The poem is written as a villanelle, an old French style of poetry. ... Thomas uses a metaphor to describe their works, saying that "their words forked no lightning", (5) meaning that their words, their lives" work, will not be a landmark in time. ... Thomas uses personification to describe their deeds, saying they "might have danced in a green bay". (8) By personifying "deeds", the men and their works are seen as a whole, not as two separate parts. ...

• Word Count: 791
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In this poem he is saying if you die for your country you will be a true patriot. ... The first stanza of Futility describes someone of authority (maybe a General) ordering his men to move the dead soldier into the sun, he believes the sun has woken him once before so it can do it again, "Move him into the sun, Gently its touch awoke him once," but the sun is not shining today; it is snowing as the poem tells you its location, "Always it awoke him, even in France, Until this morning and this is snow," The general starts begging the sun to start shining on this poor soldier to...

• Word Count: 983
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Thomas therefore seems to be saying that the wise men were not wise enough, that their words created no ultimate linguistic reality but vague speculation of death as a good thing. ... The term originated in Italy (Italian villanella from villano: "peasant"); and later used in France to designate a short poem of popular character favored by poets in the late 16th century. ...

• Word Count: 811
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The maid says "All day I think of her " concluding with saying "her rope ". ... "Picture her dancing with tall men, puzzled by my faint, persistent scent beneath her french perfume, her milky stones " (10-12). ... The author also appeals to the scent of smell when the maid says "puzzled by my faint, persistent scent beneath her french perfume, her milky stones " (11-12). ...

• Word Count: 1696
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The book was written in French but was first published (1786) in English translation. ... So skillful was his work that Johnson is perhaps better remembered today for his sayings in the biography than for his own works. ...

• Word Count: 1249
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School