g these eternal things to the readers temporal state. The sun is described as being all-beholding which is an example of nature being presented as very powerful throughout the poem. Almost every time an aspect of nature is mentioned there is an adjective to go with; in line 27 is mentioned a insensible rock, then in line 28 sluggish clod and rude swain. There are many other examples of this, which are used to help with the imagery of the poem as it amplifies the use of each example of nature presented. In addition to showing the power of nature through the adjectives sometimes they are used to convey the grimness of the subject at hand with words like gray and melancholy in line 43 or solemn in line 44. At some points one can see contrasts used for effect. In lines 46-48 the sentence The planets, all the infinite hosts of heaven are shining on the sad abodes of death through the still lapse of ages, one can see the contrast from the beginning of the sentence to the end. The phrase infinite hosts of heaven are shining presents a positive image, whereas the sad abodes of death then quickly changes the original imagery of the sentence. The attitude of the persona at the beginning of the poem is one of respect for nature. The first few lines describe the beauty of nature when one is upon happy times, but then the attitude becomes one of desperation when thoughts of death are presented and the need for healing arises. The attitude of nature during her speech is one of comforting for those in need of her honest words. She is not portrayed as being very emotional on the subject as to her death is merely a common fact in her everyday existence. There is no pity in her words but her comforting comes rather from her blatant observations of what is inevitable and unavoidable. The inspiration of her words is in her urging of the reader to use his understanding of what she speaks of to be comforted and gracefully accept the fate that i...
