To an Athlete Dying YoungTo an Athlete Dying Young

A.E. HousmanA.E. Housman

Jennifer LarimoreJennifer Larimore

Lauren DonoghueLauren Donoghue

Out of Africa (1985)Out of Africa (1985)“He was not mine”“He was not mine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMRRXqthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMRRXqtKRMIKRMI

Meryl Streep states every other stanzaMeryl Streep states every other stanza

A.E. HousmanA.E. Housman<<Alfred Edward HousmanAlfred Edward Housman>>

(1859-1936)(1859-1936)

*Attended Oxford University, but failed his *Attended Oxford University, but failed his final exams final exams ~Turmoil over Moses Jackson?~Turmoil over Moses Jackson?

*Realization of homosexual desires*Realization of homosexual desires

*Published two volumes of poetry in his *Published two volumes of poetry in his lifetimelifetime

-A Shropshire Lad (1896)-A Shropshire Lad (1896)-Last Poems (1922) -Last Poems (1922)

*Despite acclaim as a a scholar and a *Despite acclaim as a a scholar and a poet in his lifetime, Housman lived poet in his lifetime, Housman lived as a recluse, rejecting honors and as a recluse, rejecting honors and avoiding the public eye.avoiding the public eye.

A Shropshire Lad A Shropshire Lad (1896)(1896)

Cycle of 63 Poems Cycle of 63 Poems Written after the death of Adalbert Jackson, Written after the death of Adalbert Jackson,

Housman’s friend and companion in 1892Housman’s friend and companion in 1892 Themes of pastoral beauty, unrequited love, Themes of pastoral beauty, unrequited love,

fleeting youth, grief, death, and the fleeting youth, grief, death, and the patriotism of the common soldierpatriotism of the common soldier

Published at Housman’s own expense after Published at Housman’s own expense after turned down by several publishersturned down by several publishers

To an Athlete Dying Young – 19To an Athlete Dying Young – 19thth Poem Poem

To an Athlete Dying YoungTo an Athlete Dying YoungA.E. HousmanA.E. Housman

The time you won your town the raceThe time you won your town the raceWe chaired you through the market-place;We chaired you through the market-place;

Man and boy stood cheering by,Man and boy stood cheering by,And home we brought you shoulder-high. And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,To-day, the road all runners come,Shoulder-high we bring you home,Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,And set you at your threshold down,Townsman of a stiller town. Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes awaySmart lad, to slip betimes awayFrom fields were glory does not stayFrom fields were glory does not stayAnd early though the laurel growsAnd early though the laurel growsIt withers quicker than the rose. It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shutEyes the shady night has shutCannot see the record cut,Cannot see the record cut,

And silence sounds no worse than cheersAnd silence sounds no worse than cheersAfter earth has stopped the ears: After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the routNow you will not swell the routOf lads that wore their honours out,Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outranRunners whom renown outranAnd the name died before the man. And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,So set, before its echoes fade,The fleet foot on the sill of shade,The fleet foot on the sill of shade,

And hold to the low lintel upAnd hold to the low lintel upThe still-defended challenge-cup. The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled headAnd round that early-laurelled headWill flock to gaze the strengthless dead,Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curlsAnd find unwithered on its curlsThe garland briefer than a girl's.The garland briefer than a girl's.

Stanzas I & IIStanzas I & IIThe time you won your town the The time you won your town the racerace

We We chairedchaired you through the market- you through the market-placeplace;;Man and boy stood cheering Man and boy stood cheering byby,,

And home we brought you shoulder-And home we brought you shoulder-highhigh. .

To-day, the To-day, the road all runners road all runners comecome,,Shoulder-high we bring you Shoulder-high we bring you homehome,,

And set you at your threshold And set you at your threshold downdown,,Townsman of a stiller Townsman of a stiller towntown. .

After the athlete won the raceAfter the athlete won the raceThe townspeople The townspeople carriedcarried him home on their him home on their

shoulders while the crowd stood by shoulders while the crowd stood by cheeringcheering

Today, the athlete is on the road to the Today, the athlete is on the road to the cemetery in a coffin which the cemetery in a coffin which the

townspeople carry, and when they reach townspeople carry, and when they reach his final resting place, set down at the his final resting place, set down at the threshold of the tomb (and of eternity), threshold of the tomb (and of eternity), where he will occupy a quiet town, the where he will occupy a quiet town, the

cemetery.cemetery.

Road all runners comeRoad all runners come: After all human : After all human beings run the race of life, they must beings run the race of life, they must

travel the road of deathtravel the road of death

Stanza IIIStanza III Smart lad, to slip Smart lad, to slip betimesbetimes away away

From fields were glory does not From fields were glory does not staystay

And early though the laurel growsAnd early though the laurel growsIt withers quicker than the rose.It withers quicker than the rose.

The athlete was smart to die young The athlete was smart to die young before his glory had a chance to before his glory had a chance to

fade as he grew older. The laurel, fade as he grew older. The laurel, a symbol of victory, wither faster a symbol of victory, wither faster

than the rose, a symbol of an than the rose, a symbol of an average life span. average life span.

