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115 Death Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Death is an inevitable part of life that has been contemplated and explored by humans throughout history. It is a subject that evokes a wide range of emotions and thoughts, from fear and sorrow to curiosity and acceptance. Writing an essay about death can be a profound and thought-provoking experience, allowing individuals to reflect on their own mortality and explore existential questions. To inspire your writing, here are 115 death essay topic ideas and examples.

The concept of death in different cultures.
The role of death in religious beliefs.
The fear of death and its impact on human behavior.
Death as a theme in literature and poetry.
The portrayal of death in art and cinema.
The psychology of grief and mourning.
The stages of grief according to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
How to cope with the loss of a loved one.
The impact of death on family dynamics.
The connection between death and existentialism.
Near-death experiences and their implications.
The debate between the existence of an afterlife and oblivion.
The significance of death rituals and funeral customs.
The ethics of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
The right to die: exploring the concept of death with dignity.
The role of death in philosophical thought.
Death as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation.
The impact of death anxiety on mental health.
Exploring the concept of a "good death."
The portrayal of death in popular culture.
Death and the meaning of life.
The portrayal of death in ancient mythology.
Death and the concept of time.
The impact of death on medical ethics.
The portrayal of death in children's literature.
The intersection of death and technology.
Death and the fear of the unknown.
The impact of death on social media and digital legacies.
The acceptance of death: exploring different perspectives.
The role of humor in coping with death.
Death and the concept of justice.
The impact of death on religious beliefs and practices.
The influence of death on artistic expression.
Death and the concept of free will.
The portrayal of death in different historical periods.
Death and the concept of fate.
The impact of death on the concept of identity.
Death and the concept of soul.
Death and the concept of pain.
The impact of death on medical advancements.
Death and the concept of forgiveness.
The portrayal of death in video games.
Death and the concept of sacrifice.
The impact of death on cultural traditions.
Death and the concept of legacy.
Death and the concept of beauty.
The portrayal of death in religious texts.
Death and the concept of morality.
The impact of death on social structures.
Death and the concept of justice in different societies.
The portrayal of death in different artistic mediums.
Death and the concept of love.
The impact of death on the concept of time.
Death and the concept of truth.
The portrayal of death in different musical genres.
Death and the concept of suffering.
The impact of death on the concept of freedom.
Death and the concept of redemption.
The portrayal of death in different dance forms.
Death and the concept of rebirth.
The impact of death on the concept of beauty.
Death and the concept of forgiveness in different cultures.
The portrayal of death in different architectural styles.
Death and the concept of fate in different societies.
The impact of death on the concept of identity in different periods.
Death and the concept of pain in different cultures.
The portrayal of death in different fashion trends.
Death and the concept of sacrifice in different religions.
The impact of death on the concept of legacy in different civilizations.
Death and the concept of beauty in different art forms.
The portrayal of death in different culinary traditions.
Death and the concept of justice in different historical eras.
The impact of death on the concept of morality in different societies.
Death and the concept of love in different cultures.
The portrayal of death in different sports.
Death and the concept of suffering in different religions.
The impact of death on the concept of freedom in different periods.
Death and the concept of redemption in different belief systems.
The portrayal of death in different circus acts.
Death and the concept of rebirth in different mythologies.
The impact of death on the concept of beauty in different civilizations.
Death and the concept of forgiveness in different cultural practices.
The portrayal of death in different gardening styles.
Death and the concept of fate in different belief systems.
The impact of death on the concept of identity in different societies.
Death and the concept of pain in different historical periods.
The portrayal of death in different interior design trends.
Death and the concept of sacrifice in different cultural practices.
Death and the concept of beauty in different fashion trends.
The portrayal of death in different music genres.
The impact of death on the concept of morality in different periods.
The portrayal of death in different film genres.
The impact of death on the concept of freedom in different societies.
The portrayal of death in different theater styles.
The portrayal of death in different dance styles.
The portrayal of death in different visual art forms.
Death and the concept of beauty in different architectural styles.
The portrayal of death in different literary genres.

Whether you choose to explore the philosophical, cultural, psychological, or artistic aspects of death, these essay topic ideas provide a wide range of possibilities to delve into this profound subject. Remember to approach the topic with sensitivity and respect, as death is a deeply personal and meaningful experience for many individuals.

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Essays About Death: Top 5 Examples and 9 Essay Prompts

Death includes mixed emotions and endless possibilities. If you are writing essays about death, see our examples and prompts in this article.

Over 50 million people die yearly from different causes worldwide. It’s a fact we must face when the time comes. Although the subject has plenty of dire connotations, many are still fascinated by death, enough so that literary pieces about it never cease. Every author has a reason why they want to talk about death. Most use it to put their grievances on paper to help them heal from losing a loved one. Some find writing and reading about death moving, transformative, or cathartic.

To help you write a compelling essay about death, we prepared five examples to spark your imagination:

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1. Essay on Death Penalty by Aliva Manjari

2. coping with death essay by writer cameron, 3. long essay on death by prasanna, 4. because i could not stop for death argumentative essay by writer annie, 5. an unforgettable experience in my life by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 1. life after death, 2. death rituals and ceremonies, 3. smoking: just for fun or a shortcut to the grave, 4. the end is near, 5. how do people grieve, 6. mental disorders and death, 7. are you afraid of death, 8. death and incurable diseases, 9. if i can pick how i die.

“The death penalty is no doubt unconstitutional if imposed arbitrarily, capriciously, unreasonably, discriminatorily, freakishly or wantonly, but if it is administered rationally, objectively and judiciously, it will enhance people’s confidence in criminal justice system.”

Manjari’s essay considers the death penalty as against the modern process of treating lawbreakers, where offenders have the chance to reform or defend themselves. Although the author is against the death penalty, she explains it’s not the right time to abolish it. Doing so will jeopardize social security. The essay also incorporates other relevant information, such as the countries that still have the death penalty and how they are gradually revising and looking for alternatives.

You might also be interested in our list of the best war books .

“How a person copes with grief is affected by the person’s cultural and religious background, coping skills, mental history, support systems, and the person’s social and financial status.”

Cameron defines coping and grief through sharing his personal experience. He remembers how their family and close friends went through various stages of coping when his Aunt Ann died during heart surgery. Later in his story, he mentions Ann’s last note, which she wrote before her surgery, in case something terrible happens. This note brought their family together again through shared tears and laughter. You can also check out these articles about cancer .

“Luckily or tragically, we are completely sentenced to death. But there is an interesting thing; we don’t have the knowledge of how the inevitable will strike to have a conversation.”

Prasanna states the obvious – all people die, but no one knows when. She also discusses the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Research also shows that when people die, the brain either shows a flashback of life or sees a ray of light.

Even if someone can predict the day of their death, it won’t change how the people who love them will react. Some will cry or be numb, but in the end, everyone will have to accept the inevitable. The essay ends with the philosophical belief that the soul never dies and is reborn in a new identity and body. You can also check out these elegy examples .

“People have busy lives, and don’t think of their own death, however, the speaker admits that she was willing to put aside her distractions and go with death. She seemed to find it pretty charming.”

The author focuses on how Emily Dickinson ’s “ Because I Could Not Stop for Death ” describes death. In the poem, the author portrays death as a gentle, handsome, and neat man who picks up a woman with a carriage to take her to the grave. The essay expounds on how Dickinson uses personification and imagery to illustrate death.

“The death of a loved one is one of the hardest things an individual can bring themselves to talk about; however, I will never forget that day in the chapter of my life, as while one story continued another’s ended.”

The essay delve’s into the author’s recollection of their grandmother’s passing. They recount the things engrained in their mind from that day – their sister’s loud cries, the pounding and sinking of their heart, and the first time they saw their father cry.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about losing a loved one .

9 Easy Writing Prompts on Essays About Death

Are you still struggling to choose a topic for your essay? Here are prompts you can use for your paper:

Your imagination is the limit when you pick this prompt for your essay. Because no one can confirm what happens to people after death, you can create an essay describing what kind of world exists after death. For instance, you can imagine yourself as a ghost that lingers on the Earth for a bit. Then, you can go to whichever place you desire and visit anyone you wish to say proper goodbyes to first before crossing to the afterlife.

Essays about death: Death rituals and ceremonies

Every country, religion, and culture has ways of honoring the dead. Choose a tribe, religion, or place, and discuss their death rituals and traditions regarding wakes and funerals. Include the reasons behind these activities. Conclude your essay with an opinion on these rituals and ceremonies but don’t forget to be respectful of everyone’s beliefs.

