Question

Assignment: Do Not Go Gentle

You will now work through Dylan Thomas’s “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” stanza by stanza, answering questions as you go.

First Stanza

1. What image in the words “burn and rave” suggest? Why should someone “burn and rave at close of day?”



2. The word rage can mean “anger,” but it can also mean “passion”—an outpouring of feeling. How might Thomas have been using both meanings in the poem?



Second Stanza

3. Though the wise men might “know” that it is time to die, the speaker says that they still fight death because “their words had forked no lightning.” What does this mean?



4. What images do you see in this stanza?



Third Stanza

5. These good people cry “how bright their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay.” What does this mean?



6. What imagery do you see in this stanza?



Fourth Stanza

7. How might these people have “sang the sun in flight” and then “grieved” it?



8. What imagery do you see in this stanza?



Fifth Stanza

9. What images do you see in stanza 5?



Sixth Stanza

10. Why do all these men not go gently into death?



11. What role do light and darkness play in the poem?

Answer 1

The poem 'Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night' by Dylan Thomas explores the idea of resisting death and fighting for life. Each stanza presents different images and conveys the speaker's message. The use of light and darkness represents life and death in the poem.

Step-by-step explanation:

FIRST STANZA-
1. The image of "burn and rave" suggests intense and passionate emotion. Someone should "burn and rave at close of day" because it signifies a refusal to accept the inevitable approach of death and a determination to fight against it.
2. In the poem, Thomas may be using the word "rage" to convey both anger and passion. The speaker is urging individuals to not only be angry at death but also to passionately resist its arrival.

SECOND STANZA-
3. The phrase "their words had forked no lightning" suggests that the wise men, despite their knowledge and enlightenment, have not made a significant impact on the world. They fight against death because they haven't achieved their full potential or made a lasting mark.
4. The images in this stanza include "dark is right," "good men," and "wild men." These images evoke contrasting ideas of darkness and light, and the dichotomy between those who accept death and those who fight against it.

THIRD STANZA-
5. The phrase "how bright their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay" means that these good people could have achieved greatness and made a positive impact on the world if they had lived longer. The green bay symbolizes a space of opportunity and vibrant life.
6. The imagery in this stanza includes "wise men," "good men," "wild men," and the concept of "the close of day." These images emphasize the different types of individuals and their varying reactions to the approach of death.

FOURTH STANZA-
7. The phrase "sang the sun in flight" suggests that these people appreciated and celebrated the beauty and brightness of life. However, they also experienced grief because they knew that the sun, representing life, would eventually set and darkness would prevail.
8. The imagery in this stanza includes the mentioned phrase "sang the sun in flight," as well as the concept of "close of day" and the potential to "grieve." These images evoke a sense of the transient nature of life.

FIFTH STANZA-
9. The images in this stanza include "good men," "wild men," and the concept of "close of day." These images reflect the continued refusal of these men to accept and surrender to death.

SIXTH STANZA -

10. These men do not go gently into death because they have unfinished business, unfulfilled dreams, and a desire to make their mark on the world before departing.
11. The poem incorporates light and darkness to represent life and death, respectively. Light symbolizes vitality, passion, and the opportunity for greatness, while darkness signifies the end and the inevitability of death.

Answer 2

1. 1. In the first stanza, burn and rave at the close of day suggests that they should fight it with vigor and intensity. The words “burn” and “rave” suggest an uncontrolled, irrational response to imminent death, the incoherent expenditure of useless energy directed at a hopeless goal.