In the death of ivan ilyich, tolstoy explores a man’s attitude toward death. the poem “death be not proud” by john donne portrays the same theme. read and listen to the poem.
death be not proud
by john donne
death be not proud, though some have called thee
mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
for, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
from rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
and soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
and dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
and poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
and better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
one short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
and death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
in a short essay, compare how the speaker in donne’s poem talks about death with how ivan ilyich thinks about death in chapters 5–8 of the death of ivan ilyich. what does death symbolize for the speaker in the poem? what does it seem to symbolize so far for ivan ilyich? cite evidence from both texts to support your response.
the death of ivan ilyich-