Final answer:
The theme of 'Thanatopsis' contemplates the natural cycle of life and death, emphasizing the peaceful, universal, and inevitable nature of mortality. It reflects the vanitas concept in art, which underscores life's ephemerality, and echoes historical funereal practices that collectively express human attitudes towards death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of 'Thanatopsis' revolves around the natural cycle of life and death and humanity's relationship with nature in this context. Drawing on the concept of vanitas, the poem contemplates mortality, suggesting that death is a natural and peaceful process that unites all living beings. As the text reflects on themes present in still life art and mortuary practices, it reminds readers of the transient nature of life and the enduring legacy of nature's beauty.
The vanitas theme prevalent in still life paintings serves as a stark reminder that despite life's transient pleasures, decay is inevitable, emphasizing moralistic messages about the brevity of life. Similarly, funereal customs depicted in various historical contexts, such as the Etruscan's celebratory funerals, showcase attitudes towards death and the afterlife that complement the poem's perspective on the universality of death.
Moreover, historical references to mortuary rites, such as the ekphora and prothesis seen in the Dipylon Krater, echo the central idea of 'Thanatopsis' by displaying public mourning and reverence for the deceased, further illustrating the collective human experience surrounding death.