Dylan Thomas' outer life has little to do with his poetry, only occasionally having been inspired by some life-altering event. However, Thomas does contain some inner aspect of himself in each of his poems. Thomas states, "I hold a beast, an angel, and a madman in me, and my inquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their subjugation and victory, down throw and upheaval, and my effort is their self-expression." By drawing on characteristics of himself, a wealth of literary knowledge and unarguable language control, Thomas is able to not only be an exceptional writer, but also entertain readers at the same time. With the use of diction, imagery, and rhyme Thomas is able to effectively convey his main themes of death, religious clash, and human nature.
             Welsh born Dylan Marlais Thomas was acutely gifted in English and Reading from an early age, pleasing his father, a Senior English master at Thomas' grammar school. He neglected his other subjects however, and had little ambition to continue his education in a university. Impressively, three years after leaving school, Thomas' first collection of poems, 18 Poems, was published and Thomas became an instant success. When looking upon these early works, and later works as well, it is apparent that Thomas concerned himself with writing about religion, death, human nature, and the paradox that these three topics create. Religion was becoming an ever-conflicting issue inside Thomas, thus he found writing this subject was both effortless and therapeutic. Upon the approaching death of his father, Thomas penned the villanelle "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night", an urging for all to experience life to its fullest before it slips away.
             Death is the most visible theme in Thomas' villanelle. Diction plays a key component in the intensity and passion of the allusion to death. The heavy 'r' consonant sounds capture death, w...