DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

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



1.  Which of the following IS NOT an attitude one of the men displays?
a.  resistingly aware
b.  unexpected melancholia
c.  determined rage
d.  wistful regret
e.  solemn objectivity

2.  The most important shift in the passage occurs in 
a.  line 16
b.  line 4
c.  line 10
d.  both a and b
e.  none of the above
	
3.  How does the author suggest one should meet death?
a.  prayerful acceptance
b. challenging preparedness
c. solemn resistance
d.  amiable resignation
e.  angry opposition

4.  Where does the author reveal his ambiguity toward his father and his
     impending death?
a.  the various characterizations of men
b.  line 17 - "Curse, bless..."
c.  "...dying of the light"
d.  "...your fierce tears..."
e.  reference to death as "that good night"
	     
5.  Personification is NOT exhibited in which of the following?
a.  "Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay," (line 8)
b.  "Old age should burn and rave at close of day;" (line 2)
c.  "Rage, rage against the dying of the light." (line 3)
d.  "Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay," (line 14)
e.  "Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight," (line10) 






Answers / Explanation

1.  Which of the following IS NOT an attitude one of the men displays?
a.  resistingly aware - wise; "know dark is right...do not go gentle"
b.  unexpected melancholia - wild; "too late, they grieved it"
c.  determined rage - what author suggests/repeats, none display
d.  wistful regret - good; "deeds might have danced"
e.  solemn objectivity - grave; "see with blinding sight"

2.  The most important shift in the passage occurs in 
a.  line 16 - general (suggestion/characterization) to specific (author's father)
b.  line 4 - author's suggestion to characterization of men
c.  line 10 - distractor, middle of poem
d.  both a and b - both true, but a is "the most important"
e.  none of the above
	
3.  How does the author suggest one should meet death?
a.  prayerful acceptance - "I pray" (referring to father, line 17), never suggests
     accepting
b. challenging preparedness - MOST correct
c. solemn resistance - "rage against the dying..." (resistance), not solemn rage
d. amiable resignation - "wise men know dark is right" (resignation, line 4), no
    amiability
e.  angry opposition - "rage against..." repeated often, doesn't suggest
     anger/bitterness

4.  Where does the author reveal his ambiguity toward his father and his
     impending death?
a.  the various characterizations of men - he can't categorize his father
b.  line 17 - "Curse, bless...," contradictory reactions to death
c.  "...dying of the light" - distractor, personification 
d.  "...your fierce tears..." - distractor, unusual juxtaposition
e.  reference to death as "that good night" -  ambiguous pun, not refer to father
     only
	     
5.  Personification is NOT exhibited in which of the following?
a.  "Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay," (line 8) - deeds danced
b.  "Old age should burn and rave at close of day;" (line 2) - old age burn and rave
c.  "Rage, rage against the dying of the light." (line 3) - dying light
d.  "Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay," (line 14) - eyes blaze
e.  "Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight," (line10)  - men CAN
      catch/sing