Smoking is still one of the most prevalent bad habits since tobacco’s creation in 1531 . Discuss your thoughts on individuals who believe there’s nothing wrong with this habit and inadvertently pass secondhand smoke to others. Include how to avoid chain-smokers and if we should let people kill themselves through excessive smoking. Add statistics and research to support your claims.

Collate people’s comments when they find out their death is near. Do this through interviews, and let your respondents list down what they’ll do first after hearing the simulated news. Then, add their reactions to your essay.

There is no proper way of grieving. People grieve in their way. Briefly discuss death and grieving at the start of your essay. Then, narrate a personal experience you’ve had with grieving to make your essay more relatable. Or you can compare how different people grieve. To give you an idea, you can mention that your father’s way of grieving is drowning himself in work while your mom openly cries and talk about her memories of the loved one who just passed away.

Explain how people suffering from mental illnesses view death. Then, measure it against how ordinary people see the end. Include research showing death rates caused by mental illnesses to prove your point. To make organizing information about the topic more manageable, you can also focus on one mental illness and relate it to death.

Check out our guide on how to write essays about depression .

Sometimes, seriously ill people say they are no longer afraid of death. For others, losing a loved one is even more terrifying than death itself. Share what you think of death and include factors that affected your perception of it.

People with incurable diseases are often ready to face death. For this prompt, write about individuals who faced their terminal illnesses head-on and didn’t let it define how they lived their lives. You can also review literary pieces that show these brave souls’ struggle and triumph. A great series to watch is “ My Last Days .”

You might also be interested in these epitaph examples .

No one knows how they’ll leave this world, but if you have the chance to choose how you part with your loved ones, what will it be? Probe into this imagined situation. For example, you can write: “I want to die at an old age, surrounded by family and friends who love me. I hope it’ll be a peaceful death after I’ve done everything I wanted in life.”

To make your essay more intriguing, put unexpected events in it. Check out these plot twist ideas .

May 3, 2023

Contemplating Mortality: Powerful Essays on Death and Inspiring Perspectives

The prospect of death may be unsettling, but it also holds a deep fascination for many of us. If you're curious to explore the many facets of mortality, from the scientific to the spiritual, our article is the perfect place to start. With expert guidance and a wealth of inspiration, we'll help you write an essay that engages and enlightens readers on one of life's most enduring mysteries!

Death is a universal human experience that we all must face at some point in our lives. While it can be difficult to contemplate mortality, reflecting on death and loss can offer inspiring perspectives on the nature of life and the importance of living in the present moment. In this collection of powerful essays about death, we explore profound writings that delve into the human experience of coping with death, grief, acceptance, and philosophical reflections on mortality.

Through these essays, readers can gain insight into different perspectives on death and how we can cope with it. From personal accounts of loss to philosophical reflections on the meaning of life, these essays offer a diverse range of perspectives that will inspire and challenge readers to contemplate their mortality.

The Inevitable: Coping with Mortality and Grief

Mortality is a reality that we all have to face, and it is something that we cannot avoid. While we may all wish to live forever, the truth is that we will all eventually pass away. In this article, we will explore different aspects of coping with mortality and grief, including understanding the grieving process, dealing with the fear of death, finding meaning in life, and seeking support.

Understanding the Grieving Process

Grief is a natural and normal response to loss. It is a process that we all go through when we lose someone or something important to us. The grieving process can be different for each person and can take different amounts of time. Some common stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to grieve and that it is a personal process.

Denial is often the first stage of grief. It is a natural response to shock and disbelief. During this stage, we may refuse to believe that our loved one has passed away or that we are facing our mortality.

Anger is a common stage of grief. It can manifest as feelings of frustration, resentment, and even rage. It is important to allow yourself to feel angry and to express your emotions healthily.

Bargaining is often the stage of grief where we try to make deals with a higher power or the universe in an attempt to avoid our grief or loss. We may make promises or ask for help in exchange for something else.

Depression is a natural response to loss. It is important to allow yourself to feel sad and to seek support from others.

Acceptance is often the final stage of grief. It is when we come to terms with our loss and begin to move forward with our lives.

Dealing with the Fear of Death

The fear of death is a natural response to the realization of our mortality. It is important to acknowledge and accept our fear of death but also to not let it control our lives. Here are some ways to deal with the fear of death:

Accepting Mortality

Accepting our mortality is an important step in dealing with the fear of death. We must understand that death is a natural part of life and that it is something that we cannot avoid.

Finding Meaning in Life

Finding meaning in life can help us cope with the fear of death. It is important to pursue activities and goals that are meaningful and fulfilling to us.

Seeking Support

Seeking support from friends, family, or a therapist can help us cope with the fear of death. Talking about our fears and feelings can help us process them and move forward.

Finding meaning in life is important in coping with mortality and grief. It can help us find purpose and fulfillment, even in difficult times. Here are some ways to find meaning in life:

Pursuing Passions

Pursuing our passions and interests can help us find meaning and purpose in life. It is important to do things that we enjoy and that give us a sense of accomplishment.

Helping Others

Helping others can give us a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It can also help us feel connected to others and make a positive impact on the world.

Making Connections

Making connections with others is important in finding meaning in life. It is important to build relationships and connections with people who share our values and interests.

Seeking support is crucial when coping with mortality and grief. Here are some ways to seek support:

Talking to Friends and Family

Talking to friends and family members can provide us with a sense of comfort and support. It is important to express our feelings and emotions to those we trust.

Joining a Support Group

Joining a support group can help us connect with others who are going through similar experiences. It can provide us with a safe space to share our feelings and find support.

Seeking Professional Help

Seeking help from a therapist or counselor can help cope with grief and mortality. A mental health professional can provide us with the tools and support we need to process our emotions and move forward.

Coping with mortality and grief is a natural part of life. It is important to understand that grief is a personal process that may take time to work through. Finding meaning in life, dealing with the fear of death, and seeking support are all important ways to cope with mortality and grief. Remember to take care of yourself, allow yourself to feel your emotions, and seek support when needed.

The Ethics of Death: A Philosophical Exploration

Death is an inevitable part of life, and it is something that we will all experience at some point. It is a topic that has fascinated philosophers for centuries, and it continues to be debated to this day. In this article, we will explore the ethics of death from a philosophical perspective, considering questions such as what it means to die, the morality of assisted suicide, and the meaning of life in the face of death.

Death is a topic that elicits a wide range of emotions, from fear and sadness to acceptance and peace. Philosophers have long been interested in exploring the ethical implications of death, and in this article, we will delve into some of the most pressing questions in this field.

What does it mean to die?

The concept of death is a complex one, and there are many different ways to approach it from a philosophical perspective. One question that arises is what it means to die. Is death simply the cessation of bodily functions, or is there something more to it than that? Many philosophers argue that death represents the end of consciousness and the self, which raises questions about the nature of the soul and the afterlife.

The morality of assisted suicide

Assisted suicide is a controversial topic, and it raises several ethical concerns. On the one hand, some argue that individuals have the right to end their own lives if they are suffering from a terminal illness or unbearable pain. On the other hand, others argue that assisting someone in taking their own life is morally wrong and violates the sanctity of life. We will explore these arguments and consider the ethical implications of assisted suicide.

The meaning of life in the face of death

The inevitability of death raises important questions about the meaning of life. If our time on earth is finite, what is the purpose of our existence? Is there a higher meaning to life, or is it simply a product of biological processes? Many philosophers have grappled with these questions, and we will explore some of the most influential theories in this field.

The role of death in shaping our lives

While death is often seen as a negative force, it can also have a positive impact on our lives. The knowledge that our time on earth is limited can motivate us to live life to the fullest and to prioritize the things that truly matter. We will explore the role of death in shaping our values, goals, and priorities, and consider how we can use this knowledge to live more fulfilling lives.

The ethics of mourning

The process of mourning is an important part of the human experience, and it raises several ethical questions. How should we respond to the death of others, and what is our ethical responsibility to those who are grieving? We will explore these questions and consider how we can support those who are mourning while also respecting their autonomy and individual experiences.

The ethics of immortality

The idea of immortality has long been a fascination for humanity, but it raises important ethical questions. If we were able to live forever, what would be the implications for our sense of self, our relationships with others, and our moral responsibilities? We will explore the ethical implications of immortality and consider how it might challenge our understanding of what it means to be human.

