Emily Dickinson Research Paper
!
Hills 1
Kyle Hills
Mrs. Schneibel
American Writers
6 May 2013
Emily Dickinson’s Legacy
Humans cannot directly relay their thoughts to other people. Instead, the mind has to flow through words, which can distort meanings and change the intensity of what they are trying to convey. The upper hand in our modern society is given most to those who have an adeptness in relating to the common people. These are the type of humans which directly influence modern culture. Over the course of history, many poets have developed their own way to share their feelings to the world. What makes a good poet unique is the way that they can convey their most moving and deepest thoughts. Emily
Dickinson produced groundbreaking and morose poems molded …show more content…
by her reclusive and sad lifestyle; her poems are remembered as inspirational and innovative, despite how they were received in her lifetime.
Emily Dickinson was born to Puritan parents Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson.
Dickinson’s father was a lawyer who served as treasurer to Amherst Academy, a school in which Emily would eventually attend. Dickinson shared many similarities to her mother, as she was “quiet and frail woman” (This Is My Letter to the World). Her mother was also emotionally distant, as described by Dickinson herself. During her early years while attending primary school, Dickinson would cater her own interest in literature by rewriting poems she found within books, newspapers, and magazines. Though an interest in poetry persisted with Dickinson from a very early age, she did not start producing
!
Hills 2
an abundance of poetry until she underwent a series of emotional crises. A large percentage of these crises came directly through the ending of relationships from loved ones. Dickinson eventually put herself into a self inflicted confinement. A major factor of this being after she “. . . fell in love with a married minister, the Reverend Charles Wadsworth, and that her disappointment in love and the lack of a married life triggered her subsequent withdrawal from society” (Gale Contextual Encyclopedia). This emotional setback and many others cut the ties between reality and Dickinson, yet it gave way to some of the most eye-opening material the world has seen.
Emily Dickinson’s morbid and heartbreaking life experiences take a large part in contributing to her writing style. After being heartbroken by Wadsworth, Dickinson began a pattern of living in isolation. Through this perspective, she gained insight and studied the behaviors of the human race. In her poem, “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” Dickinson gave readers a mind an idea that there are two different types of people; those who seek attention and those who do not. However, both groups wish to discover and unify each other into one mass, as stated in the poem, “Are you-Nobody-Too?” (Dickinson, line 2). Given the content of the poem, many speculate that Dickinson wishes to find more people relating to her attitude towards society. Her death interest may be he result of her going through the death of many loved ones. Also, since in Dickinson’s time there were no modern medicines and antibiotics, death was a more common happening to everyday life. Those who came down ill, often had discovered that too often worsening sickness and death combine and prevailed over life. So not only was it affecting Dickinson severely, death also had a larger impact on society. With an interest in the effect that death has on others, the poem “The Bustle in a House” was written. Within the sec-
!
Hills 3
ond stanza, the narrator of this poem is describing the process of mourning that occurs the morning after loved one had died. The scene is plastered with words that perfectly describe the painful experience of discovering a deceased loved one
The Sweeping up the Heart
!
!
!
!
!
And putting Love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity (5-8).
It can be seen quite clearly how morose poetry like this that Emily Dickinson produced did not appeal to everyone at her time. In fact, many people in Dickinson’s society failed to see the art in transposing deep emotion onto poems. Critics who read her work did not fully appreciate these emotional artworks either.
!
Due to the unorthodox, unorganized, and non relatable nature of Dickinson’s po-
ems, they were not accepted with praise by many critics of her time. Much of the poetry presented to the public at Dickinson’s time followed a certain conduct in which the public favored. Emily Dickinson’s indifferent attitude towards the public’s demand of poetry and writing led her to produce some of the most innovative, yet different works. One example of her poetry not following traditional form is “My Life Closed Twice Before Its
Close,” in which Dickinson presents ideas and struggles that are very personal to herself. There is no sense to appeal and introduce happy, uplifting thoughts to the public in order to get attention. This poem parallels more to a diary than to a poem which is presented to the public
!
My Life Closed Twice before Its Close
!
It yet remains to see …show more content…
!
Hills 4
!
If Immortality unveil
!
A third event to me (1-4).
“My Life Closed Twice before Its Close” describes such sad events occurring through
Dickinson’s life, that it feels as if she had died, or “closed” twice on an emotional level before her actual death prevailed her.
Although this sad, unorthodox and stylistically solitary theme didn’t appeal to critics of Dickinson’s time, readers of later generations would adapt to her style and appreciate the beauty in relaying deep, intellectual thoughts and emotions through poetry.
!
