Do not go Gentle into that Good Night - Dylan Thomas

Who is the speaker?

A son speaking to his dying father, telling him to stay strong and not give in

What is the form?

Villanelle/regular rhyme (gives sense of strength/perseverance)

'Do not go gentle into that good night'

REPETITION, IMPERATIVE

- Adds sense of authority

- Desperation

METAPHOR, EUPHEMSM

- For death makes it appear less harsh

'burn and rave'

- Urging to fight/stay strong

- 'burn' suggests they are simultaneously disappearing/causing damage

'dark is right'

- New sense of acceptance

- Points towards inevitability of death

- Contrasts previous fear of death

'words had forked no lightning'

- Reflects people's desire to keep living/have an impact

'frail deeds'

- Suggests they are forgotten after death

- All they have done becomes meaningless

- 'frail' connotes weakness

'caught and sang the sun in flight'

METAPHOR

- Living life to the fullest

- Connotes ambition/freedom

'who see with blinding sight'

OXYMORON

- Sees meaning of death/life when nearing it

'could blaze like meteors'

CONDITIONAL, SIMILE

- Endless possibility if opportunity taken

- Link to fire imagery

'curse, bless me now with your fierce tears'

JUXTAPOSITION

- Between 'curse' and 'bless' shows strong desire for speaker to receive emotion from dying father

- Encourages strength in sadness/grief/death

'Rage, rage'

REPETITION

- Relentless/not giving up

- Emphasises anger