The ethics of death in different cultural contexts

Death is a universal human experience, but how it is understood and experienced varies across different cultures. We will explore how different cultures approach death, mourning, and the afterlife, and consider the ethical implications of these differences.

Death is a complex and multifaceted topic, and it raises important questions about the nature of life, morality, and human experience. By exploring the ethics of death from a philosophical perspective, we can gain a deeper understanding of these questions and how they shape our lives.

The Ripple Effect of Loss: How Death Impacts Relationships

Losing a loved one is one of the most challenging experiences one can go through in life. It is a universal experience that touches people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. The grief that follows the death of someone close can be overwhelming and can take a significant toll on an individual's mental and physical health. However, it is not only the individual who experiences the grief but also the people around them. In this article, we will discuss the ripple effect of loss and how death impacts relationships.

Understanding Grief and Loss

Grief is the natural response to loss, and it can manifest in many different ways. The process of grieving is unique to each individual and can be affected by many factors, such as culture, religion, and personal beliefs. Grief can be intense and can impact all areas of life, including relationships, work, and physical health.

The Impact of Loss on Relationships

Death can impact relationships in many ways, and the effects can be long-lasting. Below are some of how loss can affect relationships:

1. Changes in Roles and Responsibilities

When someone dies, the roles and responsibilities within a family or social circle can shift dramatically. For example, a spouse who has lost their partner may have to take on responsibilities they never had before, such as managing finances or taking care of children. This can be a difficult adjustment, and it can put a strain on the relationship.

2. Changes in Communication

Grief can make it challenging to communicate with others effectively. Some people may withdraw and isolate themselves, while others may become angry and lash out. It is essential to understand that everyone grieves differently, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. However, these changes in communication can impact relationships, and it may take time to adjust to new ways of interacting with others.

3. Changes in Emotional Connection

When someone dies, the emotional connection between individuals can change. For example, a parent who has lost a child may find it challenging to connect with other parents who still have their children. This can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection, and it can strain relationships.

4. Changes in Social Support

Social support is critical when dealing with grief and loss. However, it is not uncommon for people to feel unsupported during this time. Friends and family may not know what to say or do, or they may simply be too overwhelmed with their grief to offer support. This lack of social support can impact relationships and make it challenging to cope with grief.

Coping with Loss and Its Impact on Relationships

Coping with grief and loss is a long and difficult process, but it is possible to find ways to manage the impact on relationships. Below are some strategies that can help:

1. Communication

Effective communication is essential when dealing with grief and loss. It is essential to talk about how you feel and what you need from others. This can help to reduce misunderstandings and make it easier to navigate changes in relationships.

2. Seek Support

It is important to seek support from friends, family, or a professional if you are struggling to cope with grief and loss. Having someone to talk to can help to alleviate feelings of isolation and provide a safe space to process emotions.

3. Self-Care

Self-care is critical when dealing with grief and loss. It is essential to take care of your physical and emotional well-being. This can include things like exercise, eating well, and engaging in activities that you enjoy.

4. Allow for Flexibility

It is essential to allow for flexibility in relationships when dealing with grief and loss. People may not be able to provide the same level of support they once did or may need more support than they did before. Being open to changes in roles and responsibilities can help to reduce strain on relationships.

5. Find Meaning

Finding meaning in the loss can be a powerful way to cope with grief and loss. This can involve creating a memorial, participating in a support group, or volunteering for a cause that is meaningful to you.

The impact of loss is not limited to the individual who experiences it but extends to those around them as well. Relationships can be greatly impacted by the death of a loved one, and it is important to be aware of the changes that may occur. Coping with loss and its impact on relationships involves effective communication, seeking support, self-care, flexibility, and finding meaning.

What Lies Beyond Reflections on the Mystery of Death

Death is an inevitable part of life, and yet it remains one of the greatest mysteries that we face as humans. What happens when we die? Is there an afterlife? These are questions that have puzzled us for centuries, and they continue to do so today. In this article, we will explore the various perspectives on death and what lies beyond.

Understanding Death

Before we can delve into what lies beyond, we must first understand what death is. Death is defined as the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. This can occur as a result of illness, injury, or simply old age. Death is a natural process that occurs to all living things, but it is also a process that is often accompanied by fear and uncertainty.

The Physical Process of Death

When a person dies, their body undergoes several physical changes. The heart stops beating, and the body begins to cool and stiffen. This is known as rigor mortis, and it typically sets in within 2-6 hours after death. The body also begins to break down, and this can lead to a release of gases that cause bloating and discoloration.

The Psychological Experience of Death

In addition to the physical changes that occur during and after death, there is also a psychological experience that accompanies it. Many people report feeling a sense of detachment from their physical body, as well as a sense of peace and calm. Others report seeing bright lights or visions of loved ones who have already passed on.

Perspectives on What Lies Beyond

There are many different perspectives on what lies beyond death. Some people believe in an afterlife, while others believe in reincarnation or simply that death is the end of consciousness. Let's explore some of these perspectives in more detail.

One of the most common beliefs about what lies beyond death is the idea of an afterlife. This can take many forms, depending on one's religious or spiritual beliefs. For example, many Christians believe in heaven and hell, where people go after they die depending on their actions during life. Muslims believe in paradise and hellfire, while Hindus believe in reincarnation.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation is the belief that after we die, our consciousness is reborn into a new body. This can be based on karma, meaning that the quality of one's past actions will determine the quality of their next life. Some people believe that we can choose the circumstances of our next life based on our desires and attachments in this life.

End of Consciousness

The idea that death is simply the end of consciousness is a common belief among atheists and materialists. This view holds that the brain is responsible for creating consciousness, and when the brain dies, consciousness ceases to exist. While this view may be comforting to some, others find it unsettling.

Death is a complex and mysterious phenomenon that continues to fascinate us. While we may never fully understand what lies beyond death, it's important to remember that everyone has their own beliefs and perspectives on the matter. Whether you believe in an afterlife, reincarnation, or simply the end of consciousness, it's important to find ways to cope with the loss of a loved one and to find peace with your mortality.

Final Words

In conclusion, these powerful essays on death offer inspiring perspectives and deep insights into the human experience of coping with mortality, grief, and loss. From personal accounts to philosophical reflections, these essays provide a diverse range of perspectives that encourage readers to contemplate their mortality and the meaning of life.

By reading and reflecting on these essays, readers can gain a better understanding of how death shapes our lives and relationships, and how we can learn to accept and cope with this inevitable part of the human experience.

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5 moving, beautiful essays about death and dying

by Sarah Kliff

It is never easy to contemplate the end-of-life, whether its own our experience or that of a loved one.

This has made a recent swath of beautiful essays a surprise. In different publications over the past few weeks, I’ve stumbled upon writers who were contemplating final days. These are, no doubt, hard stories to read. I had to take breaks as I read about Paul Kalanithi’s experience facing metastatic lung cancer while parenting a toddler, and was devastated as I followed Liz Lopatto’s contemplations on how to give her ailing cat the best death possible. But I also learned so much from reading these essays, too, about what it means to have a good death versus a difficult end from those forced to grapple with the issue. These are four stories that have stood out to me recently, alongside one essay from a few years ago that sticks with me today.

My Own Life | Oliver Sacks

As recently as last month, popular author and neurologist Oliver Sacks was in great health, even swimming a mile every day. Then, everything changed: the 81-year-old was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. In a beautiful op-ed , published in late February in the New York Times, he describes his state of mind and how he’ll face his final moments. What I liked about this essay is how Sacks describes how his world view shifts as he sees his time on earth getting shorter, and how he thinks about the value of his time.

Before I go | Paul Kalanithi

Kalanthi began noticing symptoms — “weight loss, fevers, night sweats, unremitting back pain, cough” — during his sixth year of residency as a neurologist at Stanford. A CT scan revealed metastatic lung cancer. Kalanthi writes about his daughter, Cady and how he “probably won’t live long enough for her to have a memory of me.” Much of his essay focuses on an interesting discussion of time, how it’s become a double-edged sword. Each day, he sees his daughter grow older, a joy. But every day is also one that brings him closer to his likely death from cancer.

As I lay dying | Laurie Becklund

Becklund’s essay was published posthumonously after her death on February 8 of this year. One of the unique issues she grapples with is how to discuss her terminal diagnosis with others and the challenge of not becoming defined by a disease. “Who would ever sign another book contract with a dying woman?” she writes. “Or remember Laurie Becklund, valedictorian, Fulbright scholar, former Times staff writer who exposed the Salvadoran death squads and helped The Times win a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 1992 L.A. riots? More important, and more honest, who would ever again look at me just as Laurie?”

