Death, Premature
Adonisbeautiful youth beloved by Venus, killed by a boar. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 10]
Napoleon’s son dies before he can rouse the French to follow him. [Fr. Drama: L’Aiglon in Magill II, 551]
(1788–1824) English poet died of fever at 36. [Br. Lit.: Harvey, 129]
(1931–1955) leader of restless youth cult in early 50s. [Am. Cinema: NCE, 730]
dies at the age of seven, destroying the hopes of his merchant father. [Br. Lit.: Dickens Dombey and Son]
(1929–1945) young Dutch diarist, died in Bergen-Belsen camp during WWII. [Jew. Hist.: Wigoder, 196]
(1537–1554) English queen at 15; died at 17. [Br. Hist.: NCE, 1146]
died at sixteen, unaware how deeply she was loved by an older man who still mourns her. [Br. Poetry: Browning “Evelyn Hope”]
(1795–1821) English poet died of consumption at 25. [Br. Lit.: Harvey, 443]
despondent boy kills two babies and himself. [Br. Lit.: Hardy Jude the Obscure]
dies young; sensitive girl. [Children’s Lit.: Little Women]
Thomas Chatterton (1752–1770), English poetic genius killed himself at seventeen. [Br. Hist.: Benét, 188]
star-crossed lovers die as teenagers. [Br. Lit.: Romeo and Juliet]
(1797–1828) brilliant composer, died at 31. [Music Hist.: Thompson, 1968]
(1792–1822) English poet drowned at 30. [Br. Lit.: Harvey, 748]
(1895–1926) matinee idol; his death caused several suicides. [Am. Cinema: Halliwell, 734]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.