31 pages 1 hour read

Dylan Thomas

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1951

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Writing Prompts

1. In the poem, Thomas addresses four types of men: “wise men,” “Good men,” “Wild men,” and “Grave men.” Explain how the poet himself might be an example of each. Which type most closely resembles Thomas, and why?

2. Dylan Thomas was influenced by modernism, yet most critics agree that his work resembles that of the 19th-century Romantic poets. How is his “Do not go gentle” poem Romantic, and how is it modern? Cite portions of the poem that support your ideas.  

3. Thomas fostered a reputation as a doomed poet. How might this attitude have affected his poetry? How might it have affected his relationships and personal habits? Is it possible that this reputation could somehow have contributed to his early death? Finally, was the poem “Do not go gentle” a sign that Thomas already was thinking that his own death might be imminent, and if so, how?