Explanation of the poetry in “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” Dylan Thomas encourages the reader to fight death when it comes, stating that men should “rage against the dying of light” (line 9). He first speaks generally, referring to several different types of men and how they deal with approaching death. Collectively, Thomas asserts that men as a whole do not welcome death with open arms; on the contrary, they “rage” against it. This poem addresses the theme of “dying light” primarily in lines 1-3: “Go not soft into that good night, / Old age should burn and rave at the end of the day; / Rage, rage against the death of light” (Lines 1-3). Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original Essay In “To an Athlete Dying Young,” AE Housman writes about a young athlete who died before his time. He begins by reflecting on a time when the athlete won races and the city carried him home on its shoulders. He then returns to the present; the city is burying the athlete. Housman goes on to say that it is best for the athlete to die young, so that he does not see his records broken or his glory lost. The theme of "dying light" mainly prevails in the fourth stanza: Eyes the dark night closed We cannot see the cut disc, And the silence sounds no worse than cheers After the earth has blocked the ears ; (“To an Athlete Dying Young,” 13-16) Housman says that the eyes that death has closed cannot see the broken records; this reiterates the idea that the athlete's death benefited him in some way. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay While “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” and “For an Athlete Dying Young” both revolve around the theme of the dying light, Thomas develops the theme better. Thomas spends his entire poem exhorting the reader to rage against death, and he gives examples of every type of man who does so. Housman focuses more on how the athlete's death has a glimmer of hope, rather than the death of light specifically..