“Thanatopsis” by William Cullen BryantElements of Literature pp. 220-222

Context of the Work “Thanatopsis” is a term coined by Bryant himself by merging the Greek thanatos (“death”) and

opsis (“sight”). Offers perspective on deathLiterary Focus Inversion is the rearrangement of words in a sentence; a departure from normal syntax (word order). A work’s theme is the central insight into human experience that a writer reveals in a work. Blank verse is poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.

Study Questions1. In lines 2-8, what does Nature do for those who communicate with her?2. In lines 8-17, what does the speaker encourage the listener to do when troubled by thoughts of death?3. According to lines 17-30, what will happen to the listener after death? What relationship with nature is expressed in these lines?4. In lines 31-37, what comfort does the speaker offer?5. According to lines 40-45, what decorates the “tomb of man”?6. In lines 50-57, what examples does the speaker use to explain that the dead are everywhere?

7. What does the phrase “favorite phantom” in line 64 imply about earthly pursuits?8. What comfort is offered in lines 58-72?9. What advice does the speaker give in lines 73-81?10. Identify two examples of inversion. 11. What are the poem’s central themes?12. What does this poem imply about the afterlife?