Preview

An Analysis of the Poetic Works of Emily Dickinson

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1226 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
An Analysis of the Poetic Works of Emily Dickinson
ʻBelonging to a certain entity is the result of a particular identity. Discuss.ʼ

The concept of belonging relates to the complex relationship of and individual, the natural world, and the way in which they interact with the groups around them to form a sense of self. In this circumstance, the entity of friendship or ideally, belonging to a group, is a product of the personas own identity which is exemplified through a sense of self. The collective poetic works of Emily Dickinson explores the facets of belonging related to oneself, and the individualʼs identity as part of natureʼs organism. This correlates directly with John G. Avildsenʼs film, ʻThe Power of Oneʼ, which explores and extrapolates the divergences of natureʼs relevancy in modern society and philosophy as well as humanities inner workings. Finally, the discerning powers of William Goldingʼs ʻLord of the Fliesʼ is based upon the premise that indeed, a sense of self is achieved through the sublime power of nature and the symbolic transition of social conditioning in which people conjoin in kinship by forming an identity. A sense of self is vital in all areas of belonging, and objectified, belonging is the process in which people undertake in discovering their capabilities through their friendship groups and their surroundings. The sublime power of nature links directly to an individualʼs sense of self and uniformity amongst natural entities. In Emily Dickinsonʼs poem, ʻThis is my letter to the worldʼ, she describes bitterly the situational irony that despite her love and affection, the personified Nature was unattainable, “that never wrote to me.” Dickinson used this self pittance, as well as the anthropomorphism of nature as being a provocative of emotion, to portray herself as a servant to the divine. She uses caesura throughout her poetry to create an emotional pause, or periodic structure in her writing which effects the way the reader reacts to the text. As according to her romanticist values, nature

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In Emily Dickinson’s ‘The Props assist the House’, it is clear to the reader that the house represents a single person, and the props all of the people who ‘build’ said person. What's left for interpretation is what each of these props can represent specifically, and how the scaffolding plays into everything.…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Emily Dickinson was born in 1830 in Massachusetts. Emily was raised and would eventually live her entire life in almost complete isolation. The few people Dickinson came into contact with were her family and Reverend Charles Wadsworth. Despite how cut off Dickinson was from the world, she still managed to read vivaciously and was influenced by many other poets. Another prominent influence in her poetry was her heavily Puritan background. Dickinson’s poems were only found upon her death and were later published by her…

    • 85 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dickinson's use of metaphors in this poem compares the traditional ways of religion and the church with a different perspective. She effectively compares nature with religion through her imagery. The comparisons between the lack of attendance at church has always been associated with not getting into Heaven, and Dickinson brings comfortable support for those that feel differently. The truest form of prayer and belief starts from within a person. Emily Dickinson confirms that with this brief but powerful…

    • 79 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obtaining a sense of belonging is an intrinsic desire inextricably linked to our human nature. However, the inherent yearning to identify with a society, personality or context; can ironically lead to the compromising of one’s values that in turn hinges our sense of belonging. Such paradoxical interplay between a sense of connection and a loss of self is evident in Emily Dickinson’s poems I Died for Beauty; I had been Hungry all these Years and This is my Letter to the World, David Grossman’s reflective essay Writing in the Dark and Jason Reitman’s film Up in the Air. All three composers highlight the impracticality of humanity’s innate desire for belonging whereby those who attempt to force a sense of connection, ultimately lose a part of their nature.…

    • 1392 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of belonging is derived from the sense of identity; to be able to merge and feel part of a community an one must find their identity. For an individual to belong within their environment their identity can be put to jeopardy, they have to either conform to ideal views and become part of society or choose to be isolated. Although in contrast to choosing whether or not to belong, individuals are often forced to be secluded. This is where they are taken out of the environments and put into situations where their identity and sense of self are threatened. Belonging can be drawn back to finding one’s identity whilst in isolation. In addition to Individuals who struggle within their environment can experience complete isolation and strong barriers restricting them to belong. Concepts of belonging are seen throughout the film Brick Lane and Emily Dickinson’s poems “I died for beauty but was scarce” and “This is my letter to the world”. These texts identify and demonstrate how the ideas of belonging and isolation work in hand with one’s identity.…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emily Dickinson's 1593

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Emily Dickinson's poem “1593,” describes an intense storm similar to a hurricane. The subject initially appears to be a “Wind” as presented in the first line of the poem, but the by looking at the poem as a whole this wind appears to be only one part of the larger storm, which also seems to present the powerful and destructive force of nature. The language of the poem presents a certain amount of ambiguity concerning the perspective of the speaker towards this storm. Through diction and connotation, personification, and form, the speaker’s fear for the storm and its destruction become clear, yet at the same time the speaker appears to be awestruck and mesmerized by the sheer power of nature in relation to humankind.…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Belonging is a state in which an individual is able to feel accepted and understood by themselves and the world around them. An individual’s sense of belonging greatly determines the nature of their identity, both in relation to their perception of themselves and the world at large. The state of an individual’s relationships is heavily impacted by their sense of belonging and acceptance within a community, as they continue to conform to or challenge the existing social norms within it. Both conforming to and challenging the societal structures can have serious psychological consequences. Feelings of affinity often generate a sense of empowerment constituted by shared values and interests. However, where there is a schism between the values of the individual and those of the group to which they seek to belong, feelings of isolation, rejection and alienation can ensue. Moreover, individuals often respond to group hegemony by oscillating between conforming to and challenging the group’s conventions, thus oscillating between a state of unity and isolation. The poems “This is My Letter to the World” and “I Had Been Hungry All the Years” by Emily Dickinson illuminate Dickinson’s desire to at once challenge and enrich the literary world as she oscillates between the desire for unity and autonomy. Similarly, the TV series “Brides of Christ” by Ken Cameron explores the way in which an individual’s struggle to conform to a community while simultaneously challenging it in order to retain personal autonomy can lead to various consequences that may affect the state of an individual’s belonging.…

