Poetry: Introduction
When people die, loved ones are left to grieve in their absence. People deal with death in a variety of different ways, and often there are many stages involved in the grieving process, ranging from denial to acceptance.
Somewhere in the grieving process, people often come to terms with where their loved ones have gone. Humans have a variety of answers to explain where people go when they die, and religions offer several explanations. When you studied the speeches earlier in the unit, you probably recognized how certain speakers have come to terms with the destination of the deceased. For example, Mr. Jobs mentions heaven in his commencement address when he talks about death, and Margaret Thatcher makes several references to the “Big Fellow Upstairs” and refers to people as “God’s children.” These details can give audience members impressions or hints about how people view the afterlife.
As a conclusion to the unit on life and death, you will be reading and experiencing several selections of poetry. As you explore, pay special attention to the details that involve perceptions of the afterlife. How does each poet imply or hint at a message about death and the afterlife?