Sometimes different cultural fads take longer to catch on than others. Emily Dick-
inson’s work of poetry is a prime example of work that was so ahead of its time that it needed time for people to break beyond the barriers of conformity set on culture to realize the beauty in Emily Dickinson’s work. Just as time prevailed previous cultural conformity, people began to see the true elegance of the sad, modest, yet innovative and inspirational nature of Dickinson’s poems. Emily Dickinson’s indifference towards the public’s opinion of her poems is present in such great works as “‘Hope’ Is the Thing with
Feathers,” in which there is no hint of traditional poetic format. The organization of this poem was not thought to be of orthodox poetic organization at the time, given the rhyme scheme and theme
!
“Hope” is the thing with Feathers-
!
That perches in my soul-
!
And sings the tune without the words-
!
And never stops-at all- (1-4).
!
Hills 5
Even though critics living in Dickinson’s time were not in favor of her style, many other people who came into interested with her works, even those living centuries later would agree that it was simply innovative for her time period. “Many of her short lyrics on the subjects of nature, love, death, and immorality are now considered among the most emotionally and intellectually profound in the English language” (Gale Contextual Encyclopedia). In this modern time, it is not out of the ordinary to call Dickinson’s work beautifully revolutionary and impactful on our society.
!
The sad living conditions combined with a lonely lifestyle assisted Emily Dickin-
son in writing some of histories most memorable poetry. The new nature of her writing brought a fresh wave of poetry to Dickinson’s nation. What separates Dickinson from any average poet is her perseverance to write with such unique themes to her era.
When poets sent in their poems for examination to major print companies, they would often have to wait months before a reply is sent back. Even though Emily Dickinson waited for weeks on end to receive critical advice on her poetry, she did not hesitate to continue writing more. Great poets have the correct amount of motivation in them that tells them they can write whenever they wish to, and not be restrained by the actions of others. In order to be successful in any career, people have to have a passion for what they do, and not let the public dissuade them from doing what they love. Success in anything must first come from oneself before it comes from others.
!
Hills 6
Works Cited
“Dickinson, Emily.” Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of American Literature. Vol. 1. Detroit:
Gale, 2009. 408-411. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
“I’m Nobody! Who are you?” Poetry for Students. Ed. Sara Constantakis. Vol. 35. Detroit: Gale, 2010. 81-102. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
!
Hills 7
“My Life Closed Twice Before Its Close.” Poetry for Students”. Ed. Mary Ruby and Ira
Mark Milne. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. 126-139. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web.
“This Is My Letter to the World.” Poetry for Students. Ed. Mary Ruby. Vol. 4. Detroit:
Gale, 1999. 232-241. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
Hills 1
Kyle Hills
Mrs. Schneibel
American Writers
6 May 2013
Emily Dickinson’s Legacy
Humans cannot directly relay their thoughts to other people. Instead, the mind has to flow through words, which can distort meanings and change the intensity of what they are trying to convey. The upper hand in our modern society is given most to those who have an adeptness in relating to the common people. These are the type of humans which directly influence modern culture. Over the course of history, many poets have developed their own way to share their feelings to the world. What makes a good poet unique is the way that they can convey their most moving and deepest thoughts. Emily
Dickinson produced groundbreaking and morose poems molded …show more content…
by her reclusive and sad lifestyle; her poems are remembered as inspirational and innovative, despite how they were received in her lifetime.
Emily Dickinson was born to Puritan parents Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson.
Dickinson’s father was a lawyer who served as treasurer to Amherst Academy, a school in which Emily would eventually attend. Dickinson shared many similarities to her mother, as she was “quiet and frail woman” (This Is My Letter to the World). Her mother was also emotionally distant, as described by Dickinson herself. During her early years while attending primary school, Dickinson would cater her own interest in literature by rewriting poems she found within books, newspapers, and magazines. Though an interest in poetry persisted with Dickinson from a very early age, she did not start producing
!
Hills 2
an abundance of poetry until she underwent a series of emotional crises. A large percentage of these crises came directly through the ending of relationships from loved ones. Dickinson eventually put herself into a self inflicted confinement. A major factor of this being after she “. . . fell in love with a married minister, the Reverend Charles Wadsworth, and that her disappointment in love and the lack of a married life triggered her subsequent withdrawal from society” (Gale Contextual Encyclopedia). This emotional setback and many others cut the ties between reality and Dickinson, yet it gave way to some of the most eye-opening material the world has seen.
Emily Dickinson’s morbid and heartbreaking life experiences take a large part in contributing to her writing style. After being heartbroken by Wadsworth, Dickinson began a pattern of living in isolation. Through this perspective, she gained insight and studied the behaviors of the human race. In her poem, “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” Dickinson gave readers a mind an idea that there are two different types of people; those who seek attention and those who do not. However, both groups wish to discover and unify each other into one mass, as stated in the poem, “Are you-Nobody-Too?” (Dickinson, line 2). Given the content of the poem, many speculate that Dickinson wishes to find more people relating to her attitude towards society. Her death interest may be he result of her going through the death of many loved ones. Also, since in Dickinson’s time there were no modern medicines and antibiotics, death was a more common happening to everyday life. Those who came down ill, often had discovered that too often worsening sickness and death combine and prevailed over life. So not only was it affecting Dickinson severely, death also had a larger impact on society. With an interest in the effect that death has on others, the poem “The Bustle in a House” was written. Within the sec-
!
