To An Athlete Dying Young - Four Levels | A.E. Housman | Mero Solution

To An Athlete Dying Young Four Levels 

A. E. Housman

 

Four Levels of To An Athlete Dying Young

                             - A. E. Housman (1859-1936)

1.LITERAL COMPREHENSION :
A.E. Housman's poem 'To an Athlete Dying Young' exposes the universal fact that human life is transitory and the name and fame we earn in this physical world is more short lived than the life itself. Although the theme of the poem is death, it doesn't mourn on death. Rather it celebrates early or untimely death.

The speaker is addressing his close friend who died in his young age. He had won the race in his town and was taken around the market keeping him on shoulder. But at the moment, he is being taken to the cemetery through the same road. People were cheering him up before but now the crowd is quiet. He has got an early death and gone away from this temporary world where glory fades away soon. The fame of the human being is compared with the laurel flower which grows quicker and withers in the same pace.

He has been praised for his early death because he will never know that fame is short-lived. He will not have to feel the pain of losing the fame he had gained. It is good that he passed away before the echoes of his praise lower. It is his luck not to be among those who live longer than their achievements and are destined to see their record being broken. In fact he is lucky to take his victory to the grave. Everyone will remember him as a hero because he has died amidst his success and achievement.

2. INTERPRETATION :
This poem might be telling us that one's name and fame is shorter than his life.Therefore ones should try to be popular instead of being viral. It is a beautiful poem with the poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, alliteration, allusion, personification etc have truly enriched this philosophical poem.

3.CRITICAL THINKING :
The poem is very interesting to read but i have some question regarding the poem .          1)How could the speaker celebrate to his friend's death?
2) Is name and fame more important than one's life ?

4.ASSIMILATION :
After reading this poem I remembered my singer friend's death who passed away at the age of 16.He was very popular in mass . He was a very good singer.He had died in an accident.But his songs are still popular in YouTube.
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