Introduction: “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
“Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins first appeared in The Never-Ending: New Poems (1991), a collection that showcases Hudgins’ profound exploration of mortality, faith, and familial bonds. This poem is particularly popular as a textbook piece due to its poignant meditation on the contrasting perspectives of death: the father’s serene acceptance rooted in faith and the son’s reluctant grief and skepticism. The poem’s reflective tone and universal theme of navigating loss make it a compelling tool for teaching literary devices, such as imagery, irony, and tone. Hudgins captures the tension between these two worldviews in the lines, “I see myself on deck, convinced / his ship’s gone down, while he’s convinced / I’ll see him standing on the dock and waving, shouting, Welcome back.” This juxtaposition powerfully conveys the emotional divide between those who view death with certainty and those who face it with uncertainty, solidifying its status as an enduring exploration of mortality.
Text: “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
One day I’ll lift the telephone
and be told my father’s dead. He’s ready.
In the sureness of his faith, he talks
about the world beyond this world
as though his reservations have
been made. I think he wants to go,
a little bit — a new desire
to travel building up, an itch
to see fresh worlds. Or older ones.
He thinks that when I follow him
he’ll wrap me in his arms and laugh,
the way he did when I arrived
on earth. I do not think he’s right.
He’s ready. I am not. I can’t
just say good-bye as cheerfully
as if he were embarking on a trip
to make my later trip go well.
I see myself on deck, convinced
his ship’s gone down, while he’s convinced
I’ll see him standing on the dock
and waving, shouting, Welcome back .
Annotations: “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
| Line | Devices Used | Explanation |
| One day I’ll lift the telephone | Imagery, Foreshadowing | The speaker envisions the future moment when he learns of his father’s death, creating a vivid image of a phone call. |
| and be told my father’s dead. He’s ready. | Caesura, Tone (matter-of-fact), Juxtaposition | The pause emphasizes the stark reality of death; “He’s ready” contrasts the father’s preparedness with the son’s apprehension. |
| In the sureness of his faith, he talks | Alliteration (“sureness”, “faith”), Religious Reference | The father’s deep religious belief gives him confidence in what lies after death. |
| about the world beyond this world | Repetition, Religious Allusion | Refers to heaven or an afterlife, a concept central to many faiths, emphasizing the father’s belief in continuity beyond death. |
| as though his reservations have been made. | Metaphor (travel as death), Irony | Compares the father’s belief in the afterlife to having travel plans confirmed, suggesting his certainty while the son is doubtful. |
| I think he wants to go, a little bit — | Ellipsis, Ambiguity, Tone (reflective) | The son contemplates his father’s subtle desire to embrace death, revealing his struggle to accept it. |
| a new desire to travel building up, an itch | Metaphor (travel as death), Personification | Compares death to a journey and the father’s eagerness to a growing desire to see new places. |
| to see fresh worlds. Or older ones. | Contrast, Ambiguity | Suggests both the excitement of discovering something new (the afterlife) and revisiting something eternal or ancient. |
| He thinks that when I follow him | Irony, Tone (hopeful yet skeptical) | The father imagines a joyful reunion after death, but the son does not share his certainty. |
| he’ll wrap me in his arms and laugh, | Imagery, Symbolism | The father’s embrace symbolizes warmth, comfort, and the hope of a family reunion in the afterlife. |
| the way he did when I arrived on earth. | Simile, Parallelism | Compares a potential afterlife reunion to the joy of his birth, creating a cyclical view of life and death. |
| I do not think he’s right. | Tone (assertive), Contrast | The son expresses doubt, highlighting the difference between their beliefs. |
| He’s ready. I am not. | Repetition, Contrast | Emphasizes the emotional and spiritual gap between father and son. |
| I can’t just say good-bye as cheerfully | Contrast, Tone (somber) | The son struggles with the idea of parting so easily, contrasting his grief with his father’s acceptance. |
| as if he were embarking on a trip | Metaphor (journey as death), Tone (wistful) | Compares death to a simple journey, showing the father’s ease with the concept, which the son cannot share. |
| to make my later trip go well. | Euphemism, Irony | Refers to death as a “trip,” underscoring the father’s belief that his death will prepare the way for the son, which the son finds unconvincing. |
| I see myself on deck, convinced | Imagery, Metaphor (nautical imagery for life and death) | The son imagines himself on a ship, symbolizing life’s journey, feeling unsure about his father’s safe passage (death). |
| his ship’s gone down, while he’s convinced | Metaphor, Juxtaposition | The son envisions his father’s death as a shipwreck, while the father imagines a safe arrival in the afterlife. |