Everything I know about a good death I learned from my cat | Liz Lopatto

Dorothy Parker was Lopatto’s cat, a stray adopted from a local vet. And Dorothy Parker, known mostly as Dottie, died peacefully when she passed away earlier this month. Lopatto’s essay is, in part, about what she learned about end-of-life care for humans from her cat. But perhaps more than that, it’s also about the limitations of how much her experience caring for a pet can transfer to caring for another person.

Yes, Lopatto’s essay is about a cat rather than a human being. No, it does not make it any easier to read. She describes in searing detail about the experience of caring for another being at the end of life. “Dottie used to weigh almost 20 pounds; she now weighs six,” Lopatto writes. “My vet is right about Dottie being close to death, that it’s probably a matter of weeks rather than months.”

Letting Go | Atul Gawande

“Letting Go” is a beautiful, difficult true story of death. You know from the very first sentence — “Sara Thomas Monopoli was pregnant with her first child when her doctors learned that she was going to die” — that it is going to be tragic. This story has long been one of my favorite pieces of health care journalism because it grapples so starkly with the difficult realities of end-of-life care.

In the story, Monopoli is diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, a surprise for a non-smoking young woman. It’s a devastating death sentence: doctors know that lung cancer that advanced is terminal. Gawande knew this too — Monpoli was his patient. But actually discussing this fact with a young patient with a newborn baby seemed impossible.

"Having any sort of discussion where you begin to say, 'look you probably only have a few months to live. How do we make the best of that time without giving up on the options that you have?' That was a conversation I wasn't ready to have," Gawande recounts of the case in a new Frontline documentary .

What’s tragic about Monopoli’s case was, of course, her death at an early age, in her 30s. But the tragedy that Gawande hones in on — the type of tragedy we talk about much less — is how terribly Monopoli’s last days played out.

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226 Death Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on death, ✍️ death essay topics for college, 👍 good death research topics & essay examples, 🌶️ hot death ideas to write about, 🎓 most interesting death research titles, 📌 easy death essay topics, 💡 simple death essay ideas, ❓ questions about death.