    • 1538 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 and died on May 15, 1886, she was born and died in the same house and it was called the Homestead. The Homestead was located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Dickinson was a well-known, great American poet during her time. Growing up Dickinson had very good education she studied at Amherst Academy for seven years of her youth and then proceeded on to attend Mount Holyoke College. Over a time period of 30 years she wrote and revised almost all the 1800s poems that have been passed down to us today, she did this all at a small desk in her bedroom. She would go to her room and write in the afternoon after she finished her household chores which were cooking, baking, gardening, and cleaning. She would started writing in the afternoon…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Emily Dickinson Outline

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A. Trimeter and tetrameter iambic lines, four stresses in the first and third lines of each stanza, three in the second and fourth lines. A rhythmic insertion of the long dash to interrupt the meter; and an ABCB rhyme scheme.…

    • 453 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Emily Dickinson's Diction

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages

    "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" is a case of one of Dickinson's all the more interesting sonnets, yet the comic drama is not just for delight. Or maybe, it contains a gnawing parody of people in general circle, both of the general population figures who have the advantage of it, and of the masses who license them to. Dickinson's light tone, silly voice, and welcome to the peruser to be on her side, nonetheless, keep the sharp edge of the parody from cutting too stingingly.…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Michael Salvucci Mrs. Comeau English 10 Honors Death, Pain, and the Pursuit of Peace Although Emily Dickinson’s poetry is profoundly insightful, her poems have a very confinedpan of subjects and themes. Most likely due to her early life and social reclusion, Dickinson’s poetry is limited to three major subjects: death, pain, and on a somewhat lighter note, nature. Dickinson’s poetry is greatly influenced by her early life as she led an extremely secluded and pessimisticlife. In her early adult years the poet spent one year studying at female seminary, from 1847 to 1848. Dickinson’s blunt pessimistic attitude is shown in a letter, written to a friend, as she says “I am not happy…Christ is calling everyone here, all my companions have answered, and I am standing alone in rebellion.” (Meltzer 20-21) The poets self-described rebellious manner can be acclaimed to her residence featuring many politically active and dominant men, as her brother, father and grandfather were all attorneys with interest in politics. Again in a letter to a friend written during a political convention, Dickinson wonders “why can’t [she] be a delegate in the convention?” as she says “[she] knows all about the tariff and the law.” (Sewall 64-65) She recognizes the gender barrier in society and as a result Dickinson develops a unique style of poetry. Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me; The carriage held but just ourselves And Immortality. (Lines 1-4) The speaker’s use of the word ‘kindly’ to describe death exemplifies his civil and considerate manner, but is his courteous character an illusion? Later in the poem the speaker writes: We slowly drove, he knew no haste, And I had put away My labor, and my leisure too, For his civility. (4-8) Because of death’s kindness in stopping for the speaker, she “put[s] away / [her] labor, and [her] leisure too,” (5-6), is death being true in taking her to heaven, or is he betraying her? There interposed a fly (9-12)…

    • 978 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Belonging is an inherent part of the human condition. It enables an individual to gain a sense of connection within themselves and to the external world. In essence, to belong is to be human. These ideas can be explored through the poetry if Emily Dickinson. In her poem, “this is my letter to the world,” Dickinson demonstrates the fundamental desire for belonging through a letter which appeals to her society for acceptance. This desire can similarly be seen through her poem “I had been hungry all the years,” in which Dickinson uses another human experience, hunger, to represent her insatiable need for belonging.…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Belonging

    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Belonging consists of a struggle with opposing pressures. A desire to belong also consists of emotional conflicts and struggles between being acknowledged while also remaining as an individual and retaining personal ideals which may ultimately result in a connection. This is explored in Emily Dickinson’s selected poetry I died for beauty, but was scarce and I had been hungry all the years , as well as Scott Westerfeld’s novel Uglies. These texts all depict a struggle between being recognised and accepted in society and the desire to remain true to one’s self, exploring the paradoxical nature of belonging which, on one hand, provides fulfilment, but also removes a sense of personal identity.…

    • 1281 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sometimes simple and easy language can be the most effective to express complex ideas. Emily Dickinson uses plain words to great effect, such as in the poem, "The Brain - is wider than the Sky". The poem compares and contrasts the human brain with the sky, the sea, and God. This poem is manageable enough for the casual reader to understand, and yet opens up ideas for the sophisticated reader to explore. In the following paragraphs I will analyze Dickinson's poem, line for line, and explain the theme of the poem, which is the relationship between the human mind and the external world.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The speaker in Emily Dickenson’s “My Triumph Lasted Till the Drums” is very torn between rejoicing in the victory in the battlefield, and the regret they feel for the battles losers. The narrator feels pride at first, as shown in line 1 and the title’s use of the word “Triumph” yet that pride quickly turns into regret and disdain. The narrator laments what they feel are senseless acts of war and their deep regret turns into wishing the roles were reversed and they had died.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays