This is a tough one, I think, and I really only have one
loosely connected work to give you. The theme of Housman's "To an Athlete Dying Young"
is that it's better to die young, when the early victories have not been tarnished or
overshadowed by a less than productive adult life, rather than life a life which loses
meaningfulness over time rather than gaining it.
The work I
compare it to is Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn," which has a somewhat similar
theme--while the beautiful images on the urn will never be able to hear the music or
feel the kiss, they will always remain beautiful and young and live in anticipation of
those thrilling things. The trees will never lose their leaves, and the young couple
will never grow old and ugly. So, better to remain frozen in time and place as young
and beautiful rather than grow old and lose the magic and beauty of young
love.
Clearly, though, both works make a comment on being
frozen in time, either through death or on a work of art. It may be true that the
laurels and the beauty will never fade; however, the implied theme for both is that
there will also be no joy or love or life. Hope that helps.
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