"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas: Analysis

Dylan Thomas' sad villanelle about his father's passing is also considered one of the greatest works of its kind. In this video, I break down some of the elements that make this poem work so well.
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[@ft6755]

I had a go at writing a Villanelle recently and it took me ages, definitely not an easy form!

[@englishnerd5580]

That’s one I haven’t tried! Makes me respect the poem more :)

[@baraujoff]

I loved this poem. It feels like I just swallowed poison, though! Thank you for the video. I am learning English and sometimes it is very hard for me to understand the meaning of a poem but with your help i can fill the blank spots. Also, this author can use the language to express his thoughts and feelings so well that it inspires to keep learning more and more. You as well. You explain so well. Thank you for the help!

[@englishnerd5580]

Glad I could help!

[@Dislike_you]

You are amazing

[@jethroburns]

Great. Thanks so much for that. My Welsh form teacher at school spotted 14-year-old me producing verse during a lesson and said it reminded him of Dylan Thomas (in fact, I was trying to imitate Bob Dylan) and procured me a copy of the bard's book from the library. I was taken with it immediately. I especially loved Do Not Go Gentle. My best friend in later years, an Irishman, often used to quote "If I were tickled by the rub of love (which he was, often). And finally, my son is named Dylan, a name that has stood him in good stead in Flanders where we know all live.

[@markscovello]

Bob Dylan chose his name from the poet, so I wouldn't be surprised by similarities.

[@englishnerd5580]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@zoobee]

an incredible poem. My English teacher was from Wales and became emotional reading it. There is a video of Sir Anthony Hopkins visiting his father's grave in Wales recently, reciting the poem, and he cannot finish it. He becomes too emotional. The poem is primal, in the sense of a great force inside us, pleading with our father not to surrender to death. I am overwhelmed reading it. The other poem of his I am obsessed with - "The force that through the green fuse drives the flower. Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees".....an extraordinary poet

[@englishnerd5580]

Thanks for telling me about that. I can absolutely picture the scene.

[@markscovello]

Isn't it strange that his father does not fit into one of the categories he already identified? This seems to be highlighting the suggestion by the nineteenth century modernists ; that the singular experience of life is more important than the universal experience. We may all be Odysseus with our Lestrygonians and Cyclopes, but the experience of life as Mrs. Smith is the one that is of most value. Nice reading. I like Fern Hill more but I go over this one from time to time as the Good night draws nearer.

[@englishnerd5580]

That’s interesting. Yeah, his father is isolated in the poem itself, which is a totally modernist thing. Good eye!

[@7evenunicorns]

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears. I read this as Curse OR bless me now. Anything, but don't ignore me.