Part one of term paper
In Thomas’ "," he depicts the inevitability of death through repetition and diction. Furthermore, he portrays the stages of man’s life in his comparison to "good men, "wild men," and grave men." Finally, Thomas’ medium of poetic expression presents itself in the villanelle. The villanelle’s persona ...

Part two of term paper
... living. Furthermore, the repetitious last lines serve to strengthen the speaker’s thoughts. In the first, third, and fifth stanzas, the last lines match each other; in the second and fourth stanzas, the final lines match. The final stanza combines the last lines from the odd and even-numbered stanzas for an additional line. This portrays the ongoing war between life and death. The old man went back and forth between life and death as the stanzas’ last lines switched back and forth. In t ...