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What theme is addressed in these lines, "Our instruments (turn) to melancholy bells, Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast, Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corpse."?

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Final answer:

The lines in question address the theme of the transformation from joy to sorrow and the impermanence of happiness, as seen in various literary works where the celebration of life turns into mourning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The theme addressed in the lines "Our instruments (turn) to melancholy bells, Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast, Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corpse," relates to the transformation from joy to sorrow and the impermanence of happiness. This thematic notion can be found in literature where the celebration of life sharply turns into mourning due to unexpected death or tragedy, symbolizing the fleeting nature of joy and the inevitability of sorrow in human experience.

Several pieces of literature use similar themes, exemplifying how joy can be overshadowed by grief and loss. In Emily Dickinson's poetry, for instance, even though death and isolation are common motifs, the use of certain elements prevents her works from becoming too melancholic. Similarly, the lines from an unnamed poem depict the use of music and festivities being converted into laments for the deceased, reinforcing the thin line between happiness and despair.

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