Jeremy Dutcher “Mehcinut” (Death Chant): Style of the Song
Pentecostal’s Church Approach to Death, After-Life, and End of Life
Death in Emily Dickinson’s Poems
Death Culture in Filipinos and Its Peculiarities
Philosophical Views on Death
Heaven, Hell, and Dying Well: Images of Death in the Middle Ages
The Soul Never Dies: John Donne’s “Death, Be Not Proud”
Death Within Edgar Allan Poe’s Works Edgar Allan Poe was one of the authors who turned to the notion of death in his works: the most emotively it is expressed in Poe’s poems “The Raven”, “Lenore”, and “Annabel Lee”.
Love and Death in Poetry by Emily Dickinson The main themes of Dickinson’s poetry were nature, death, love and Gospel the main points her manner of presentation and her inner state through.
Death by Fire: The Death Penalty in Texas The death penalty in criminal justice has sparked a lot of debate as many citizens wonder whether to accept it or call for its abolishment.
The Concept of Death and Dying The purpose of this paper is to analyze the concept of death and dying, its key characteristics, impacts on individuals, family, and society, and related critical issues.
Death Penalty Abolishment: Arguments For and Against The practice’s opponents believe that the death penalty is inhumane, while proponents argue that it is a fair retribution for certain types of crimes.
Haitian Cultural Considerations of Death This paper looks at the customs, attitude, and ideas that Haitians have concerning the concept of death and dying.
“The Death of Artemio Cruz” by Carlos Fuentes The Death of Artemio Cruz is a book written by Carlos Fuentes in 1962 about the Mexican Revolution and its aftermath.
Gilgamesh’s Search for Immortality: Inevitability of Death in a Story The Epic of Gilgamesh is generally the story of one man’s journey to outfox’s demise, and, strangely, the needs of a contemporary American have not changed much.
The Death of Enkidu and the Enlightenment of Gilgamesh The great epic poem of Gilgamesh explores a vast number of themes, but the one that sets the epic into motion is the subject of friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
“The Mask of the Red Death”: Story by Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe published several stories with gothic inspiration, but none more critically acclaimed than “The Mask of the Red Death.”
Justification of the Death Penalty The paper argues that the death penalty is only justifiable under three circumstances, including retribution, deterrence and a form of communication.
The Death Penalty: Arguments in Favor The death penalty is a general discussion topic in modern society and is complicated. Federal and state courts progressively approve death penalty statutes.
Poe’s View on “The Masque of the Red Death” Edgar Allan Poe uses the word “masque” in the title to symbolize a one-of-a-kind celebration where people cover their identities behind masks to foster safety and experience joy.
Pronouncing a Brain-Dead Patient’s Death: Yusef Camp’s Case At the time of the situation, local legislation had no law to authorize death pronouncement based on brain criteria alone.
Death Penalty: The Utilitarianism Ethical Theory Utilitarianism gives moral justification for the death penalty as long as it promotes society’s total well-being, approval, and happiness.
Emily Jerry’s Death: The Root Cause Analysis Emily Jerry was a two-year-old patient who died during her stay in a hospital due to mismanagement of medical equipment and hospital staff incompetence.
Fast Foods Lead to Fast Death: Informative Speech The fast-food industry has expanded at a rapid pace during the past half-century. The consequence has been the rapid expansion of the nation’s collective waistline.
Approaches to Death, Their Types and Differences This paper discusses how do the biological, psychological, anthropological, philosophical, and sociological approaches to death differ.
The Concept of Death in Islam According to Islam, death is the soul’s return to its creator, who is Allah. Thus, this religion regards human life as a complex of severe trials, which always end in death.
Understanding Amish Attitudes Toward Death: Implications for End-of-Life Care While the Amish focus on the world beyond this world, they certainly feel sadness and loss just like any other people when loved ones pass away.
Alcoholism and Edgar Allan Poe’s Death Many arguments support alcoholism as the cause of Poe’s death, including his friends’ testimonials, newspapers’ reports about brain congestion, and social observations.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Case Study The right thing to do is to resolve the issue by settlement out of the court. A payment is preferable to a trial if the insurance company is willing to pay the damage caused.
Emily Dickinson’s Reasons to Write About Death Death is one of the main and strongest reoccurring themes in Dickinson’s poetry that can be properly discussed through the events of the Civil War in the 19th century.
An Interpretation of Dickinson’s Views on Death in Her Poetry The paper considers Dickinson’s substantial contribution of almost 1800 poems into the field of mysticism and her particular views on death within her fascinating poems.
The Incident With Wolterman: The First Line-Of-Duty Death in the History of Hfd The incident with Wolterman appeared to be the first line-of-duty death in the history of HFD since 1971. Wolterman’s line-of-duty death is the most recent of them.
Death and Culture: Cross-Cultural Beliefs and Practices Associated With Death The concept of death is, perhaps, the most recognized idea globally. It is a natural phenomenon that marks the end of life.
Annotated Bibliography Assignment: Position on Death Sentence The intended outcome involves proving that the DS is inseparable from costly mistakes, including those reinforced by prejudice.
A Good Death: Family Ritual of Death Anniversary Death anniversary is one of the everyday rituals that every family practices in memory of their departed relatives.
Death and Dying: A Case Study In the case of George, the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) means that he has a limited time to live and that his health is highly likely to deteriorate with time.
Sikhism and Christianity: A View on Life and Death The purpose of this essay is to discuss the relationship between the two religious movements to the purpose of human life and the phenomenon of the afterlife.
History of “The Black Death” by Rosemary Horrox In “The Black Death,” Rosemmary Horrox traced how the Black Death in Europe and part of Asia affected the entire continent and spread across the part of England and Ukraine.
Arts and the Black Death In the mid-14th century, the Black Death plague swept across Europe, killing more than 40% of the population.
Opioid Use Disorder and Death: Evidence Appraisal Overdose is now one of the leading causes of mortality by injury in the United States. It results in ten thousand of preventable deaths every year.
The Concept of Death and Dying in Religions The worldview of each religion is the key to understanding the human essence, and holding this or that position allows differently assessing both earthly existence and life after death.
Death Perception in the World Religions Buddhism and Hinduism perceive death as liberation. Therefore, mourning among representatives of these religions is not long and much less painful than in Christianity or Islam.
Life Stages: Old Age, Dying, and Death Death is perceived as a natural and inevitable part of life. We may not be sure about the outcomes of our lives, but one thing we are confident of is that we are all going to die.
Emily Dickenson’s Poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” In this paper, the poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death is discussed from the perspective of a message that can be gained about its theme.
Discussion: Meditation on Death Awareness This paper summarizes the article about the death awareness meditation that has three parts – the inevitability of death, the uncertainty, and the benefits of the spiritual insight.
Death Penalty: Contradictions Several crimes can lead to the death penalty: rape, racism, and murder. The death penalty has many and serious disadvantages and advantages.
Psychological Aspects of Desdemona’s Death: The Power of Deceptions and Racial Differences Desdemona’s death at her husband’s hands proves that jealousy seeds are easy to sow because they are reinforced by the outside psychological and racial means.
The Triumph of Death: A Prominent Theme in Gothic Literature The paper states that gothic fiction peers through humans’ gravest fears with surgical precision and terrifying brutality.
Law and Medical Ethics: Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Death Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are practices that occur in many countries. Some countries and states such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Oregon have made these practices legal.
Estimating the Time of Death: The Main Factors This paper describes how to determine the time of death of a person, the factors and signs of the causes of death, that can help in the investigation.
Mental Health Disorders and Suicide: A Global Perspective The current article supports the fact that mental disorders are risk factors for accidental death and suicide, but there is limited data to suggest their association with homicide.
When the Death of a Star Becomes a Black Hole Black holes are among the most exciting phenomena in the universe. They are thick and have a powerful gravitational pull that not even light can flee their clutches.
Tupac’s Fake Death Conspiracy Theory The author is convinced that Tupac staged his own death as part of a larger plan to evade the FBI and other law enforcement agencies who were after him.
Gary Davis: “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” The song is a terrible embodiment of the variability of life, the sudden possibility of decease at any moment; this part of human existence greatly worried the author.
Death in the Village of Gold, Zamfara Province The village of Gold is a case experiencing a life-threatening condition to its population after numerous deaths are reported amongst children in three villages of Zamfara Province.
Death Concept: Accepting Its Transformational Power Death is the end of earthly life, while one can still question if it is the real end. Depending on the attitude, the answer can be different.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Health Promotion Plan This paper aims at developing a health promotion plan that investigates SIDS and related best health improvement practices.
Love, Life, Death, and God Concepts in Poetry The themes of love, life, death, and belief are commonly discussed in poetry, and people are free to expand their own opinions and judgments.
Philosophy of Death and Dying Death has always been a significant theme of religious practices, philosophy, medicine, and art. They all turn to the specific features of the process of dying.
Attitudes Toward Death: Thomas vs. Whitman In the paper, attention will be paid to the two poems written by different authors and in different centuries but united by a common theme and several strong literary devices.
Dying-Death and Loss-Grief in Different Cultures Culture is a product of evolution and human creativity; it comprises all aspects of human adjustment which include sets of ideals, beliefs, including the culture of death.
The Concept of Death in Perspectives of Christianity and Hinduism Each individual interprets and deals with such situations according to personal values. This perspective is often based on a system of beliefs such as a religion.
The Portrayal of Death in Lullabies Lullabies, being a relatively simple genre derived from folklore, do not elaborate much on various aspects of death.
Kathe Kollwitz’s “Death and the Mother” Painting Because of the specific aesthetics and the incredible expressivity, every single piece of art by Kathe Kollwitz breaks the well-known idea about the impersonality of art.
