Student Question

Which perspective about death is better according to "Crossing the Bar"?

Quick answer:

The poem "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred Lord Tennyson presents death as a natural and comforting transition rather than offering multiple perspectives. Tennyson compares death to a voyage, suggesting it is part of the natural order, akin to daily life events. This view aims to demystify and reduce the fear associated with death, providing a soothing and reassuring perspective on the end of life.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What options/perspectives are you considering?

I'm not sure there is more than one perspective about death, at least not in the sense that I interpret your question to mean.  It's not like Tennyson is saying that, on one hand, death is such-and-such, and then, on the other hand, death is such-and-such.  That's what I think of with the use of the word "perspective".

It's more of death as a comparison to the daily voyages of life.  You've got the comparison of death and dying to nature's day-to-day events, trying to associate death with the natural order of things, thereby taking away some of the mystique and fear surrounding death and dying.  It's supposed to be comforting, soothing even.

I'm not sure that this answers your question, so if not, please comment back with something more specific so that we've got a little more to work with.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial