What is the meaning of the following quote from "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night"?"Old age should burn and rave at close of day."

It is often helpful to look at such isolated quotes in the
context in which they are presented. Doing this often yields clues that helps us to
understand their meaning. Let us do this by considering the first
stanza:

Do
not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and
rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the
light.

Note the way that this
opening stanza of this powerful elegy contains two metaphors that are used to compare
life and death, as death is compared to night and life to light. Thus the meaning of the
centre line becomes clear. As we approach our death, Dylan believes that all people
should find a way to fight against death, to metaphorically "burn and rave" against it.
This, according to Dylan, is what unites all mankind as death approaches and we all
struggle with all our might against the encroaching power of death. The use of diction
is particularly important, as the words "burn and rave" express the grim battle that so
many face against death and capture the anger and passion that is necessary to be
successful in that fight.