Workplace Death and Injuries The paper analyzes the article “The Occupational Safety and Health Act’s Preemptive Effect on State Criminal Prosecutions of Employers for Workplace Death and Injuries”.
The Justness of Socrates’s Decision to Accept the Death Penalty Socrates was sentenced to death for instilling ‘wrong’ political views in the youth, but instead of escaping his death, the philosopher accepted it with honor.
The Advantages of the Death Penalty This paper claims that the death penalty justified from an ethic since it reduces the number of criminals, satisfy the victims, and the state will not suffer financial losses.
Ethics of Ending Life Support After Brain Death The case study is about the attempts of the family of the girl whose brain is already dead, and she has no chance for improvement, to impose the ban on ending her life support.
The Death of “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville Melville’s story “Billy Budde” culminates in the death of the main character – an innocent, inexperienced sailor, who through no fault of his, was hanged.
Early Martin Heidegger on “Death” Martin Heidegger is one of the most significant philosophers of the 20th century. He viewed death as a defining phenomenon for time and being.
Death in Poetry: the Analysis of Poems by E. Dickinson, J. Donne, and A. Sexton This essay will analyze poems by E. Dickinson, J. Donne, and A. Sexton and attempt to decipher the points of view presented in the poems.
Stephen King’s 1408: The Image of Death in Contemporary Gothic Literature In this essay, the author describes Stephen King’s story “1408” and argues for signs of its relationship to contemporary Gothic literature.
Airline Liability for Passenger Injury or Death The selected legal topic for this discussion revolves around the issue of liability after the death or injury of passengers after air crashes.
The Roman Empire and Julius Caesar’s Death It is important to note that Caesar’s death was a pivotal moment in the history of the Roman Empire, marking the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the imperial era.
How Breastmilk Affects the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome This paper seeks to establish the relationship between breastfeeding and low rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome compared to formula.
Dickinson’s Because I Could Not Stop for Death Poem Analysis The plot of Emily Dickinson’s poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death is centered on the narrator’s journey towards immortality, accompanied by Death.
Belief in Life After Death: Descriptive Statistical Analysis This report proposes a descriptive statistical analysis for the distributions of two variables measured on different scales from the GSS2018 set.
Nursing: Witnessing Death at Work The paper states that death occupies an integral role in the work of a health worker. It has a combined effect on their mental and psychic state.
Death Penalty as Viewed within the Framework of Retributive Justice Modern society strives to develop compassion and understanding and reduce cruelty, as the value of human life and individuality is steadily growing.
Death and Dying in “What Really Matters…” by Miller BJ Miller provides an uncommon viewpoint borrowing from a traumatic near-death encounter that cost him his feet and arm.
Death and Dying Rituals in Buddhism The Buddhist perspective on death is undeniably positive as it helps in relieving pain and grief and preparing the living for eventual death.
Dying and Death From a Nursing Perspective: Annotated Bibliography Current cosmic scale necropolitics is trying to frame death, dying, and mourning in the modern world to existence.
The Traditions of Death Practices The paper discusses the traditions of death practices. It includes the Dia de los Muertos celebration and human composting burial practice.
“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” by Leo Tolstoy The story The Death of Ivan Ilyich was first published in 1886. It, like The Confessions, reflects Tolstoy’s spiritual quest.
The Death Penalty: James Holmes’ Case The death penalty does not violate the Sixth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. It does shape certain procedural aspects.
Race, Ethnicity, and Age Trends of Death From COVID-19 The article “Race, ethnicity, and age trends in persons…” analyzes deaths due to COVID-19 from the perspective of race, ethnicity, and age of its victims.
Aspects of Death Penalty Acceptance The death penalty is a form of punishment that should be used to justify criminals when they commit severe crimes concerning other people.
Court Cases That Impacted to Death Penalty Daryl Atkins, who has an IQ of 59, was found guilty of murdering an Air Force enlisted man inside a convenience shop and was sentenced to death for his crime.
Fetal Death Rates: International Comparison The paper states that the diagram and findings that ensue from it are not demonstrative of fetal mortality. The graph includes only ten nations.
Death Of Student at LA High School Case Discussion The case to be discussed further in this essay occurred in one of Los Angeles’s high schools, where a 15-year-old teenager died from a fentanyl overdose.
Death Penalty and “Eye for an Eye” System The argument that the death penalty fits the narrative of the “eye for an eye” idea is valid. However, the state has the right to take away someone’s rights.
Against the Death Penalty in the US The article presents arguments against the death penalty in the United States, focusing on its ineffectiveness as a deterrent, high costs, and racial and subjective biases.
Death Penalty Position in Society Death penalty is the most severe punishment a government may sentence a person to for breaking the law, for example, by committing murder.
Grief Counselling on Managing Child Terminal Death Whereas anticipatory grief for older patients such as parents or grandparents is relatively common, preparing for the death of a child can be significantly more impactful.
Death Penalty in Case of Mental Illnesses American legal thought posited that the defendant’s mental competence was a necessary prerequisite for issuing and implementing the death penalty.
The Death Philosophy in Religion and Science This paper aims to answer the question that still swirls in the minds of many philosophers: is death a fearful phenomenon or the beginning of a new life?
Caring for Individuals Experiencing Common Health Challenges: Death and Dying The main idea of palliative care is integrating a holistic approach when nurses do everything possible to improve the quality of human life, even if death is inevitable.
Becoming an Organ Donor After the Death Transplanted organs save lives every day, yet doctors often have to lose precious time seeking a viable organ due to a lack of donors.
The Death and Burial of the Chinese Death in Eastern countries is considered best of all in the example of China because it is the country where the classical form of the cult of ancestors is the most developed.
The Black Death: Impact on European Society By the beginning of the epidemic of the Black Death in 1346, Europe was considered overpopulated, and the standard of living was rapidly falling.
Methodological Flaws in Studies of Air Pollution and COVID-19 Death Rates The research reviews the considerations related to studying the correlation between ambient air pollution and its effects on the symptoms of COVID-19.
The Culture of Death in the American Civil War The paper discusses the perception of death during the Civil War era. It shows the contrast between people’s opinions about it in the past and the present.
Liability of Death from Food Poisoning Woeste ate raw oysters at Washington Platform Saloon restaurant and died of food poisoning. Later his estate sued the restaurant and the company that harvested the oysters.
“The Odyssey,” “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and “The Sauptikaparvan”: “Good Death” Idea “The Odyssey,” “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and “The Sauptikaparvan” promote the concept of a “good death” as the notion of perfection of a warrior who dies on the battlefield.
The Film “Black Death” by Christopher Smith “Black Death”, a 2011 film by Christopher Smith, is one of the many cinematic deliberations on the subject of the 14th-century Black Plague in cinema.
Surviving the Death of a Parent “The Death of a Parent Affects Even Grown Children Psychologically and Physically,” explains how parental loss affects adults.
The Idea of Aging and the Inevitable Death The idea of aging and the inevitable death seem distant to young people. As one ages, the necessity to reconcile with the fear of demise emerges.
Socrates: Life and Death Discussion Socrates gave three distinct arguments in favor of life after death. His reasoning is not obliged to embrace the idea of soul immortality.
“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson In “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” Emily Dickinson applies tone, personification, and metaphor to outline the lethargic journey of an individual from life to Death.
Aging and Death in Literature: Larkin and Shakespeare This paper aims to compare Philip Larkin’s “The Old Fools” and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 64, which present contrasting views of aging and mortality.
Life After Death: Nevitt’s Survivalism vs. Oderberg’s Survivalism Nevitt’s examines the views of corruptionists and survivalists on Aquinas and his beliefs on the status of human beings after death and before the resurrection.
Immortality, Personal Identity, Death and God The paper discusses the idea of the hereafter is connected to the understanding of the absolute and its influences on memory and body levels.
Discussion of Global Death Sentence It is no secret that capital punishment has always been a topic surrounded by controversies in many humanitarian disciplines such as philosophy, law, and sociology.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Description Babies usually die quietly and without evidence of a struggle. SIDS’s diagnosis is set when the infant’s death cannot be explained.
Relationship Between Gender and Death Anxiety “Death Anxiety Among Elderly People” provides multiple insights into the relationship between death anxiety, spirituality, and gender among older patients in the Indian context.
Healthcare Ethics: Physician-Assisted Death Physician-assisted death should be illegal since the goal of healthcare must be to maintain treatment that sustains life for patients, by seeking alternatives in palliative care.
Products Liability: SUV Wrongful Death Case The jury of a Florida court ordered Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to pay almost eleven million dollars ($) in wrongful death damages.
Funeral Ceremony: The Song of Death, the Hymn of Life In this paper, the ritual Gisaro performed by the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea will be examined and related to the present context.
Universal Determination of Death Act (UDDA) The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) is a draft state law provides a definition of death mainly for application in situations that require legal intervention.
Preventing Children’s Death in Nepal The paper gives a detailed analysis of the leading causes of death in children in Nepal and explains how this country has implemented evidence-based strategies to prevent.
People’s Attitude Towards Death Most philosophers agree that the fact of the inability to understand and experience life is the main evil that death brings.
The Death of Mothers as Healthcare Challenge Mothers die because of the impossibility of obtaining qualified medical services. This fact can be taken as the major healthcare challenge which the modern world faces.
The Death From Patriarchal Dependence Louise Mallard died of heart disease caused by years of suffering in marriage, lack of personal freedom, and a hazy future full of pretense and service to her husband.
Criminal Punishment, Inmates on Death Row, and Prison Educational Programs This paper will review the characteristics of inmates, including those facing death penalties and the benefits of educational programs for prisoners.
