Death, be not proud

"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;"

Question 2

Why should death not be proud? List the speaker's major reasons.

The speaker is talking to death and telling death that it is not powerful. Death cannot control his life or be a  constant fear in his life. Death does not last because there is more to life after death. There is a Heaven or some sort of afterlife that conquers death. Death is not mighty and powerful but weak. Fate is in control, not death. The speaker tells death to stop "flexing" because it cannot determine death when fate is in the picture. There is no need to be afraid of death when death is like sleep. Sleep is pleasurable. When there is a life after death, death cannot be the end of everything. The speaker is not afraid.

Delight in Disorder

"A sweet disorder in the dress, kindles in clothes a wantonness."

Question 3

Consider the relationship of form to structure in this poem. How does this contribute to the meaning?


Instead of a neat world, the speaker prefers things to be in chaos and imperfect. In this way, the world in which the speaker is a part of is unique. The speaker strives to be different in a world that looks upon disorder in a negative way. Imperfections make life more interesting. In this way, the author has created an non-rhyming, different length sonnet which further adds to the disorder and imperfections that are purposely being stressed. In the larger sense, I think the speaker wants the reader to understand that one should embrace the disorder in life. Not everything has to be perfect and precise. The structure of the poem exemplifies this point very well.

Edward

"O I have killed my father dear, Mother, Mother."

Question 4
Does the repetition of each question and answer simply waste words or does it add to the suspense and emotional intensity?


Question 4 asks about the repitition and how the poem would be affected if the lines were not repeated. If you were to take out these lines, the poem would lose some of the creepy tone that comes from the repetition. Not only that, but the questioning on both sides would be lost. By repeating the questions, Edward's mother forces her son to admit the truth of his actions and make him feel guilt. In the end, it is the guilt that Edward feels that makes him curse his mother and tell her she is condemned to hell. Did his mother know all along? Did she tell Edward to kill his father? Regardless, he is troubled when it comes to admitting his wrongdoings and he seems to be upset.

That Time of Year

"As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away,"

Question #1


What are the three major images introduced by the three quatrains? What do they have in common?


The three major images introduced by the quatrains are those of death. The first image deals with fall turning into winter. Next, twilight is turning into night. Lastly, the fire turns to ashes. All of these images deal with something ending or dying. Fall fades to winter, twilight turns into darkness of the night and when the fire is put out it becomes ashes. Comparatively, these quatrains are all personifying death. The diction of the poem makes it seems as if the speaker is getting old and is nearing death. Due to the age of the speaker, his lover is spending all of her time with him because she knows that he will be gone soon. The poem signifies loss. Loss of seasons, nature, and love.