Question

This is the poem....

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on that sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


First Stanza:
What image in the words "burn and rave" suggest? Why should someone "burn and rave at the close of day"?

Answer 1

The given poem above is entitled “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas. In general, this poem wants to convey that it is not great for an interesting man to just die quietly due to old age, but rather, the writer wants the reader to realize that death should be fought and not just being helpless towards death. 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. Hope this answer helps.