Black Death Impact on the Direction of Western Civilization The Black Death was a catastrophic global Bubonic Pest outbreak in the mid-1300s that affected Europe and Asia.
Prevalence and Death Rates of Asthma in Australia This paper will look at asthma in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who have a high prevalence rate.
Christianity and Shintoism: Death and Dying Every religion has its peculiarities and customs that determine what life the followers of this religion lead. The focus of this paper will be Christianity and Shintoism.
Death in John Donne’s and Percy Shelley’s Sonnets Sonnets were written by John Donne and Percy Shelley picture concepts of death, life, and the afterlife in a contrasting manner.
The Top Five Causes of Death in the US The five major causes of death in the United States encompass heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.
Death With Dignity: Ethical Dilemma Brittany Maynard had an aggressive form of brain cancer, and to preserve her control over her life, she decided to move to the state that authorized the Death with Dignity Act.
Attitude Towards Aging, Death, and Dying Both medicine and religion began to touch upon the topics of death and the possibility of eternal life, whether spiritual or physical.
Death by Refusal of Treatment and Healthcare Directives End-of-life care decisions are a sensitive issue that requires careful handling and collaboration between patients, their families, and health care professionals.
Brain Death, Consciousness, and Organ Transplantation Problem The articles reviewed in the paper touch upon the problem of dead/dying brain and the ethical question of organ transplantation from brain dead patients.
Encountering the Landscapes of Life and Death: Literature Review This essay examines two stories – “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “Death by Landscape” by Margaret Atwood.
Dealing With a Death of a Loved One In December 2003, Didion’s husband suffered a heart attack at the dinner table. They lived together for forty years. This terrible loss became a crucial moment in Didion’s life.
Old Age and Death in Different Cultures Culture and age play a fundamental part in people’s attitudes to old age and death. Provide better care to people who are dying or experiencing the loss of a loved one.
The Black Death Description and Analysis The book The Black Death by Philip Ziegler attempts to provide an account of the events followed by the arrival of the plague.
The History of Mongols, the Black Death Human society can be compared with a living organism that is the constant process of development. The currents that present special interest for the present work are the Mongols.
The Meaning of Death and a Person’s Attitude Towards It Living a life that has no regrets can help an individual reduce the impact of the fear of death. An individual should also focus on his or her own death so that he or she can live a fulfilling life.
“Organizational Change as a Process of Death, Dying, and Rebirth” by Zell “Organizational Change as a Process of Death, Dying, and Rebirth” by Zell, the author presents the results of study on the resistance to organizational change in professional bureaucracies.
Death Concept in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickenson The poem tells the story of a woman’s experience of death, but rather than being the horrifying thing most people imagine it to be, Dickinson’s portrayal of it is more peaceful.
TV and Newspaper Advertising Death This paper relates the key causes of the death of TV and newspaper advertising to various marketing concepts covered in high-level studies.
Death and Dying: How We Die, Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter This paper was a brief examination of the book How We Die, Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter by Sherwin B. Nuland.
Death Explanation in Christian Religion Human death has been explained in many different ways by the different religions existing in this global world.
Death & Dying Ethics in Buddhism and Christianity The paper describes the ethical challenge the patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is facing and the best approaches to support him using religious values or ideas.
Death & Dying Ethics in Hinduism and Christianity Death and dying are essential notions in belief systems. In some religions, death brings an end to a person’s existence, in others, the soul continues to exist in the afterlife.
Death & Dying Ethics in Christianity and Buddhism The paper will discuss the attitude toward the deliberate ending of life from the viewpoint of Christianity and Buddhism.
Religion in “Ceremony,” “Death Comes for the Archbishop,” and “Desert Solitaire” The works Ceremony, Desert Solitaire, and Death Comes for the Archbishop also have religious motifs that are introduced to trace the role religion plays in persons’ lives and all changes they undergo in their life.
Bereavement Loss and Death Practices Across Cultures Death refers to the permanent end of all processes that sustain life in a human being. Grief and mourning are major elements of death in all societies.
Ethical Dilemma in Facing Death Situations The purpose of this essay is to answer the question: what is ethical in the situation where numerous people are facing death?
Death Row Prisoners in the United States: Abolishing the Capital Punishment Although some people are opposed to the abolishment of this form of punishment, the level of civilisation in the country does not allow the state to decide on whether a person should live.
Near-Death Experiences and Life Understanding Learning from stories of those who have had near-death experiences might enhance one’s awareness of life, but it is essential to abide by scientific methodology.
Death Before and After Urbanization The fact that people’s attitude towards dying varies among cultures and religions shows that it is not universal, and might depend on the way civilizations emerged and evolved.
Near-Death Experiences and Explanatory Models The psyche’s deprivation and disintegration are frequently accompanied by reports about seeing a bright light: golden flashes of lightning or sunshine along with angels.
Death in “On My First Daughter” and “Mid-Term Break” In “On My First Daughter” by Ben Jonson and “Mid-Term Break” by Seamus Heaney, the attitude toward an inevitable death is sympathetic, with a significant amount of pain and sorrow.
Death from Christian and Buddist Perspectives This discussion examines the case of a patient with a terminal condition from two different religious perspectives: Christian and Buddhist.
Religious Perspective of Death and Dying: George’s Case The presented case describes the dilemma facing George who has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and explores how his condition can be dealt with from different religious perspectives.
Nursing View on Death and Dying in America Hospice nurses establish and maintain relationships with patients on the basis of respect for the rights and dignity of the individual.
Death and Dying in America: A Nursing Point of View Birth and death are the two things that a single person can never avoid in this life. It is possible to avoid illnesses, financial challenges, hunger, psychological disorders, etc.
Human Life and Death in Christianity and Buddhism Illness often leads to agony and prompts the search for the meaning of life as people try to understand the reasons behind their predicaments.
“The Black Death and the World It Made” by Cantor The Black Death is known as one of the most horrible and destructive pandemics that hit the medieval world. It surfaced in Europe in the fourteenth century at around 1347 to 1350.
Death and Development in Nursing Practice The relationship between age and death works in two separate ways: our reaction to a person’s death depends both on his or her age, as well as on ours.
Terrorist Attacks: Death and Horrifying Effects on Innocent People The perception of terrorist attacks is highly recognized across the globe and is among the frequently cited issues of the current society.
Death and Dying in Christianity and Buddhism Using Christianity and Buddhism as two diverse religious perspectives, this discussion explores how patient’s health demands can be met by healthcare practitioners.
James Deem’s Auschwitz: Voices from the Death Camp The goal of James Deem’s book Auschwitz: Voices from the Death Camp is to draw the reader’s attention to the problem of the Holocaust and realities of living in Auschwitz
Stages of Grief: Acceptance of Death in Diverse Cultures Death is an inevitability, and sooner or later every human being is put to face it. Grief comes together with death, especially when a loved one dies.
Thousands of Birds Found Dead along Alaskan Shoreline The article Thousands of Birds Found Dead along Alaskan Shoreline by Seth Kovar and Steve Almasy addresses the death of the birds in Alaska because of starvation.
Performing Assisted Euthanasia on Kees de Joode: A Compassionate Choice In the documentary Death Upon Request assisted euthanasia is the result of the patient’s decision, since some people prefer to die in dignity in order not to burden their loved ones.
Is Smoking Cigarettes Just for Fun or a Death Sentence? Smoking cigarettes is one of the most popular bad habits in the world. Those who are addicted to it keep saying that there is nothing wrong about smoking.
An Overview of How Death Affects People in Different Ways
Analysis of Religious and Non-religious Ideas About Death and the Afterlife
Black Death and Its Effects on European and Asian Societies
Cultural Characteristics That Influence the Attitude Towards Death
Death and Funeral Services of the Haitian Culture
Arguing for Quick Executions of Convicted Death Penalty Inmates
Christianity and Life After Death
Death and Its Personification in Greek Mythology and Other Cultures
Birth, Death, and Dynamic Inefficiency in an Endogenous Growth Model
Black Death: The Social and Economic Repercussions on Florence
Between Life and Death, the Crucial Difference
Life and Death Concepts as Perceived by Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle
Individual Mortality and Macroeconomic Conditions From Birth to Death
The Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Mesopotamian Practice and Beliefs on Death and the After Life
Cultural Diversity: Racial Disparity in the Application of the Death Penalty
The Effect of Death on the Perception of Reality
American Ambivalence Regarding the Death Penalty
Car Accidents Are the Main Source of Death for Young People
Assisted Suicide and Death With Dignity
Death and Afterlife Egyptian, History Other
The Death and Dying Beliefs of Australian Aborigines
How Do Different Cultures React to Death and Dying?
Can Aging and Death be ‘Controlled’?
What Does the Victorian Attitude to Death Tell Us About the Period?
Does Anything Survive Death in Buddhism?
How Are Death and Survival Linked?
What Does the Tradition Teach About Life After Death?
Should Physician-Assisted Death Be Legal?
How Does Death Affect the Behavior of People?
Why Are White Death Rates Rising?
How Are Death Rituals Indicative of Aspects of Identity?
What Caused Death and Injury During and After Ancient Battles?
Does Early Career Achievement Lead to Earlier Death?
How Does Islamic Religion Explain Human Death?
Can Work Addiction Lead to Death?
Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Death Due to Natural Causes or Was He Murdered?
How Did Black Death Change Medicine?
Are Socrates’s Arguments About Death Sound?
How Did England Change After the Death of Queen Elizabeth in the Early 17th Century?
Does Palliative Care Provide a Peaceful Death?
How Can Death Affect the Perception of Reality?
Can Death Penalty Prevent the Rise in Crime Rate?
How Has Death Changed Within Changing Societies?
Should the Death Penalty Apply to Juvenile Criminals?
Does the Death Sentence Violate the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments?
How Did Black Death Transform Europe?

