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How is this poem a reflection of and reaction to the culture from which it came?
 
He had a lot of hardships early on in his life from living in a family of 12. Almost everyone is afraid of death so he was probobly describing what he thought it would be like. He went to prison several times so he probobly based his view of the "grim reaper" (or other death god/ soul collector) on various prison wardens or gaurds.