1. “Thanatopsis” Thantos (Greek)= Death Opsis (Greek)= Seeing
Thanatopsis= Looking at death-a way of viewing it

2. Romanticism + Thanatopsis
Draws moral lessons from nature (Popular at the time)
Bryant—speaking of Nature
Reverence for Nature is an element of Romanticism
*Reverence – profound respect for love/nature

3. Lines 1-8 Who is “she”….”she speaks a various language;”
Who is speaking?
Identify tone shift in last line
What type of figurative language is being used??

4. Understanding Lines 1-8
Who is “she”….”she speaks a various language;” “She” = NATURE
Who is speaking? Narrator/Speaker
Tone shift: “Their sharpness, ever he is aware. When thoughts…. (to somber)
What type of figurative language is being used?? Personification….Nature is speaking in various ways to those who love her

5. Lines 8-17; Last bitter hour?
“thoughts”?????
Blight = ??
What do the images in lines refer to?
What is the tone?
What does the speaker suggest we do when we have these thoughts?

6. Last bitter hour= Final hour of life
“thoughts”?????
Blight = ?? Impair, destroy
What do the images in lines refer to? Death is a sickening thought
What is the tone? Sad and somber
What does the speaker suggest we do when we have these thoughts? Go outdoors and listen to Nature’s teachings

7. Lines 17-26l Change in narration (Who is speaking?)
Line 18 “all beholding sun shall see no more” What type of figurative language is being used?
What event is being discussed?
What is nature telling us?

8. Lines 17-26 Change in narration (Who is speaking?) NATURE
Line 18 “all beholding sun shall see no more” What type of figurative language is being used? Personification
What event is being discussed? When a person is buried in the ground
What is nature telling us? In death, the earth reclaims you—mix with the elements

9. Lines 26-30 What is being said in the following lines?
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.

10. Lines 26-30 Interpretation
You will be dead and buried. Trees will grow around you, piercing you with roots. (circle of life)
This is unpleasant because there is no mention of Heaven… …..dying without a ceremony

11. Lines 31-37 What does lines 31-32 suggest? Tone shift?
What response does Nature have to those who fear the solitude or the indignity of death?

12. Lines 31-37 Interpretation
What does lines suggest?
We are not alone in death
Tone shift? OPTIMISTIC
What response does Nature have to those who fear the solitude or the indignity of death? Nature insists that death puts one in the company of the greatest, wisest, and most powerful humans who have ever lived.

13. Lines 37-45 These lines are describing NATURE
What are the tombs (Line 45)?

14. Lines 37-45 These lines are describing NATURE
What are the tombs (Line 45)?
Hills, woods, rivers, brooks, meadows, ocean….

15. Interpret the following:
Line 48:
“….All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom.”
What does this mean?
Where are the dead?

16. Interpret the following:
Line 48:
“….All that tread
The globe are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom.”
What does this mean? All of the people who are living are nothing in comparison to those who are dead—more people dead than living
Where are the dead? EVERYWHERE!

17. Lines 58-66 In Lines 58-60, what fear is Nature speaking about?
How does Nature comfort the reader?
What does this mean?

18. Lines 58-66 In Lines 58-60, what fear is Nature speaking about?
Fear of dying alone and being forgotten
How does Nature comfort the reader?
Everyone will suffer a similar fate
What does this mean?
Everyone will go about their lives, but will eventually share the same fate

19. Lines 66-72…Nature is still speaking
What do they all have in common??

20. Lines 66-72…Nature is still speaking
What do they all have in common??
The young, the middle aged, the old, will die…Death is an equal opportunity employer.

21. Narration Shift back to speaker
Lines 73-80
What is the final though from the speaker?
Comparing dying to….?

22. Narration Shift back to speaker
Lines 73-80
What is the final though from the speaker?
Death is peaceful; When it is your turn don’t be afraid….become one with it.
Comparing dying to….? SLEEP

23. Lessons Earth nourished us and will reclaim us
Do not go alone—reunited with all that go before us
Endless cycle (birth—growth—re-birth)
Death is a natural part of life (theme)