And Death Shall Have No Dominion

Dylan Thomas

‘And Death Shall Have No Dominion’ is about the power that death does not have over mankind and how men are unified after death, not divided.

Cite

Dylan Thomas

Nationality: Welsh

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, and is considered one of the best ever.

His poetry often explored themes of life, death, nature, and the complexities of human emotions.

Key Poem Information

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Central Message: Death cannot conquer or have ultimate power over human beings.

Themes: Death, Journey, Nature

Speaker: The poet

Emotions Evoked: Courage, Grief

Poetic Form: Free Verse

Time Period: 20th Century

‘And Death Shall Have No Dominion’ is a three-stanza poem written by Dylan Thomas and published in May of 1933 in New England Weekly. The poem has no unifying rhyme scheme but through its use of a refrain, and lyrical uses of language, it is clear that Thomas wrote this poem as an homage to the era of Romanticism in which these elements were in peak use. The title, “Death Shall Have No Dominion” comes from Romans the sixth book of the New Testament Bible. The line is used in reference to the resurrection of Christ and the lack of control that death truly has.

And Death Shall Have No Dominion
Dylan Thomas

And death shall have no dominion. Dead men naked they shall be one With the man in the wind and the west moon; When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone, They shall have stars at elbow and foot; Though they go mad they shall be sane, Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again; Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion. Under the windings of the sea They lying long shall not die windily; Twisting on racks when sinews give way, Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break; Faith in their hands shall snap in two, And the unicorn evils run them through; Split all ends up they shan't crack; And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion. No more may gulls cry at their ears Or waves break loud on the seashore; Where blew a flower may a flower no more Lift its head to the blows of the rain; Through they be mad and dead as nails, Heads of the characters hammer through daisies; Break in the sun till the sun breaks down, And death shall have no dominion.


Summary

And Death Shall Have No Dominion’ is a magical look at the ways in which death controls mankind and the fact at even though it is powerful, it cannot control everything. Mankind has the power to stand up against any of the evils of death, and become unified through their moving to the next world. Death does not divide but brings together equally all those that lived apart. The second half of the poem focuses on brave and strong men standing up against the power of death and not breaking even through torture and the destruction of beautiful things.

And Death Shall Have No Dominion Analysis

First Stanza

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

This piece begins with the first repetition of the title line. This line, “And death shall have no dominion” runs throughout this poem like a refrain. It appears at the beginning and the ending of each stanza, as well as serving as the title. It is important to understand that this phrase is used to assert that, no matter the circumstances, “death shall have no dominion.” Death is not all-powerful as it is sometimes made out to be.

The second line of this point presents one of the ways in which death is not all-powerful. It does not divide men as they die but brings them together. All of these, “dead men naked shall be one.” Death will bring them together, all men from all walks of life. IN the following lines the speaker begins using more magical imagery. The man “in the wind” and the man in “the west moon” shall be among those that are united. This type of imagery is common in Thomas’ work.

It is important throughout the reading of this piece to remember the refrain of the poem and remind oneself what point Thomas is trying to make. Mentally inserting the title of this piece before the fourth line of this stanza can help keep the poem in context. “Death shall have no domain…

When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,

Death’s lack of control is not temporary, it is everlasting. Even when it has taken a man, cleaned his bones, and destroyed the clean bones, still it will not have total control. These men that are less than bones will still

…have stars at elbow and foot;

They will all be together in the next world, whatever that may be, and united in their new common state.

The next three lines each begin with a “though” statement. It is after these lines that the reader may again want to remember the title/refrain of this poem. The first of these lines is a contrasting statement, that even when one of these men is mad he is actually sane because each will experience the same world. If everyone is insane, no one is.

The second “though” statement makes another clear reference to death, and this time to the resurrection, a distinctly religious image that should not be overlooked. Men will “sink through the sea” and “they shall rise again.” Lastly, the final “though” statement is to do with emotional death, even though death may bring an end to specific love, it cannot end love in its entirety. This stanza ends, as do the following two, with the opening line, “And death shall have no dominion.”

Second Stanza

And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan’t crack;
And death shall have no dominion.

The second stanza of the poem begins another repetition of the refrain, and then with another reference to the sea. The sea is described as being “winding,” its layers of water are twisting around one another and within the water are those “lying long,” (use of alliteration here with the double ‘l’ sound). The bodies of dead men are stretched out under the water and appear long in a limb. They are said to have not died “windily,” they did not have long drawn out deaths but met it perhaps in an instant. There is a perfect end rhyme at the end of lines 11 and 12 with “windily” and “sea.”

The fourth line of the poem introduces another way to meet death that is much more painful, through torture and agony.

Twisting on racks when sinews give way,

Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;

The rack and the wheel reference two different medieval torture devices, and even though these men’s lives are ending horribly, they do not break. This idea is continued throughout the rest of this stanza. Their “faith” may in their hand, “snap in two” and the “unicorn evils” of the world may “run them through” but they will not break. These men are having their faith taken from them and meeting every kind of evil, but still, they are strong and death does not take everything from them.

Third Stanza

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashore;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Through they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

In the last stanza of this piece, after the repetition of the refrain, Thomas’ speaker goes through a few elements of life that these men will no longer experience. The sea is brought into the poem once more at this point as it is made clear these men will never again hear a seagull “cry at their ears” or hear the waves break “on the seashore.” These experience that many take for granted are gone forever and this loss is emphasized with the next line as the speaker emphasizes the loss by saying

Where blew a flower may a flower no more

Life its head to the blows of the rain;

Never again will beautiful things be as they were for these men, but just like these flowers, they are lifting their heads to the rain.

