Close Reading Analysis Questions

Thanatopsis

The title, Thanatopsis, comes from two Greek words: thanatos (meaning ‘death’) and opsis (meaning ‘vision’ or ‘meditation on’).

How do the meanings of these two words contribute to your understanding of the poem?

Question 1

Define the following words in the context of the poem:ShroudPallNarrow houseSepulchre

Consider the connotation (emotional impact) of these words.

How do these words and their meanings impact the tone of the poem?

Question 2 & 3

There are several tonal shifts in the poem – places where the emotion or mood of the poem changes.

What is the tone of the first stanza of the poem?

When do you suppose the first shift of tone takes place?

How would you define the tone at the end of the poem?

Question 4, 5, & 6

Identify three distinct images in the poem.What do those images represent?

How do the images in the poem exemplify the characteristics of Romanticism?ImaginationNatureIndividualismEmotion

Question 7 & 8

Is Thanatopsis a poem about life or death? Explain your answer in a fully developed paragraph and use textual evidence to support your opinion.

Question 9