Spoon River The Village Atheist

Poetry Analysis - - The Village Atheist "The world and it's desires pass away; but, the man who does the will of God will live Forever." — 1 John 2:17 Using literary and poetic devises to stress the importance of hope, intuition, and desire over worldly objects, The Village Atheist warns that one must strive mightily toward immortality by taking a chance on something unseen and intangible. Edgar Lee Masters, author of Spoon River Anthology uses free verse, …

…not believing in God. In fact, I didn't until last year, when I began to "read the poetry of Jesus." It was then that I learned the lesson that Masters teaches in this poem. A person must take a chance on something intangible, and commit wholeheartedly do it, there is no other way to immortality. Only "to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, [will He] give eternal life" (Romans 2:7)