Hills 3
ond stanza, the narrator of this poem is describing the process of mourning that occurs the morning after loved one had died. The scene is plastered with words that perfectly describe the painful experience of discovering a deceased loved one
The Sweeping up the Heart
!
!
!
!
!
And putting Love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity (5-8).
It can be seen quite clearly how morose poetry like this that Emily Dickinson produced did not appeal to everyone at her time. In fact, many people in Dickinson’s society failed to see the art in transposing deep emotion onto poems. Critics who read her work did not fully appreciate these emotional artworks either.
!
Due to the unorthodox, unorganized, and non relatable nature of Dickinson’s po-
ems, they were not accepted with praise by many critics of her time. Much of the poetry presented to the public at Dickinson’s time followed a certain conduct in which the public favored. Emily Dickinson’s indifferent attitude towards the public’s demand of poetry and writing led her to produce some of the most innovative, yet different works. One example of her poetry not following traditional form is “My Life Closed Twice Before Its
Close,” in which Dickinson presents ideas and struggles that are very personal to herself. There is no sense to appeal and introduce happy, uplifting thoughts to the public in order to get attention. This poem parallels more to a diary than to a poem which is presented to the public
!
My Life Closed Twice before Its Close
!
It yet remains to see …show more content…
!
Hills 4
!
If Immortality unveil
!
A third event to me (1-4).
“My Life Closed Twice before Its Close” describes such sad events occurring through
Dickinson’s life, that it feels as if she had died, or “closed” twice on an emotional level before her actual death prevailed her.
Although this sad, unorthodox and stylistically solitary theme didn’t appeal to critics of Dickinson’s time, readers of later generations would adapt to her style and appreciate the beauty in relaying deep, intellectual thoughts and emotions through poetry.
!
Sometimes different cultural fads take longer to catch on than others. Emily Dick-
inson’s work of poetry is a prime example of work that was so ahead of its time that it needed time for people to break beyond the barriers of conformity set on culture to realize the beauty in Emily Dickinson’s work. Just as time prevailed previous cultural conformity, people began to see the true elegance of the sad, modest, yet innovative and inspirational nature of Dickinson’s poems. Emily Dickinson’s indifference towards the public’s opinion of her poems is present in such great works as “‘Hope’ Is the Thing with
Feathers,” in which there is no hint of traditional poetic format. The organization of this poem was not thought to be of orthodox poetic organization at the time, given the rhyme scheme and theme
!
“Hope” is the thing with Feathers-
!
That perches in my soul-
!
And sings the tune without the words-
!
And never stops-at all- (1-4).
!
Hills 5
Even though critics living in Dickinson’s time were not in favor of her style, many other people who came into interested with her works, even those living centuries later would agree that it was simply innovative for her time period. “Many of her short lyrics on the subjects of nature, love, death, and immorality are now considered among the most emotionally and intellectually profound in the English language” (Gale Contextual Encyclopedia). In this modern time, it is not out of the ordinary to call Dickinson’s work beautifully revolutionary and impactful on our society.
!
The sad living conditions combined with a lonely lifestyle assisted Emily Dickin-
son in writing some of histories most memorable poetry. The new nature of her writing brought a fresh wave of poetry to Dickinson’s nation. What separates Dickinson from any average poet is her perseverance to write with such unique themes to her era.
When poets sent in their poems for examination to major print companies, they would often have to wait months before a reply is sent back. Even though Emily Dickinson waited for weeks on end to receive critical advice on her poetry, she did not hesitate to continue writing more. Great poets have the correct amount of motivation in them that tells them they can write whenever they wish to, and not be restrained by the actions of others. In order to be successful in any career, people have to have a passion for what they do, and not let the public dissuade them from doing what they love. Success in anything must first come from oneself before it comes from others.
!
Hills 6
Works Cited
“Dickinson, Emily.” Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of American Literature. Vol. 1. Detroit:
Gale, 2009. 408-411. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
“I’m Nobody! Who are you?” Poetry for Students. Ed. Sara Constantakis. Vol. 35. Detroit: Gale, 2010. 81-102. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.
!
Hills 7
“My Life Closed Twice Before Its Close.” Poetry for Students”. Ed. Mary Ruby and Ira
Mark Milne. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. 126-139. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web.
“This Is My Letter to the World.” Poetry for Students. Ed. Mary Ruby. Vol. 4. Detroit:
Gale, 1999. 232-241. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.