her and her students will more than gladly pay 10k to have her killed. Plus if you yawn in her class she will cut you right there on the spot and you can't even look at the clock without being yelled at. She has a dummy in her room that she likes...a lot, a little too much. I think she uses it as a sex doll and thats why the head is missing...its in her lapp during class sucking her chode. So wheneve someone has a question, she just picks on tha person so they won;t ask a question again so she can have some "quiet time" with the dummy. She likes having it suck her floppy donkey dick. Thanatopsis is jsut her way of punishing us because that stick is too far up her ass. EK PRIDE, representin biatch!

| Posted on 2005-11-30 | by Approved Guest

.: wheeler smith :.

I agree full heartedly, Wheeler Smith is the worst English teacher ever. She really does look like a witch. I mean, just cause she has a stick so far up her ass that it is coming out of her mouth, doen't mean she can take it all out on us. All she does is say how our work sucks and constantly takes her rage out on all of the guys in her class. She related this poem to us by saying that our great grand children will probably never remeber us. That sexist witch needs to go back to hell where she came from. Not safe for children! Thanks for bringing it up ekpride.

| Posted on 2005-11-30 | by Approved Guest