Emily Dickinson Analysis
Mica Hughes
Carney
English Lit 2326
2/14/2015
Emily Dickinson’s Poetry Theme Analysis
Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 to Andrew & Emily Dickinson in Amherst, Massachusetts. Emily spent almost her entire life as a recluse, living in her upstairs bedroom on the family’s homestead, writing poetry until her death in May, 1886. Her poetry and letters went unrecognized until after her death, when her younger sister, Lavinia and a family friend, worked to publish the 1800 poems they found stored away in Emily’s room. Her stature as a writer soared after the first publication of her poetry in their original form.
Emily Dickinson is now considered one of the leading figures in American Literature. She is known for her poignant and compressed verses that greatly influenced the direction of poetry in the 20th century. Emily was a keen observer, and she wrote about the things that were familiar and pleasing to her. She used imagery from music, religion, nature, law and everyday activities to probe universal themes, one of which is death. Emily wrote many poems about death during her lifetime and showed many different emotions concerning these writings, as we will see in this analysis.
In Poem 39 (49) (Baym & Levine, 2013, p.1193), Emily writes, "I never lost as much but twice". In this verse, she is telling us that she has lost two people. Stating, "And that was in the sod", she means they were buried in the ground or beneath the soil. The line, "Twice have I stood a beggar, Before the door of good", she is pleading with God to give back what had been taken from her, where the lines, "Angels - twice descending, Reimbursed my store", mean two angels were sent back in in their place. I believe those who she feels has taken from her are listed in, "Burglar! Banker! – Father! I am poor once more", and the exclamations are to emphasize her being angry with death.
In poem 1773 (1732) (Baym & Levine, 2013, p.1214), "My life closed
Carney
English Lit 2326
2/14/2015
Emily Dickinson’s Poetry Theme Analysis
Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 to Andrew & Emily Dickinson in Amherst, Massachusetts. Emily spent almost her entire life as a recluse, living in her upstairs bedroom on the family’s homestead, writing poetry until her death in May, 1886. Her poetry and letters went unrecognized until after her death, when her younger sister, Lavinia and a family friend, worked to publish the 1800 poems they found stored away in Emily’s room. Her stature as a writer soared after the first publication of her poetry in their original form.
Emily Dickinson is now considered one of the leading figures in American Literature. She is known for her poignant and compressed verses that greatly influenced the direction of poetry in the 20th century. Emily was a keen observer, and she wrote about the things that were familiar and pleasing to her. She used imagery from music, religion, nature, law and everyday activities to probe universal themes, one of which is death. Emily wrote many poems about death during her lifetime and showed many different emotions concerning these writings, as we will see in this analysis.
In Poem 39 (49) (Baym & Levine, 2013, p.1193), Emily writes, "I never lost as much but twice". In this verse, she is telling us that she has lost two people. Stating, "And that was in the sod", she means they were buried in the ground or beneath the soil. The line, "Twice have I stood a beggar, Before the door of good", she is pleading with God to give back what had been taken from her, where the lines, "Angels - twice descending, Reimbursed my store", mean two angels were sent back in in their place. I believe those who she feels has taken from her are listed in, "Burglar! Banker! – Father! I am poor once more", and the exclamations are to emphasize her being angry with death.
In poem 1773 (1732) (Baym & Levine, 2013, p.1214), "My life closed