Thanatopsis

The poem, “Thanatopsis,” written by William Cullen Bryant, is a wonderful literary work which explores the often controversial questions of death. Within his well written lines Bryant attempts to show the relationship between death’s eternal questions and the ongoing cycle of nature and life. Upon concluding the poem many readers are able to reaffirm their faith of an afterlife, while others are left aimlessly pondering this strange possibility. Throughout the poem Bryant creates images …

…countless hours pondering a question that shall never be answered in this lifetime. In addition, I realize death, along with being the end of the earthly life, is an end to all earthly traits. The afterlife begins following death, and cannot contain earthly characteristics. Therefore, it is illogical for me to attempt the comprehension of an afterlife. Even if it exists it is still impossible for me, as a living person, to understand or fathom.