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Dylan Thomas (1914-1953). by Campolmi. Early life. Born in Wales. Father was an English teacher. Could recite Shakespeare before he could read and write. Sickly as a kid. Loved to read but didn’t like school. Dropped out at 16 and got a job as a reporter.
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Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) by Campolmi
Early life • Born in Wales. • Father was an English teacher. • Could recite Shakespeare before he could read and write. • Sickly as a kid. • Loved to read but didn’t like school. • Dropped out at 16 and got a job as a reporter. • Didn’t like that and started writing poetry full time!
Life as a poet • Moved to London and met with early success. • Won the Poet’s Corner Book Prize. • Had less in common with modern poets. • Wrote more poetry in the Romanticism style. • Developed a severe drinking problem during this time.
WWII and America? • Was not qualified (due to being a drunk) for military duty. • Left London to avoid getting killed. • Toured America in 1950 and became very popular, completing four tours all together. • He died while on tour after a heavy night of drinking. • Inspired many American poets, particular the Beat poets of the 1950s. Folk singer Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman) took his stage name from Thomas.
“Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night,Old age should burn and rave at close of day;Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Though wise men at their end know dark is right,Because their words had forked no lightning theyDo not go gentle into that good night.Good men, the last wave by, crying how brightTheir frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light.Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,Do not go gentle into that good night.Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sightBlind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.And you, my father, there on the sad height,Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.Do not go gentle into that good night.Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Theme (SEE statement) • Dylan Thomas uses repetition and similes to encourage people to live life to its fullest. • “Rage, rage against the dying of the light,” Thomas repeats in the poem. • This shows that he doesn’t want people to ease into death but fight against it. • “Blind eyes could blaze like meteors.” • The use of this simile tells Thomas’ audience to “open their eyes” and see the wonder of the world around them.
Works Cited “Dylan Thomas.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. 18 November 2013. Hall, Chris. “Dylan Thomas’ grave.” Flickr.com. 18 November 2013.