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StudyCorgi. (2021, December 21). 226 Death Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-essay-topics/

"226 Death Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 21 Dec. 2021, studycorgi.com/ideas/death-essay-topics/.

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StudyCorgi . "226 Death Essay Topics." December 21, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "226 Death Essay Topics." December 21, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/death-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Death were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 21, 2024 .

85 Afterlife Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best afterlife topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy afterlife essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on afterlife, ❓ questions about the afterlife.

The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Death and the Afterlife The main purpose of the Gilgamesh myth is to illustrate the weakness of man in the face of destiny. By the time this dream appears in the story, the reader is already aware Enkidu is […]
Death and the Afterlife: A Spiritual World After Death The spiritual world for people means the immortality of their souls, which is in general highly important from the point of view of religion and philosophy.
Gary Soto’s “Afterlife” and Magical Realism The primary purpose of Gary Soto’s The Afterlife is to show the significance of human life and forgiveness from the perspective of those who lose it.
Worldviews in Religions on the Aspect of Death and Afterlife The essay compares and contrasts the worldviews of Christianity, medieval Buddhist and Muslim on the aspect of death and afterlife and is covered as follows.
Afterlife in the Egyptians and the Aztecs of Mexico The Egyptians believed in transcendent, whereby the positive individual experience that the deceased had was the primary determinant of the nature of life the person experiences.
King Tutankhamun’s Afterlife Preparation The tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun is one of the most significant archaeological finds in the exploration of Ancient Egypt. The Valley of the Kings is located on the east coast of the Nile […]
Designing the Tomb for Afterlife If I was given a chance to accommodate a tomb for my soul’s journey, I would decorate it in a way that would not let me forget about the life I have spent.
Greek Attitude Towards Death and Afterlife The thoughts about death and the beyond can send shivers down the spine of a contemporary person and the attitude of ancient Greeks to death was practically the same.
Ancient Conceptions of Death and the Afterlife Although the specific elements of the religion of the mostly pagan society of the composer of Beowulf around 1000 AD is fundamentally different from the Christian religion of Alfred Lord Tennyson who wrote Morte D’Arthur […]
Afterlife Beliefs and Day-to-Day Implications Thus, the perception of what awaits a person at the end of their life, transitioning into a new stage of being or nonbeing, permits further determining the lynchpin ideas of religious convictions of numerous world […]
The Concepts of Death and Afterlife in Religious Beliefs I find it most interesting how human societies tend to come up with the idea of the temporal nature of death due to the cycles of seasons and the day and night that they witnessed […]
Christianity and Islam: Service to God and Afterlife The structure of this paper analyzes the service to God and the perception of the afterlife, as highlights of the differences and similarities about the Christian and Islamic perceptions of life.
Tule Lake Japanese Internment Camp: Life and Afterlife The selection of people was random each one of these individuals brought along their personal skills to the camp mostly to be used for personal development in the camp.
Afterlife from a Christian Point of View
Afterlife in ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ by T.S. Eliot
A Glimpse of an Afterlife Time-Out in The Inferno by Dante Alighieris
An Analysis of the Book of the Dead and the Egyptian Afterlife
Ancient Egypt’s Religion and Literature on the Afterlife
An Individual’s Experience of the Afterlife in the Tibetan Book of the Dead
A Personal Belief in the Existence of an Afterlife
A Portrayal of the Importance of Divine Kingship and Afterlife Through the Ancient Statue, King Sahure and a Nome God
Arguments of the Afterlife: Do Near Death Experiences Suggest Proof of Life After Death
Aristotle ‘s Views On Knowledge, The Soul And The Afterlife
Bosch, Dante, Michelangelo, Homer, and Shakespeare’s Views on the Afterlife
Buddhism and Christianity: Afterlife
Buddhism, Judaism, and the Concept of an Afterlife
The Concept Of Death And Afterlife In W.B.Yeat’s Byzantium And Sailing To Byzantium By Purwarno
The Concept of the Soul in Humans, the Afterlife, and Reincarnation
The Controversy Surrounding the Issue of the Afterlife
The Egyptian and Mesopotamian View of the Afterlife
The Iliad’ and ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ on Death and the Afterlife
The Importance of the Afterlife in the Daily Lives of Ancient Egyptians
The Inevitability Of Deathand Views On The Afterlife
The Mesopotamian Culture on Death and the Afterlife in the Literary Texts The Epic of Gilgamesh and Inanna’s Journey to Hell
The Origins of Belief and Afterlife, Zarathustrianism
The Positive View of the Afterlife in the Movie What Dreams May Come
The Question of the Afterlife as Brought out in the Movie What Dreams May Come True
The Question of Whether There Is an Afterlife for Humans
The Relationship Between Wealth and the Afterlife in Early Christianity in The Ransom of the Soul, a Book by Peter Brown
The Role of Tricksters in Myths Related to Creation, Origin and the Afterlife
The Theme of Afterlife in British Literature from Anglo Saxon Period to the Twentieth Century
Visions of the Afterlife Through Near Death Experience
Was Chinese Thought Primarily Concerned With God And The Afterlife
What Does the Evidence Reveal About Belief in the Afterlife in New Kingdom Egypt?
What Hinduism Conclude About The Afterlife
An Analysis of the Life and Afterlife in the Ancient Civilizations
Afterlife: Better Version of Earthly Existence
Afterlife Native Americans vs Christianity Beliefs
A Look at the Philosophic of the Afterlife Through the Eyes of David Hume
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity on the Afterlife
Death And Afterlife In Ancient Egyptian Society And The Mesopotamian Society
Greek And Roman Views On Death And Afterlife
How the Ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman Prepared People for the Afterlife
Religious and Non-Religious Views of the Afterlife
What Is the Afterlife?
Why Do Some Atheists Accept That There Might Be an Afterlife?
What Does the Evidence Reveal About Belief in the Afterlife in the New Kingdom Egypt?
How Did Aztecs View the Afterlife and Its Significance?
What Were the Elizabethan Beliefs About Ghosts, the Afterlife, Heaven, and Hell?
How Did the Ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman Prepare People for the Afterlife?
Does the Resurrection Guarantee the Afterlife?
Why Do Some People Reject the Idea of an Afterlife?
What Is the Basis for the Christian Belief in an Afterlife?
Why Do Some Religious People Believe in Life After Death?
What Is the Point of Afterlife?
Why Is the Day of Judgement Important for Christians?
What Is Immortality of the Soul?
Why Is Belief in the Afterlife Important?
What Is an Example of Afterlife?
How Does the Bible Describe Heaven?
What Religion Doesn’t Believe In Afterlife?
Who Believes in the Afterlife?
What Does the Bible Say About Life After Death?
Where Did the Idea of Afterlife Come From?
What Does God Say About Life and Death?
Why Was the Afterlife So Important to Egyptians?
What Were Views on the Afterlife Among Ancient Greeks?
When Did Humans First Believe in the Afterlife?
What Does God Promise Us About Death?
Can Science Prove the Soul, the Afterlife, and God?
What Are the Different Types of Afterlife?
What Is the Study of Life After Death Called?
What Are the Theological Interpretations of the Afterline Concept?
What Are Views on the Afterlife Among U.S. Adults?
Hinduism Topics
Death Titles
Catholic Church Titles
Meditation Questions
Holy Spirit Titles
Dreaming Essay Titles
Superstition Essay Ideas
Existentialism Paper Topics
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Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, writing a college essay about death.

I'm considering writing my college essay about the death of a loved one, but I'm worried it might be too personal or too sad of a topic. What do you guys think? Should I go for it or find a different topic?

I understand your concern about writing an essay on such a personal and emotional topic. The key to deciding whether to write about the death of a loved one is to consider how this experience has significantly shaped you, your perspective, or your personal growth. If it has had a meaningful impact on your life, then it might be an appropriate topic to share with admissions officers.

When writing about a sensitive topic like death, it's essential to strike a balance between telling your story and avoiding melodrama. Focus on demonstrating how this experience has helped you grow and develop, perhaps in terms of empathy, resilience, or a new understanding of yourself and others. Colleges are looking to admit students who demonstrate personal growth and the ability to overcome challenges.

Remember to convey your unique perspective and voice in your essay. This topic is already quite personal, so focus on how it connects to your identity, passions, motivations, and goals. If you can identify a meaningful connection between this experience and your aspirations as a college student, you'll have a strong essay topic.

Lastly, consider seeking feedback from a trusted teacher, family member, or friend to ensure that your essay strikes the right balance between being heartfelt and constructive. It can be helpful to get an outside perspective when writing about emotional experiences.

In summary, it is possible to write about the death of a loved one in a college essay if you can effectively convey personal growth, maintain a balanced tone, and demonstrate a meaningful connection to your identity and aspirations.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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COMMENTS

115 Death Essay Topic Ideas & Examples - PitchGrade
Writing an essay about death can be a profound and thought-provoking experience, allowing individuals to reflect on their own mortality and explore existential questions. To inspire your writing, here are 115 death essay topic ideas and examples.
Essays About Death: Top 5 Examples and 9 Essay Prompts
Death includes mixed emotions and endless possibilities. If you are writing essays about death, see our examples and prompts in this article. Over 50 million people die yearly from different causes worldwide. It’s a fact we must face when the time comes.
242 Death Essay Topic Ideas & Examples - IvyPanda
Looking for a good essay, research or speech topic on Death? Check our list of 242 interesting Death title ideas to write about!
Contemplating Mortality: Powerful Essays on Death and ... - Jenni
In this collection of powerful essays about death, we explore profound writings that delve into the human experience of coping with death, grief, acceptance, and philosophical reflections on mortality.
5 moving, beautiful essays about death and dying | Vox
5 moving, beautiful essays about death and dying. It is never easy to contemplate the end-of-life, whether its own our experience or that of a loved one. This has made a recent swath of...
Death & Dying: How to Accept the End of Life Ideas - 564 ...
Everyone has unique feelings and perspectives regarding death and dying. The social environment significantly affects attitudes and ideas regarding topics of death.
226 Death Essay Topics & Research Titles at StudyCorgi
Looking for the best Death topic for your essay or research? 💡 StudyCorgi has plenty of fresh and unique titles available for free. 👍 Check out this page!
How to Write a College Essay about Death - TKG
In this post, we’ll outline how to figure out if you are someone who should write about death for your college essay. And, if you’ve experienced a tragic death, we’re so incredibly sorry for your loss. If you want to write about a sensitive subject for your college essay, send us an email.
85 Afterlife Essay Topic Ideas & Examples - IvyPanda
Looking for a good essay, research or speech topic on Afterlife? Check our list of 83 interesting Afterlife title ideas to write about!
Writing a college essay about death | CollegeVine
In summary, it is possible to write about the death of a loved one in a college essay if you can effectively convey personal growth, maintain a balanced tone, and demonstrate a meaningful connection to your identity and aspirations.