| I’ll see him standing on the dock | Imagery, Symbolism | The father’s vision of a heavenly reunion is symbolized by the dock, representing the afterlife. |
| and waving, shouting, Welcome back. | Symbolism, Contrast | The father’s enthusiastic faith contrasts with the son’s doubts, symbolizing their opposing perspectives on life, death, and the afterlife. |
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| Ambiguity | “to see fresh worlds. Or older ones.” | The phrase suggests multiple interpretations, such as exploring new dimensions or revisiting eternal realms. |
| Caesura | “He’s ready. I am not.” | The pause between the sentences creates a stark contrast between the father’s readiness and the son’s reluctance. |
| Contrast | “He’s ready. I am not.” | Highlights the emotional and spiritual divide between the father and the son regarding death. |
| Euphemism | “to make my later trip go well” | Death is described as a “trip,” softening the harsh reality of mortality. |
| Foreshadowing | “One day I’ll lift the telephone and be told my father’s dead.” | The speaker anticipates the inevitability of his father’s death, setting the tone for the poem. |
| Hyperbole | “as though his reservations have been made.” | Exaggerates the certainty with which the father speaks about the afterlife. |
| Imagery | “I see myself on deck, convinced his ship’s gone down.” | Vividly portrays the speaker’s grief and sense of loss as a nautical scene, reinforcing the journey metaphor. |
| Irony | “Welcome back.” | The father’s confidence in a heavenly reunion contrasts with the son’s doubt, creating situational irony. |
| Juxtaposition | “his ship’s gone down, while he’s convinced I’ll see him standing on the dock.” | Places the father’s optimism beside the son’s pessimism, intensifying their differing perspectives. |
| Metaphor | “as though his reservations have been made.” | Compares death to a planned journey, reflecting the father’s calm acceptance of mortality. |
| Nautical Imagery | “I see myself on deck… his ship’s gone down.” | Represents life and death as a journey on water, evoking a sense of movement and uncertainty. |
| Parallelism | “the way he did when I arrived on earth.” | Connects the beginning of life (birth) with a potential reunion after death, creating a cyclical structure. |
| Personification | “an itch to see fresh worlds.” | Assigns human-like desires to death, portraying it as an irresistible pull to explore. |
| Religious Allusion | “the world beyond this world.” | Refers to the afterlife, central to the father’s faith. |
| Repetition | “He’s ready. I am not.” | Reiterates the father’s preparedness versus the son’s unwillingness, emphasizing the emotional divide. |
| Simile | “as if he were embarking on a trip.” | Compares death to a journey, illustrating the father’s casual approach to his mortality. |
| Symbolism | “standing on the dock and waving.” | The dock represents the boundary between life and the afterlife, a place of reunion in the father’s belief. |
| Tone | “I do not think he’s right.” | The skeptical and somber tone reflects the speaker’s doubts about the father’s faith in the afterlife. |
| Tension | “He thinks that when I follow him he’ll wrap me in his arms and laugh.” | The speaker’s conflicting emotions about death and his father’s certainty create tension throughout the poem. |
Themes: “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
1. Mortality and the Inevitability of Death: The theme of mortality runs throughout the poem as the speaker contemplates the inevitable death of his father. From the opening lines, “One day I’ll lift the telephone and be told my father’s dead,” the speaker acknowledges death as an unavoidable part of life. However, while his father views death as a natural transition to another stage of existence, the speaker struggles with its finality. Death is presented not as an end but as a journey, reflected in the metaphor, “as though his reservations have been made,” where the father seems to treat death as a pre-planned trip. This juxtaposition of acceptance and resistance highlights the universal tension between recognizing death’s inevitability and emotionally preparing for it, as depicted in “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead.”
2. Faith and Belief in the Afterlife: Faith in the afterlife is central to the father’s perspective and contrasts sharply with the son’s doubt. The father’s confidence in a heavenly reunion is rooted in his religious belief, evident in “In the sureness of his faith, he talks about the world beyond this world.” His readiness to embrace death is portrayed as a serene and optimistic outlook, treating the afterlife as a continuation of existence rather than an end. In contrast, the son’s skepticism emerges in the line, “I do not think he’s right,” reflecting his struggle to reconcile his father’s faith with his own uncertainty. This tension underscores the broader theme of how belief systems shape one’s approach to mortality and the unknown, which is a key aspect of “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead.”
