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Today, on November 22nd, 2009, the site contains 196 poets, 8,692 poems and 7,656 comments.
Analysis and comments on And Death Shall Have No Dominion by Dylan Thomas

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Comment 21 of 51, added on August 19th, 2005 at 1:08 AM.

My reading was that Dylan Thomas constructed the poem to challenge the view that death is the end, but not in the sense that there is an after-life. I believe Thomas was depicting the fact that life on earth continues through a clever use of binary oppositions (i.e. "Though lovers be lost love shall not" and "Though they go mad they shall be sane") I believe that Dylan Thomas was opposed to those who glorify or romanticise death and believed it to be somewhat controlled. Please reply if you understand, agree (or disagree). Yet, I see the poem as a portrayal of Thomas's belief that no power or authority can control death, only life itself...

Rachel from Australia
Comment 20 of 51, added on June 19th, 2005 at 8:39 PM.

"...And the internet said to men,
Kneel before me and I shall give
my kingdom!!!"
...We all fell

Rudy from Mexico
Comment 19 of 51, added on June 18th, 2005 at 8:19 AM.

I'm not much of a poetry critic I'm afraid but was nonetheless moved by its potency. It seems for all the world to me that it is describing a spirit of emotional intensity (between to people?) that cannot be extinguished even by something as enduring as death. In many ways it even seems to be mocking the ostensible finallity of the concept. That was my take on it anyway.

Terry from United Kingdom
Comment 18 of 51, added on June 15th, 2005 at 6:16 PM.

Thank you Sarah, for your insightful comments. I for one wish you would continue. I don't know much about Thomas, but I recognize power when I see it, and this poem is explosive. I seems to me a bit of a companion piece to "Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night", only far more complicated. In this poem, it seems to be Dylan himself that is doing the raging. I don't get all the references and I'd be fascinated if anyone could explain more of it for me.

Ian from Canada
Comment 17 of 51, added on June 8th, 2005 at 9:22 PM.

I just smoked a lot of drugs and read this sweet poem. And Death Shall Have No Dominion took away all the boundaries thank you Dylan Thomas and rock on. I salute you


munchie mcgee
Comment 16 of 51, added on May 23rd, 2005 at 12:35 PM.

This poem is not about the christian views of death.
This poem however is about life and death. If you understand the work of Dylan you will know instantly from general knowlege he is not a religious man.
He uses religous refrences to express certain viewpoints.
Dylan Thomas' father however was highly religious but Dylan was not.
This poem is closely related with The Force That Through The Green Fuse Drives The Flower. "Heads of the characters hammer through daises..." is a quote from death Shall Have No Dominion which basically explains itself why it is related.
The tone and sounding of this poem shows Thomas' Welsh background written in the way of a 'hwyl' which is the welsh term given to a poem written in this style.
I could explain further but I don't feel the need to.

Sarah from United Kingdom
Comment 15 of 51, added on May 23rd, 2005 at 7:13 AM.

I am completely in agreement with Lew. I don't think that at any point in the poem Thomas refers specifically to Christian death, only the idea of resurrection. As for the idea that those of other religions do not go to heaven, surely that is a particularly unchristian idea as christ taught us to love and respect those around us and surely if they have deserved to go to heaven, that is where they will end up. Anyway, back to the poem. I find this poem particularly interesting as it explores the idea that we are all part of something greater and shall one day rise and take our rightful places. I think the strong spell like rhythm adds to this, giving it a sense of continuance.

Alice from United Kingdom
Comment 14 of 51, added on May 7th, 2005 at 9:01 AM.

"death as a Christian is so much better than death of any other religion" how can you write such a silly thing Grant?! So jewishes and muslims won't go to heaven ?? what about those who don't believe in these stuffs ? we're all destined to hell for you ??Look at what your religion led us : a war in iraq in the name of god!!! Let's mind by ourselves (It means WITHOUT god) just a minute.
Beautiful poem.


lew. from France
Comment 13 of 51, added on April 28th, 2005 at 10:53 AM.

I think that this poem talks more about how death as a Christian is so much better than death of any other religion because if you are a true Christian and you accept Christ as your savior, you'll go to Heavan. This poem blows!

Grant from United States
Comment 12 of 51, added on April 4th, 2005 at 5:08 PM.

Have you noticed how descriptive the second stanza is when it comes to expressing torture, pain and torment as attributes of death? It's almost as if taken out from Bosch's paintings. And yet, as in two others there is the notion of perseverance. Of what? Some may say that of human spirit... some that it's a metaphorized idea of resurrection at the end of time. But then again, I love this poem for that powerful certainity that a part of us is beyond death. And it can consume our bodies but cannot rule us wholly. Even if it puts the sun out.


Tom from Poland

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Information about And Death Shall Have No Dominion

Poet: Dylan Thomas
Poem: And Death Shall Have No Dominion
Volume: 25 Poems
Year: 1936
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 65585 times


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