Question

Which lines in this excerpt from William Cullen Bryant's "Thanatopsis" best indicate the theme of the poem?

A. So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan
B. To that mysterious realm, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
C. Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon,
D. sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,
E. lies down to pleasant dreams.

Answer 1

Option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Thanatopsis" is the poem written by William Cullen Byrant. The word "Thanatopsis" is the combination of two words, 'thanatos' meaning death; and 'opsis' meaning view or sight.

The poem is about the 'sight/view of death'. But poem is a bit optimistic in its view of death.

The theme of the poem is "to overcome the fear of death".

Lines 77-78 of the poem indicate this theme, which are mentioned in option C.

In these lines, the poet is asking his readers not to take death or approach death as a slave, but rather trust that whatever is happening to us is for our good. We should not act as if someone is 'scourging' or 'whipping' us into a prison (dungeon). And in these lines we get the glimpse of the theme of the poem of overcoming the fear of death.

Answer 2

The correct answer is letter B: "to that mysterious realm, where each shall take, His chamber in the silent halls of death" .

Thanaptopsis which translates "view of death" from Greek, is a poem which has as main theme the description of natural and metaphysical considerations of human death.

Throughout the poem, the writer describes the afterworld by giving voice to nature, where all life starts and ends, e.g. "Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim , thy growth, to be resolved to earth again"; and regarding the sun, moon, the planets and the great hosts of heaven as "solemn decorations all of the great tomb of man", among others.