Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- What roles do Christianity and Christian values play in this poem? What attitude does the speaker take toward them?
- Why do you think the speaker relies so heavily on historical figures to make his point? What point is he trying to make?
- The Vanity of Human Wishes was inspired by the Tenth Satire of the Latin poet Juvenal. How does Johnson's poem reflect aspects of Juvenal's satire? How does it contrast with it?
- Is this speaker just way too pessimistic about life and fate? Is there any optimism in this poem? If so, where do we find it?
- What do we make of gender in this poem? The only reference to women is to the "dangers" of female beauty. Is this is a sexist poem?