Dog's Death Updike

English Composition II
4 November 2013
Good Dog “Dog’s Death” was written in 1969 by John Updike. This heartbreaking poem is about a family dog that passed away. They’ve had her since she was just a pup until the day she was fatally injured. Getting a new pet comes with a lot of responsibilities. The first step is house training. The family created a designated place for their new puppy to take care of business. In order for her to know that she is doing right, they must say “Good dog” (340). In this poem, John Updike uses this phrase three times. Toward the end of the poem, the effects of the words begin to change. Updike sets the reader up for the change in the use of “Good dog” in the last line. Praising a dog promotes good behavior. They started training her as soon as possible so she’d begin learning early. John confirms, “Too young to know much, she was beginning to learn” (340). Updike is informing the reader that there is training taking place. Teaching a canine to be consistent, it must learn right from wrong. He mentions, “To use the newspapers spread on the
The blissful tone that was once present has now died. Updike warns that the “autopsy disclosed a rupture in her liver” and “her heart was learning to lie down forever” (340). The author is creating the image of a dog’s life fading before their eyes. As a result, the tone was shifted to prepare the reader for the family’s loss. Finally, “surrounded by love that would have upheld her”, she passed away (Updike 340). Thinking of the title, “Dog’s Death”, it is an automatic notification there is some sorrow in between the lines. If the title had been “Good Dog”, the rest of the poem would not make sense. Updike would have to change his entire attitude towards the poem. It would give off a sense of happiness. In the second stanza, the reader can immediately see otherwise. John’s intention in the three use of “good dog” is to establish