Essay for Amy
English 2 Honors
Mr. Amy
11 September 2014
Poem Analysis The poems “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark”, by Emily Dickinson, and “Acquainted with the Night”, by Robert Frost both explain each author's point of view in regards to darkness and night. While Emily Dickinson uses uplifting diction to portray darkness as moments in our life when we are uneasy, Robert Frost recalls his personal accounts to detail night as a constant state of isolation. Dickinson's poem conveys a positive tone, one that is almost hopeful. She constantly refers to herself and the reader as a collective “we”. An individual does not grow accustomed to the dark, instead, “We grow accustomed to the Dark”. The fact that Emily Dickinson is not alone makes her poem instantly polar to Robert Frost's. Frost reinforces the idea of total isolation using “I”, which is the beginning of multiple lines. Building on this, Dickinson uses cheerful diction to construct her work, telling us to “meet the Road—erect” while Frost expresses solitude by writing sorrowful diction, saying that he has “outwalked the furthest city light”. One poem tells us that we should face our challenges and uncertainties head-on, and the other details the lonely disposition of a pessimistic author. Darkness in “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” symbolizes doubt and question of the future while night in “Acquainted with the Night” refers to the authors desolate lifestyle and complete separation from society. Dickinson writes how everyone “uncertain[ly] step” when first encountered with darkness, but later “grope a little” and adjust to their new environment. Opposite of that, Frost portrays night as his experiences with desertion, for he has even “passed by the watchman on his beat”, but never spoken to him. Another description of “darkness” in Dickinson's poem is its shifting nature. Just when someone thinks “they learn[ed] to see”, a new problem surfaces and “Darkness alters” once more. The cycle repeats and changes each time,
Mr. Amy
11 September 2014
Poem Analysis The poems “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark”, by Emily Dickinson, and “Acquainted with the Night”, by Robert Frost both explain each author's point of view in regards to darkness and night. While Emily Dickinson uses uplifting diction to portray darkness as moments in our life when we are uneasy, Robert Frost recalls his personal accounts to detail night as a constant state of isolation. Dickinson's poem conveys a positive tone, one that is almost hopeful. She constantly refers to herself and the reader as a collective “we”. An individual does not grow accustomed to the dark, instead, “We grow accustomed to the Dark”. The fact that Emily Dickinson is not alone makes her poem instantly polar to Robert Frost's. Frost reinforces the idea of total isolation using “I”, which is the beginning of multiple lines. Building on this, Dickinson uses cheerful diction to construct her work, telling us to “meet the Road—erect” while Frost expresses solitude by writing sorrowful diction, saying that he has “outwalked the furthest city light”. One poem tells us that we should face our challenges and uncertainties head-on, and the other details the lonely disposition of a pessimistic author. Darkness in “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” symbolizes doubt and question of the future while night in “Acquainted with the Night” refers to the authors desolate lifestyle and complete separation from society. Dickinson writes how everyone “uncertain[ly] step” when first encountered with darkness, but later “grope a little” and adjust to their new environment. Opposite of that, Frost portrays night as his experiences with desertion, for he has even “passed by the watchman on his beat”, but never spoken to him. Another description of “darkness” in Dickinson's poem is its shifting nature. Just when someone thinks “they learn[ed] to see”, a new problem surfaces and “Darkness alters” once more. The cycle repeats and changes each time,