1a. What terms are used to describe death in stanza 1? What does the speaker urge the dying person to do?
2a. What do wise men know when they are close to death?
3a. Where, according to stanza 6, is the speaker's father?
4a. Identify the reactions of different types of men as they approach death.
5a. The speaker asks his father to curse or bless him. Evaluate the speaker's reasons for wanting such a reaction.
1b. What attitude does the speaker believe that people should adopt when near death?
2b. How is the knowledge of wise men related to the speaker's reference to death as "that good night"?
3b. What might this phrase refer to?
4b. Summarize the reaction to death that the speaker describes.
5b. What would you say to someone you knew who was close to death?
Pun. What pun appears in line 13 of this poem? What two meanings does this pun play upon?
Symbol. What do night and light symbolize in stanza 1?
Villanelle and Rhyme Scheme. What two lines are repeated throughout this poem? Does the poem meet the requirements of the villanelle's form? What is the poem's rhyme scheme?
1. Write a sympathy card to the speaker about the loss of his father.
2. Write an epitaph for Dylan Thomas. An epitaph is an inscription or verse written to be used on a tomb or written in commemoration of someone who has died. You will need to review About the Author on page 941.
3. In this poem, Thomas tells his father how to approach death. Write a personal statement about how you think people should approach life.
Imperative Sentences. Rewrite each of the sentences below as an imperative sentence.
1. You should not go gentle into that good night.
2. When death draws near, people should rage against it.
3. You should show respect for people who have died.
4. Father, I want you to live.
5. Shall we say goodbye?
