"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas - Activity Printable Unit 12/11/09 1:06 PM

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night

by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

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"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas - Activity Printable Unit 12/11/09 1:06 PM

Date ___________________
Name _____________________________ Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Key 1 - Answer ID # 1031884

Multiple Choice
1. Whose eyes could "blaze like meteors" even 2. What type of men does the speaker say know that
though they are near death? "dark is right"?
grave men grave men
wild men wild men
good men wise men
wise men good men
3. What should old age do according to the 4. Which of the following is not used to refer to
speaker? death in the poem?
blaze and burn good night
burn and rave dying of the light
bless and cry close of day
curse and blaze forked lightning
5. Whom is the speaker of the poem addressing? 6. What does the speaker want to hear?
his friend a prayer
his father a scream
his mother a sigh
his brother a curse
7. What kind of men have "caught and sang the sun 8. What kind of men cries because their deeds are
in flight"? frail?
wise men wild men
grave men wise men
wild men grave men
good men good men
Short Answer Questions
9. Explain why "good" men are reluctant to die.

Because their deeds are so small in contrast to the world and now went by and didn’t have an impact on the world

10. Explain why "wild" men grieve.

Because they realize too late that they missed their opportunity

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"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas - Activity Printable Unit 12/11/09 1:06 PM

Date ___________________
Name _____________________________ Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Key 1 - Answer ID # 1031884

11. Explain what "wise" men realize before they die.

They know that they will have to die.

12. Explain what "grave" men realize before they die.

They realize that they have to live their last moments with joy.

13. Describe the speaker's attitude towards death in the poem. Cite details from the poem in your
description.
The speaker knows that death is inevitable and therefore tries to live his last moments with joy and delay death. Like he said it “ do not go gentle
into that good night”

Poetic Techniques Short Answer Questions

14. Find an example of exact rhyme in the poem.

Light and night

15. Find an example of a word that is a pun, and explain how it is used.

Text

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"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas - Activity Printable Unit 12/11/09 1:06 PM

Date ___________________
Name _____________________________ Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Key 1 - Answer ID # 1031884

16. Do the lines "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "Rage, rage against the dying of the light"
suggest different moods? Explain your answer.
The first one is said rather calmly while the other is said rather aggressively.

17. What is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?

ABA and ABAA

18. What effect is created by the repetition of the lines "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "Rage,
rage against the dying of the light"?
That their relevant and important

19. Find an example of end rhyme in the poem.

Light and night

20. Find an example of an oxymoron in the poem, and explain the oxymoron.
Blinding sight. A sight that is so bright that it blinds you.

21. Find an example of a simile in the poem. Explain the comparison that is being made.
“Blind eyes blaze like meteors” means that they shine very bright.

22. Find an example of personification in the poem.

“Their frail deeds might have danced in a Green Bay”

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"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas - Activity Printable Unit 12/11/09 1:06 PM

Date ___________________
Name _____________________________ Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Key 1 - Answer ID # 1031884

23. Find an example of enjambment in the poem.

Because their words had forked no lightning they do not go gentle into that good night.

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