3. Parent-Child Relationship and Emotional Divide: The poem poignantly explores the emotional divide between the father and son as they navigate death differently. The father’s faith and calm acceptance contrast with the son’s grief and resistance, symbolizing a broader generational or personal gap. The son views death as a painful separation, imagining himself “on deck, convinced his ship’s gone down,” while the father envisions a joyful reunion, saying, “Welcome back.” This difference in perspective illustrates the complexities of familial love and the difficulty of parting with a loved one, even when they are at peace. “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” becomes a reflection on how shared experiences, such as life and death, can be understood so differently within close relationships.
4. Journey as a Metaphor for Death
In “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead,” Hudgins frequently uses the metaphor of a journey to frame the father’s death as a voyage to another realm. The father’s acceptance of death is depicted as a desire to explore “fresh worlds. Or older ones,” likening the afterlife to a traveler’s destination. This metaphor recurs with the image of the father standing on the dock, waiting to welcome his son back after his own “journey.” In contrast, the son struggles to see death as a journey, imagining it as a shipwreck or loss, rather than a safe arrival. This thematic use of travel imagery captures the differing emotional and philosophical interpretations of death as either a transition or an end.
Literary Theories and “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
| Literary Theory | Application to the Poem | References from the Poem |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Explores the speaker’s internal conflict and subconscious fears surrounding death, separation, and the unknown. | The speaker’s fear of loss and resistance to the idea of death is evident in lines like “I can’t just say goodbye as cheerfully.” |
| Religious Studies | Examines the contrasting views of death and afterlife through the lens of faith, belief systems, and spiritual traditions. | The father’s faith in “the world beyond this world” contrasts with the son’s skepticism, as seen in “I do not think he’s right.” |
| Existentialism | Focuses on the philosophical themes of mortality, the meaning of life, and individual perspectives on death and existence. | The father’s readiness for death, expressed in “He’s ready. I am not,” emphasizes the existential divide between father and son. |
| Structuralism | Analyzes the poem’s use of binary oppositions (life vs. death, faith vs. doubt, father vs. son) to convey meaning and thematic depth. | The opposing metaphors of “his ship’s gone down” and “standing on the dock” illustrate the structural tension between perspectives. |
Critical Questions about “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
1. How does the poem explore the theme of generational differences in facing mortality?
The poem highlights a significant generational divide in how death is perceived and approached. The father represents an older generation, characterized by steadfast faith and acceptance of mortality, as seen in “He’s ready” and “In the sureness of his faith, he talks about the world beyond this world.” His readiness to embrace death reflects a deeply rooted belief system that provides him with peace and confidence. In contrast, the son, representing a younger or more skeptical perspective, resists the inevitability of death, as expressed in “I can’t just say good-bye as cheerfully.” This emotional and philosophical gap demonstrates how beliefs, shaped by generational values or individual experiences, influence one’s ability to confront mortality. “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” uses this divide to emphasize the universal struggle to reconcile differing views on life and death within close familial relationships.
2. What role does faith play in shaping the father’s and son’s contrasting views of death?
Faith is central to the father’s perspective, providing him with a sense of certainty and calm about the afterlife. His confidence is reflected in the metaphor, “as though his reservations have been made,” which likens his belief in the afterlife to the certainty of travel plans. For the father, death is not an end but a transition to a new phase of existence, supported by his unwavering faith. In contrast, the son struggles with doubt, as seen in “I do not think he’s right.” The son’s skepticism challenges the father’s serene acceptance, reflecting the tension between belief and doubt in human approaches to mortality. This contrast in “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” highlights how faith, or the lack thereof, can profoundly shape one’s emotional and intellectual response to the concept of death.
3. How does Hudgins use the metaphor of a journey to frame the father’s death?
In “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead,” Hudgins employs the metaphor of a journey to depict death as a transition rather than an end. The father’s view of death as a journey is evident in phrases like “to make my later trip go well” and “an itch to see fresh worlds. Or older ones.” These lines suggest a sense of anticipation and adventure, portraying death as an exploration of new realms. In contrast, the son perceives death as a perilous and final voyage, imagining himself “on deck, convinced his ship’s gone down.” This nautical imagery emphasizes the emotional and philosophical conflict between father and son. For the father, death is a safe harbor; for the son, it is a devastating loss. The metaphor of a journey serves as a unifying device, encapsulating both their differing perspectives and the universal uncertainty surrounding death.
