The strict form of the villanelle emphasizes the melancholy the speaker feels for his father's condition, and also emphasizes the father's stubbornness to want to lay down and die. ... Not only are they a son's plea to his dying father, but they embody the theme of the poem as well. ... Both of these parts will die, one will not immortalize the other. ... They too "rage against the dying of the light." ... "Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray", (17) is the speaker begging his father to show some sort of passion for the life that is leaving him, he can even ye...

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

The theme Welty is trying to get across is live life to the fullest. Welty shows the theme through the character, setting, and symbols. ... Solomon is dying and Livvie is ready to go out and see what the world has to offer. Welty uses great symbols to support the theme. ... Now I lay eyes on young man and it come to be somebody I know all the time, and been knowing since we were born in a cotton patch, and watched grow up year to year, Cash McCord growed to size growed up to come in my house in the end ragged and barefoot" (522). ...

• Word Count: 834
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School