Summary Of The Poeme By Billy Collins

Task IV
Please analyze the theme of the poem, using the speech act hypotheses we have discussed in class.

Please pay attention to the change of syntax in the second half of the poem.
As the first part of the poem is imperatives and the theme of the poem is elegy, I firstly regard it as an advice or consolation, the poet advising others not to be bothered to find the traces of the person who died. A common condolence is generally soothing and pacifying, describing how the deceased will rest in peace, however, in this case the poet depicts with very unfavorable words, such as “brittle”, “cold”, and “angry”, which is by no means reassuring or encouraging. Then I guess maybe it is a lament in which the poet uses uncomfortable words to give