The last four lines conclude this poem and reinforce the idea of death being unable to break mankind.

The men are dead as nails and death, with its hammer” destroys beautiful things like daisies or the sun. Still, it shall not have dominion over mankind. Man can resist all that death can come up with.

About Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas was born on the 27th of October in 1914 in Swansea, Glamorgan (now Swansea, Wales). Thomas did badly in school as a young boy, paying no attention to the subjects he was not interested in. Even though his performance was bad, he did edit and contribute poetry and prose to the school newspaper. He began writing at a very early age and had a notable knowledge of English poetry in general. It is generally acknowledged that Thomas had completed the majority of his poetic works by the time he was 21.

His first book, 18 Poems, was published in 1934. It was through this collection that his original voice-first began to influence English poetry. He published Twenty-Five Poems in 1936, and The Map of Love in 1939. The originality of his work lay in the inventive combination of religious teachings and sexual imagery, a product of his Welsh upbringing. Throughout his time living in London, Thomas became well known among literary circles, married, and had three children. Although well known, the Thomas family did not have much money. Thomas worked at the BBC as a scriptwriter but took in very little income. He continued to write throughout his troubles with money and his developing problems with alcohol and published Death and Entrances in 1946.

In the early ’50s, his drinking got worse as he began exhaustive touring around America. Although his work was well received and his career appeared to be at a high point, his marriage was falling apart and he died in New York City in 1953 from possible alcohol-related pneumonia.

Poetry+ Review Corner

And Death Shall Have No Dominion

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Form:

Dylan Thomas

97
Dylan Thomas' poetry is known for its lyrical and rhythmic qualities, often exploring themes of life, death, and the power of language. In 'And death shall have no dominion,' Thomas showcases his distinctive style with its musicality and rich imagery. Through his unique use of language, Thomas captures the essence of the human spirit and its resilience in the face of mortality. This is certainly one of his best poems.
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20th Century

56
As a prominent figure in 20th-century poetry, Dylan Thomas exemplifies the experimentation and departure from traditional forms during this period. 'And death shall have no dominion' reflects the modernist sensibilities of the time, utilizing free verse and unconventional structures. Thomas' poem embodies the era's exploration of new poetic techniques, allowing for a more personal and emotionally charged expression of themes.
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Welsh

97
As a Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas's cultural heritage influences his poetry and this poem should be considered one of the country's very best. Welsh poetry often possesses a musical quality, employing rich imagery and evocative language. In 'And death shall have no dominion,' a Welsh influence adds depth and resonance to its exploration of life, death, and the enduring nature of the human spirit.
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Death

87
Death serves as a central theme in 'And death shall have no dominion.' Rather than portraying death as an end, the poem presents it as a temporary state that cannot conquer the human spirit. Thomas emphasizes the transcendence of death by depicting a world where even the dead defy its dominion, rising again and persisting beyond physical existence. Death, in this context, becomes a symbol of transformation and the continuation of life in different forms.
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Journey

54
The poem presents a metaphorical journey, where individuals navigate the realm between life and death. It portrays a transformative voyage where souls endure hardships, madness, and even the breaking of faith. The journey becomes a testament to the courage and resilience of the human spirit, as individuals persevere and rise again despite the challenges they face.
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Nature

59
Nature plays a significant role in the poem, acting as a backdrop to the themes of life and death. Thomas uses natural elements such as wind, moon, sea, and flowers to evoke a sense of connection between humanity and the natural world. Nature, with its timeless cycles and forces, becomes a symbol of continuity and a reminder of the eternal nature of the human spirit. It underscores the idea that death is merely a transition within the larger tapestry of existence.
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Courage

53
The poem exudes a sense of courage and defiance in the face of death. Despite the inevitability of mortality, the speaker's words echo with resilience and determination. The poem encourages the reader to embrace courage and confront the temporary nature of life with an unwavering spirit.
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Grief

50
Grief is hinted at in the poem through the references to the loss of lovers and the death of loved ones. However, rather than dwelling solely on the pain of grief, the poem offers a sense of solace and hope. It assures the reader that although lovers may be lost, love itself remains eternal. In this context, grief becomes a transformative experience.
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Death of a Loved One

54
The poem touches upon the theme of the death of loved ones, suggesting that even in their physical absence, their presence endures. While grief and loss are acknowledged, the poem offers solace by affirming that death cannot sever the bond between souls.
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Loss

52
Loss is a recurrent theme in 'And death shall have no dominion,' encompassing not only the loss of loved ones but also the loss of faith and sanity. The poem acknowledges the pain and disarray caused by these losses but maintains an underlying sense of hope.
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Mortality

53
Mortality is intricately woven throughout the poem, confronting the impermanence of human life. However, rather than succumbing to despair, the poem challenges the notion of death's absolute dominion. It presents mortality as a transitional state, where individuals transcend physical limitations and continue to exist in different forms.
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Sea

42
The sea serves as an important symbol in the poem, representing both the vastness and the depths of existence. It reflects the uncertainties and challenges of life's journey. The sea's presence emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and death, as well as the continuous ebb and flow of human experiences.
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Free Verse

54
This poem is written in free verse and is devoid of a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This form allows for a more fluid and spontaneous expression of emotions and ideas. The form is also very common among Dylan Thomas' poems.
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Emma Baldwin Poetry Expert
About
Emma graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in English, minor in Creative Writing, BFA in Fine Art, and BA in Art Histories. Literature is one of her greatest passions which she pursues through analyzing poetry on Poem Analysis.

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