That the Sum Sanity by Dylan Thomas
The narrative revolves around a protagonist's struggle with mental health and existential crises, set against the backdrop of societal expectations and the constraints of traditional relationships. The story explores themes of identity, morality, and the human condition through a non-linear and introspective narrative structure.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1947 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Symbolism · 150 words
First lines
That the sum sanity might add to nought And matrons ring the harebells on their lips, Girls woo the weather through the Sabbath night And rock twin floods upon their starry laps,
I would enforce the black apparelled flocks, And raise a hallelujah to the Lamb, Trace on my breast a covert crucifix; I would be woven at the Sabbath loom.
I would be woven a religious shape;
That earth might reel upon its block of reason I would resound the heavens with my homage, I would make genuflexion with the sheep That men might holla, when the dawn has risen, At day burnt bright by one fanatic image.
What this Textopian page supports
That the Sum Sanity is listed on Textopian as a poem by Dylan Thomas, dated 1947 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Dylan Thomas
- Date: 1947 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Symbolism, Modernist
- Length: 150 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, and employs poetic devices such as imagery and metaphor.
- Religious — The themes and imagery are heavily influenced by religious motifs, including references to crucifixes, hallelujahs, and the Lamb.
- Symbolism — The text uses symbolic language to convey deeper meanings, such as the 'black apparelled flocks' and 'covert crucifix'.
- Modernist — The work reflects modernist tendencies through its abstract language and exploration of existential themes.
Tags
Poetry · Philosophy · Existentialism · Psychology · Humanity · Sanity · Insanity · Mental Health · Madness · Reality · Illusion · Perception