s the final result of all. Therefore the attitude of the persona goes from one of sadness in lines 8-13 to one of acceptance in lines 73-81. This acceptance represents the attitude of the poet and is the advice he is offering to the reader. The persona represents the poet, he is sharing with the reader what his appreciation of nature has shown him and attempting the help the reader learn what nature has already taught him.The main shift in the poem is from the personas grim outlook on death in lines 8-13 to his acceptance of it in lines 73-81. This is the basic idea the poem is trying to teach us, through this shift the persona is showing us what he has learned. The conclusion of the poem is his final words of advice to us. The whole point of the poem is to share with us his experience and what he learned from it. In addition to this major shift there are a few minor shifts in the poem that add to the conveyance of the message presented by the main shift. In lines 3-5, the persona describes nature as he views it during his happier times. Nature takes on a different meaning to him when he is happy than when he is faced with harder times. Natures beauty enhances his good moods and comforts him in his bad moods. This shift helps introduce the issue addressed in the poem, the importance of nature in helping the persona deal with death. One who has an appreciation for nature can put it to use in all times, whether they be of great happiness or despair. A similar shift is presented in natures speech; in line 50 she goes from simply speaking of death to actually advising her listener. She tells him to take the wings of morning and to accept what is coming because there is no way for anyone to escape it. The main theme of the poem is reflected in the title. Bryant presents to the reader a view of death they have likely not considered before. The personas view of death changes when influenced by nature and with his new understa...
