William Cullen Bryant (1794- 1878)

William Cullen Bryant (1794- 1878)

 

According to Poe, Bryant’s “poetic reputation, both at home and abroad, is greater than that of any other American.”

 

  • Initially a Puritan. (His graduation poem expressed religious views of orthodox Puritanism)
  • 1825: Left New England for New York. Discarded his
  1. Federalist convictions to become a Jeffersonian Democrat
  2. Literary neoclassicism to become a romantic

 

Romantic characteristics of Bryant’s poetry

  • Nature Poet:
  1. Uses the vast panorama/landscape to show the immensity of nature and the insignificance of man
  2. Uses the American natural scene to convey his philosophical views/ideas
  • Primitivism: advocates outdoor worship
  • Preference for themes of death, the past, and freedom
  • Emphasis on individual feeling and imagination
  • Poetry divorced from the hurly-burly of everyday existence
  • Uses free verse/rules that departed from neoclassicism

 

Poems

“Thanatopsis”

  • His most famous poem; written when he was 17
  • Word Thanatopsis means “a view of death.”

The question is “why a youth of 17 will write on such a subject—a view of Death.”

The best way to answer this question is to consider the ideas developed in the poem’s various parts.

Lines 1-8:  Opens with what Bryant calls nature’s “various language”:

  • Gladness
  • Beauty
  • Sympathy
  • Consolation

Lines 9-17:  The poet suggests what one should do when s/he is oppressed by thoughts of death.

Lines 17-57: Nature offers comfort to the person facing death.

Lines 58-72:  Dying unmourned is not important, according to the speaker of the poem

Lines 73-81:  What is important is becoming one with nature

 

In “Thanatopsis,” Bryant uses archaic words, such as thee, thou, list, and couldst.  These archaic words enhance the moral tone and the seriousness of the poem.

 

“To A Waterfowl”

Celebrates Divine Providence – God cares even for the affairs/life of a Waterfowl! (See stanza 4)

 

Concluding Thoughts and Questions

 

What “lesson” does the Waterfowl impress on the heart of the poem’s speaker/poet? (See last two stanzas)

 

Do you find the ideas expressed in “Thanatopsis” consoling or disturbing?  Explain your answer.

 

Place your order
(550 words)

Approximate price: $22

Calculate the price of your order

550 words
We'll send you the first draft for approval by September 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Total price:
$26
The price is based on these factors:
Academic level
Number of pages
Urgency
Basic features
  • Free title page and bibliography
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Plagiarism-free guarantee
  • Money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 support
On-demand options
  • Writer’s samples
  • Part-by-part delivery
  • Overnight delivery
  • Copies of used sources
  • Expert Proofreading
Paper format
  • 275 words per page
  • 12 pt Arial/Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • Any citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard)

Our guarantees

Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.

Money-back guarantee

You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.

Read more

Zero-plagiarism guarantee

Each paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.

Read more

Free-revision policy

Thanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.

Read more

Privacy policy

Your email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.

Read more

Fair-cooperation guarantee

By sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.

Read more

Order your essay today and save 30% with the discount code HAPPY