Death Be Not Proud

PART A: What impact does line 9 have on the tone of the poem?

• It contributes to the defiant tone of the poem by comparing death to a “slave.”

• It contributes to the arrogant tone of the poem, in which death compares humanity to “slaves.”

• It deviates from the criticizing tone of the poem to acknowledge death’s power over “fate, chance, kings.”

• It deviates from the light-hearted tone of the poem and takes on a more serious tone when it mentions the “desperate men.”

PART B: Which of the following phrases best supports the answer to Part A?

• Mighty and dreadful” (Line 2)

• “nor yet canst thou kill me” (Line 4)

• “From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be” (Line 5)

• “with poison, war, and sickness dwell” (Line 11)

PART A: Which of the following best describes a theme of the poem?

• Death is inevitable for everyone, whether a person is a slave or a king.

• Death should not be feared because it is just a form of permanent sleep.

• Death should not be feared because it is the transition from life to the afterlife.

• Pride makes fools out of everyone, even death. Pride makes fools out of everyone, even death.

PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

• “For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow / Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me” (Lines 3-4)

• “And soonest our best men with thee do go, / Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.” (Lines 7-8)

• “Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, / And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell” (Lines 9-10)

• “And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well / And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?” (Lines 11-12)

which of the following phrases best describes the speaker's attitude after the phrase, "Die not, poor Death, not yet canst thou kill me."

• frightened and upset

• rebellious and confident

• surprised and confused

• angry and excited