BetimesBetimes: early, promptly: early, promptly

Stanzas IV & VStanzas IV & V Eyes the Eyes the shady nightshady night has shut has shut

Cannot see the record cut,Cannot see the record cut,And silence sounds no worse than cheersAnd silence sounds no worse than cheers

After earth has stopped the ears: After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the routNow you will not swell the routOf lads that wore their honours out,Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outranRunners whom renown outranAnd the name died before the man.And the name died before the man.

Now that his eyes are closed forever, he cannot Now that his eyes are closed forever, he cannot witness the breaking of records he set. Also, witness the breaking of records he set. Also, because he can no longer hear, silence and because he can no longer hear, silence and

cheers “sound” the same to him.cheers “sound” the same to him.

shady nightshady night: death: death

He will not be among the multitude (swell) of He will not be among the multitude (swell) of athletes who lived long and were forgotten athletes who lived long and were forgotten when they could no longer perform. Fame when they could no longer perform. Fame

and glory outran these athletes, so their and glory outran these athletes, so their names died before their bodies.names died before their bodies.

Stanzas VI & VIIStanzas VI & VII So set, before its echoes fade,So set, before its echoes fade,The fleet foot on the The fleet foot on the sill of shadesill of shade,,

And hold to the low lintel upAnd hold to the low lintel upThe still-defended challenge-cup. The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled headAnd round that early-laurelled headWill flock to gaze the strengthless dead,Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curlsAnd find unwithered on its curlsThe garland briefer than a girl's.The garland briefer than a girl's.

Let us set his coffin down on the threshold of Let us set his coffin down on the threshold of the tomb before the echoes of his running the tomb before the echoes of his running

feet can fade. Let us also hold up his feet can fade. Let us also hold up his trophy, a challenge cup, before the trophy, a challenge cup, before the

crossbeam atop the entrance of his tomb.crossbeam atop the entrance of his tomb.

still of shadestill of shade: entrance to death: entrance to death

The cemetery denizens (the dead) will come to The cemetery denizens (the dead) will come to look at the athlete, who is crowned with the look at the athlete, who is crowned with the laurel wreath as a sign of victory. They will laurel wreath as a sign of victory. They will

find him and his laurel wreath well find him and his laurel wreath well preserved.preserved.

Tone.Tone.~Premature death with a celebratory tone:~Premature death with a celebratory tone:

-Cynical view: implies a more or less habitual disposition to -Cynical view: implies a more or less habitual disposition to look on the dark side of things, and to believe that the worst look on the dark side of things, and to believe that the worst will happen will happen

^-Housman suggests that life in later years is humdrum and ^-Housman suggests that life in later years is humdrum and wearisome, thus praising the athlete for dying before his glory wearisome, thus praising the athlete for dying before his glory fadesfades

-Expresses that it perhaps might be better to die at the peak -Expresses that it perhaps might be better to die at the peak of life rather than to grow old and exist when one’s of life rather than to grow old and exist when one’s achievements or honors will not be remembered.achievements or honors will not be remembered.

-Death, which is literally inescapable, is not necessarily a -Death, which is literally inescapable, is not necessarily a cursecurse

Would you rather die young, at your peak, Would you rather die young, at your peak, right after you accomplish all your greatest right after you accomplish all your greatest

achievements?achievements?

OrOr

Would you rather live a long healthy life, when Would you rather live a long healthy life, when your honors and accomplishments might not your honors and accomplishments might not

be remembered?be remembered?

??????

Works CitedWorks Cited "To an Athlete Dying Young." "To an Athlete Dying Young." EXPLORING PoetryEXPLORING Poetry. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. . Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Student Resource Center -

BronzeBronze. Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 19 May. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?. Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 19 May. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-3&docId=EJ2114301233&source=gale&srcprod=SRCS&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>.3&docId=EJ2114301233&source=gale&srcprod=SRCS&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>.

"Housman, A(lfred) E(dward) (1859-1936)." "Housman, A(lfred) E(dward) (1859-1936)." DISCovering AuthorsDISCovering Authors. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. . Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Student Resource Center - BronzeResource Center - Bronze. Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 19 May. 2009 . Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 19 May. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-<http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-3&docId=EJ2101100527&source=gale&srcprod=SRCS&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>.3&docId=EJ2101100527&source=gale&srcprod=SRCS&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>.

Bishop, John Peale. "The Poetry of A. E. Housman." Bishop, John Peale. "The Poetry of A. E. Housman." DISCovering AuthorsDISCovering Authors. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. . Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - BronzeStudent Resource Center - Bronze. Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 19 May. 2009 . Gale. North Allegheny Senior High School. 19 May. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-<http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-3&docId=EJ2101204575&source=gale&srcprod=SRCS&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>.3&docId=EJ2101204575&source=gale&srcprod=SRCS&userGroupName=pl2552&version=1.0>.

"A.E. Housman." "A.E. Housman." poets.orgpoets.org. 2009. Academy of American Poets. 11 May 2009 . 2009. Academy of American Poets. 11 May 2009 <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/631>. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/631>.

Cummings , Michael . "To an Athlete Dying Young." Cummings , Michael . "To an Athlete Dying Young." Cummings Study GuidesCummings Study Guides. May 2009. 11May 2009 . May 2009. 11May 2009 <http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides3/Housman.html>. <http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides3/Housman.html>.