Life and Death in Literature

Document Type:Essay

Subject Area:Literature

Document 1

Specific stories, poem, and play such as; “The Grave” by Katherine Anne Porter, “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell, “Happy Endings” by Margaret Atwood, “Dark Humor” in Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Path, and “Hands” by Sherwood Anderson, have in one way or another focused on the theme of life and death. Although stories, poems, and plays are narrated differently and purposing on communicating different messages, common themes make them associate and link with each other. Different artworks use different literary devises and themes to enhance communication of the message to the readers or the audience. Life and death is a theme that entails the manner through which the characters in the play, poem, or story spend their life and have different experiences. It also looks at the death issues affecting the lives of the characters.

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Indeed, the comfort of thoughts as per the story make people have the feeling of enjoying a happy ending, which is like irony from the narrator. Life and death is also a theme in the “Dark Humor in Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath, whereby the poem covers a woman’s life full of discouragements. Plath recognizes that when the end of life comes, the struggling between self and other people, and hardships between birth and death, control every aspect of life. The poet says that “death is positive. ” She even longs to die because of living a life that is characterized by mental disturbances. “Hands. ” Winesburg, Ohio. New York: Penguin, 1976. Plath, Sylvia. “Collected Poems”. Frank Shay, 1916. Porter, Katherine Anne. “The Grave.

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