Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night: Dylan Thomas

Oh, the memories of sophomore year World Lit III......


Vale, I think the repetition of "Do not go gentle into that good night" is used to solidify the true longing of the son's for his father to fight death. Throughout this poem, a play between light and dark (life and death) is also used. The darkness being to the son, death, but to the father, it is light, because he wants to move on. The son uses good night, as if it has an ending, it is not impending doom. Additionally, the son's use of "dying light" fits with the reference to night, because the light goes out, but returns. The son, throughout the poem, refers to different types of men, perhaps trying to appeal to one side or other of his father's personality. He tells how these men lived, but were foolish and let go too easily, which he does not want for his father. Basically, this poem is a plea, asking for one more chance of his father to survive. It truth, it seems the son is the one who is fighting in order to avoid letting go.

I remember I had to write 3 of these villanelles for Creative Writing last year...hey look, here they are (if you would like to read them!):

Tears (this is my personal favorite...the other two are....less relevant?)
The life which I will never know
Shall be forever in my heart
As tears like rain begin to flow.


New pains and sorrows they did sow
And dreams they do begin to start -
The life which I will never know.

The fallen leaves lay low -
The ground littered, a new art -
As tears like rain begin to flow.


And in the darkest hour, snow,
Upon the grass fall smart -
The life which I will never know.


White on the ground begins to grow,
And does start,
 As tears like rain begin to flow.


Can I ever know
The lessons of one so smart?
The life which I will never know?
As tears like rain begin to flow.





Waves
Like the waves upon the sea,
And an angel's cry
The world seems strange to me


A cry of all to be free
A silent, hopeful sigh-
Like waves upon the sea


Across the desert do we flee;
Through hope we fly/
The world seems strange to me.


Their acts unruly
As the crows in the sky,
Like the waves upon the sea.


Though love creates a tie
And may seem to be,
The world seems strange to me.

So from all that I can see
No matter how I try,
Like waves upon the sea,
the world seems strange to me.



The Snail
Time moves slowly as a snail,
With hardly any notions.
Never knowing where to sail.


Though the world may seem so frail,
It continues in motion;
Time moves slowly as a snail.

A deer may sit inside a dale
And recieve no mention,
Never knowing where to sail.

Life continues on a rail,
Creating a tension;
Time moves slowly as a snail.

And as one may flail
And be swallowed by emotion,
Never knowing where to sail.

Nothing in life will always fail;
We most always have devotion.
Time moves slowly as a snail,
Never knowing where to sail.




Tears (this is my personal favorite...the other two are....less relevant?)
The life which I will never know
Shall be forever in my heart
As tears like rain begin to flow.


New pains and sorrows they did sow
And dreams they do begin to start -
The life which I will never know.

The fallen leaves lay low -
The ground littered, a new art -
As tears like rain begin to flow.


And in the darkest hour, snow,
Upon the grass fall smart -
The life which I will never know.


White on the ground begins to grow,
And does start,
 As tears like rain begin to flow.


Can I ever know
The lessons of one so smart?
The life which I will never know?
As tears like rain begin to flow.