Don't Go Gently Into That Good Night

Which two phrases from the piece serve as metaphors for “death” in the text?

• “Blind eyes” & “Blinding Sight

• ‘” too late” and “on its way”

• “Good night” & “Dying of the Light”

• “Curse” and “Blaze like meteors”

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

2.)  What does the author’s diction reveal about the way in which he views death? (_RL11.4)

• a.  The author’s diction is hazy and angelic giving death a sweet heavenly connotation
• b.  The author’s diction is angry “rage, rage” giving death an evil connotation seeking to end a good life that “blaze like meteors”
• c.  The author’s diction positions death as a positive release from life using diction like “good” next to night and “light” to refer to “dying” 
• d.  The author’s diction is neutral neither suggesting that death is peaceful nor the bitter end to a life lived, but a transition everyone will experience

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

3.)  What is the central theme of the poem? _(11RL.2)

• a.    Rage and anger should be used to fight off death so that you can live a powerful life at any age
• b.      Even when death is near and suffering comes, people should fight as long as they can from entering “the light” of death
• c.  Death may seem to be a sweet ending to a life of pain, but it actually is a sad ending to a lifetime of happiness
• d.  “Old age should burn a.  Men who lead uneventful and dull lives need to fight off death so they don’t “go gentle into that good night” 
  

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

4.)  Which line in the text best supports the central theme of the poem? _(RL11.2)

• a.  “Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight” 
• b.  “Rage, Rage against the dying of the light” 
• c. a.  “Do not go gentle into that good night”
• d.  “Old age should burn and rave at close of day;”

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

5.)  In the line “Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight” the figurative word “sun” most likely can be interpreted as…_(RL11.4)

• a.  Fear derived from flying 
• b.     Happiness derived from liberty
• c.  Anger derived from heat 
• d.     Pain derived from getting “caught” up

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

6.)  Which narrative perspective does the author switch to in the final stanza; what can the reader infer about the decision to include this transition in the poem? _(RL11.6)

• a.  First person; to encourage his dying father to heed or take his advice and fight to remain alive
• b.  2^nd Person; to encourage his father that he is not alone in his time of suffering
• c.      Third Person Omniscient; to persuade the reader using pathos because a father’s love is irreplaceable 
• d.  Third Person Objective; to show the reader his father was unfortunately a sad man who did not live a worthy life

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

7.)  “Their frail deeds might have danced” is example of which figurative device? _(RL11.4)

•  Irony 
• Personification
• Paradox
• Hyperbole

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.4