Dylan Thomas : the vision of death as a prologue to a new life

Abstract EN

Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) is a modern poet belongs to the apocalyptic movement of the 1940's.

This movement is influenced by the doctrines and techniques of surrealism.

Poetry for him should not be primarily concerned with man in society, but with the celebration of spiritual truth.

It should bring to light the hidden causes, hence his personal interest is to strip darkness and explore the inward motives.

To do this he uses a cluster of images : a constant building up and breaking down of images.

His poetry depends on the romantic spontaneity, suggestiveness of the Symbolists and the surrealists' mysterious liberation of the unconsciousness and the emotional involvement in the dynamics of life.

In "Light Breaks Where No Sun Shine" (1934) Thomas celebrates a rejection of the idea of death.

Man lives eternally in the forms of nature.

Thus death bears with it a sense of entrance rather than exit.

In the "winter's Tale" death is the resurrection, a necessary step for the physical and spiritual regeneration.

Dylan Thomas (1914- 1953) came from the rural Swansea in Wales, bohemianism, alcoholism and freakiness made him the controversial topic in London's literary circles ; generally he is regarded as an eccentric.

Thomas belongs to the Apocalyptic movement of the 1940's which includes George Barker, Vernon Watkins and Kathleen Raine.

This movement is influenced by the doctrines and techniques of surrealism.

Poetry for them should not be primarily concerned with man in society, but with the celebration of spiritual truth.

They also have romantic tendencies with view of the world, using myths and symbols from a wide variety of sources.