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The bounds of social class, financial status, piety, inequities matters not.
After life, it is death that comes to and for all; it arrives for some sooner,
some later, but it comes. It may come gently, violently, predictably, suddenly,
deserved, unwarranted, too soon, too late, by choice or not, death is the
ultimate, the greatest realization of the human’s intellect. For many it is the
definitive welcomed goal, for others it is the glory of sacrifice, still for
others it is a mystery, or it may be a great, crippling fear, are we or are we
not? Is it all over when it is over?
During the
five thousand years of known literary expression, save for several hundred years
of silence, authors have achieved all manner of technique in the connecting of
death and death’s sphere of significance. Literary images regarding experiences
after death, or in the grave, or in the Heavens generally do not appear except
in The New Testament’s Four Gospels Culture contributes such an important part
in the attitudes concerning death. But no matter the cultural intentions — It is
Death itself that occupies the thinking of humanity.
We all desire
to find meaning, the sense of dying and death. Fighting, fearing death is
of no value in the scheme of living. Literary consideration of death is a
challenging concept that each writer approaches according to his own set of
cultural beliefs, experiences, observations, and imagination.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The
organization of this anthology is by
chronological order
as well as reverse
chronological order. It may be read thus or
with a focus on any of the following:
1.
Development of language, syntax, vocabulary
2.
Progress and diversity in writing techniques
3.
Melodramatic to factual to melodramatic
4.
Cultural influences from country to country
5.
Historical, political, social evolutions
6.
Religious vs Atheistic influences
7.
The heroic, the punitive, or the retributive reflections
8.
Wartime vs peacetime expressions
9.
Men vs. Women
10.
Poor vs rich vs middle class
11.
Warriors vs. citizens
12.
Personal vs public versions
13.
Agricultural vs Industrial pressures
14.
Beauty vs The Beast
15.
The Frailty of Humanity
This is a sampling of writing; included may be considered in the
literary sphere of “The Greatest” to the “Excellent” to the “Good” to the
“Obscure.” All accomplish the task, each in his specific genre. Each reflects
influences of his time in writing about a timeless subject.
An index is provided to assist in the specific areas of
interests.
Consider this your adventure into the world of words in the
literature of dying, death, grief and mourning. Further, it is my hope that you
may find yourself seeking out and reading some of the complete texts from which
these fragments are drawn.
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