4. How does the poem explore the tension between hope and skepticism regarding the afterlife?
The poem reflects a deep tension between the father’s hopeful vision of a joyful reunion in the afterlife and the son’s skepticism. The father envisions the afterlife as a place where he will welcome his son, saying, “I’ll see him standing on the dock and waving, shouting, Welcome back.” This hopeful image of a heavenly reunion contrasts sharply with the son’s doubt, expressed in “I do not think he’s right.” The son imagines death as a shipwreck, saying, “I see myself on deck, convinced his ship’s gone down.” These opposing images symbolize the emotional divide between the father’s serene belief in an afterlife and the son’s struggle to find meaning in such a concept. By juxtaposing hope and skepticism, “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” captures the universal human struggle to balance faith with doubt when confronting mortality.
Literary Works Similar to “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
- “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
Similarity: Both poems address mortality and the emotional complexities surrounding a father’s death, though Thomas advocates resisting death, while Hudgins explores acceptance and doubt. - “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden
Similarity: Explores a father-son relationship with emotional depth, focusing on the son’s reflection and understanding of his father’s actions and emotions over time. - “Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden
Similarity: This poem, like Hudgins’, reflects on the profound loss of a loved one and the existential weight of death, albeit with a more overtly mournful tone. - “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson
Similarity: Uses the metaphor of a journey to depict death, paralleling Hudgins’ treatment of death as a voyage and exploring the inevitability of mortality. - “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke
Similarity: Examines the complex emotional dynamics of a father-son relationship, much like Hudgins does, though through a lens of childhood memory and ambiguity.
Representative Quotations of “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “One day I’ll lift the telephone and be told my father’s dead.” | The speaker anticipates the inevitable moment of his father’s death, setting the tone of inevitability and foreboding. | Existentialism: Reflects on the inevitability of death and its impact on human experience. |
| “He’s ready. I am not.” | Captures the emotional and philosophical gap between the father’s acceptance of death and the son’s reluctance to face it. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Explores the son’s internal conflict and fear of separation. |
| “In the sureness of his faith, he talks about the world beyond this world.” | Reflects the father’s unwavering belief in the afterlife, which contrasts with the son’s doubts. | Religious Studies: Examines the influence of faith on the father’s readiness for death. |
| “as though his reservations have been made.” | Compares the father’s belief in the afterlife to confirmed travel plans, emphasizing his confidence and ease with mortality. | Structuralism: Uses metaphor to frame death as a journey, highlighting contrasts between life and afterlife. |
| “I think he wants to go, a little bit.” | Suggests the father’s growing desire for death, portraying it as a longing for new experiences or closure. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Explores subconscious desires and the human psyche’s relationship with mortality. |
| “to see fresh worlds. Or older ones.” | Reflects the father’s curiosity and excitement about what lies beyond, whether it’s new or eternal. | Existentialism: Depicts death as an exploration of existence beyond life. |
| “He thinks that when I follow him, he’ll wrap me in his arms and laugh.” | Illustrates the father’s belief in a joyous afterlife reunion, rooted in his religious faith. | Religious Studies: Examines eschatological views of death and familial reunions. |
| “I do not think he’s right.” | The speaker expresses doubt about his father’s certainty in the afterlife, emphasizing their differing perspectives. | Postmodernism: Highlights skepticism and individual interpretation of metaphysical truths. |
| “I see myself on deck, convinced his ship’s gone down.” | The son imagines death as a tragic loss rather than a transition, illustrating his emotional struggle. | Psychoanalytic Theory: Reveals the son’s perception of death as separation and loss. |
| “I’ll see him standing on the dock and waving, shouting, Welcome back.” | The father envisions the afterlife as a welcoming place, underscoring his faith and optimism. | Structuralism: Contrasts the father’s hopeful imagery with the son’s despair, emphasizing binary oppositions. |
Suggested Readings: “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead” by Andrew Hudgins
- Hudgins, Andrew. “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead.” The Kenyon Review 9.1 (1987): 88-89.
- Hudgins, Andrew. “Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead.” The Kenyon Review, vol. 9, no. 1, 1987, pp. 88–89. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4335787. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
- Hudgins, Andrew. “Cargo.” The Kenyon Review, vol. 9, no. 1, 1987, pp. 87–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4335786. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.