Lines Written by a Death-Bed
The poem reflects on the themes of life, death, and the nature of peace. It begins with a contemplation of a woman who has passed away, her struggles with fear and shame now at an end. The speaker observes her serene beauty in death, suggesting that her calmness is a form of healing, contrasting with the turmoil she experienced in life. Despite the tranquility that death brings, the speaker questions whether this peace is truly the ultimate goal of life. The poem explores the idea that while death offers a release from suffering, it also raises questions about the fulfillment of life’s desires and aspirations. The speaker contrasts the stillness of death with the vibrancy and hope of youth, suggesting that the joys and dreams of the living are rooted in the experiences of life, not in the stillness of the grave. The poem emphasizes that youth seeks a bliss that is alive and vibrant, not one that is associated with death. It suggests that the essence of life is found in its struggles and aspirations, rather than in the calm that follows death. The speaker ultimately concludes that while calmness may be a form of peace, it is not the ultimate desire of youth, which yearns for life, vitality, and the promise of future experiences.
By Matthew Arnold · First published 1852 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Romanticism · 418 words
First lines
Yes, now the longing is o'erpast, Which, dogg'd by fear and fought by shame, Shook her weak bosom day and night, Consum'd her beauty like a flame, And dimm'd it like the desert blast.
And though the curtains hide her face, Yet were it lifted to the light The sweet expression of her brow Would charm the gazer, till his thought Eras'd the ravages of time, Fill'd up the hollow cheek, and brought A freshness back as of her prime --
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Lines Written by a Death-Bed is listed on Textopian as a poem by Matthew Arnold, dated 1852 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Matthew Arnold
- Date: 1852 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Reflective Poetry
- Length: 418 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Similar titles
- Whats This Of Death by Edna St Vincent Millay
- A Poets Epitaph by William Wordsworth
- When You Are Dead by Edna St Vincent Millay
- For Once Then Something by Robert Frost
- Heart We Will Forget Him by Emily Dickinson
- Death In Life by Madison Cawein
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections on life, death, and the nature of youth, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Philosophical Poetry — The themes explore existential questions about life, death, and the human condition, aligning with philosophical poetry.
- Romanticism — The focus on individual emotion and the beauty of nature reflects the ideals of the Romantic movement.
- Elegy — The poem contemplates mortality and the passage of time, fitting the elegiac tradition.
Tags
Poetry · Death · Mortality · Reflection · Philosophy · Existentialism · Literary Criticism · Symbolism · Imagery · Metaphor · Irony · Tone