Summary Of Some Keep The Sabbath Going To Church
In “Some keep the Sabbath going to Church” by Emily Dickinson, Dickinson conveys her attitude towards religious practices by illustrating her relationship with nature. Individuals who are attending church, are missing out on the pleasures of worshipping in nature because they are not focusing on God’s immediate creations and instead are concentrating on the interpretation by the church. Dickinson’s message is conveyed through the use of metaphors, structure and word choice. Dickinson uses metaphors throughout the poem to illustrate the differences between the two environments of worship. In the very first line of the poem, the speaker states, “Some keep the Sabbath going to
Church -- I keep it staying at Home --” (1-2). The speakers shares the pleasures of worshipping in nature and the personal experience she is able to have due to the solo experience. By worshipping in a man-made structure in the community, it focuses on group experience and the individuals around rather than a personal relationship. This idea poses another topic of consideration and whether conformity or individualism is the way to go about one’s faith. Another example of metaphor in “Some keep the Sabbath going to Church,” Dickinson says, “With a Bobolink for a Chorister --And an Orchard for a Dome --” (3-4). Dickinson shares the similar practices of religion but in her own individual way. The Bobolink is used to portray a singer in a choir as well as the orchard for the Dome. The Dome and choir are man-made rather than the Bobolink and orchard being God’s natural creation. Using metaphor, the speaker illustrates the joy and fulfillment of worshiping in a simple and direct manner. Dickinson’s word choice throughout the poem emphasizes her preference of worshipping in nature, rather than in the church. While this poem is easy to read, it is also easy to understand. The structure of the poem allows the reader to interpret Dickinson’s message in two different ways. In the first two stanzas, Dickinson compares the church to the objects out in nature. Comparing man-made objects to ones that are natural, shows both practices of worship without necessarily stating that on is better than the other. It is not until the last stanza that Dickinson uses humor, with a sense of sarcasm to subtly criticize the traditions of the church. Dickinson states, “God preaches, a noted Clergyman – And the sermon is never long,” (9-10). This quote refers to the tendencies of ministers delivering long and uninteresting sermons, whereas she interprets God’s message directly and it is never long. The last lines of the poem also has a sarcastic tone, Dickinson says, “So instead of getting to Heaven, at last – I’m going, all along” (11-12). Dickinson criticizes the belief of heaven and the afterlife. Instead, the journey to heaven should be in the life we are living in and should be “all along”. The tone and structure of this poem illustrates two different ways to worship and allows readers to interpret Dickinson’s attitude in regards to her message. In her solitary moments, Dickinson is able
As the reader, it is easy to connect and recognize the significance of the Orchard to the speaker. Dickinson appropriately illustrates the importance of connecting with one’s religion while enjoying God’s creations. The message Dickinson is trying to convey is the importance of self exploration in one’s faith. Her idea of conformity in the church is not to be condemned, but she proposes other ways of religious practice to truly take advantage of God’s creations.
Church -- I keep it staying at Home --” (1-2). The speakers shares the pleasures of worshipping in nature and the personal experience she is able to have due to the solo experience. By worshipping in a man-made structure in the community, it focuses on group experience and the individuals around rather than a personal relationship. This idea poses another topic of consideration and whether conformity or individualism is the way to go about one’s faith. Another example of metaphor in “Some keep the Sabbath going to Church,” Dickinson says, “With a Bobolink for a Chorister --And an Orchard for a Dome --” (3-4). Dickinson shares the similar practices of religion but in her own individual way. The Bobolink is used to portray a singer in a choir as well as the orchard for the Dome. The Dome and choir are man-made rather than the Bobolink and orchard being God’s natural creation. Using metaphor, the speaker illustrates the joy and fulfillment of worshiping in a simple and direct manner. Dickinson’s word choice throughout the poem emphasizes her preference of worshipping in nature, rather than in the church. While this poem is easy to read, it is also easy to understand. The structure of the poem allows the reader to interpret Dickinson’s message in two different ways. In the first two stanzas, Dickinson compares the church to the objects out in nature. Comparing man-made objects to ones that are natural, shows both practices of worship without necessarily stating that on is better than the other. It is not until the last stanza that Dickinson uses humor, with a sense of sarcasm to subtly criticize the traditions of the church. Dickinson states, “God preaches, a noted Clergyman – And the sermon is never long,” (9-10). This quote refers to the tendencies of ministers delivering long and uninteresting sermons, whereas she interprets God’s message directly and it is never long. The last lines of the poem also has a sarcastic tone, Dickinson says, “So instead of getting to Heaven, at last – I’m going, all along” (11-12). Dickinson criticizes the belief of heaven and the afterlife. Instead, the journey to heaven should be in the life we are living in and should be “all along”. The tone and structure of this poem illustrates two different ways to worship and allows readers to interpret Dickinson’s attitude in regards to her message. In her solitary moments, Dickinson is able
As the reader, it is easy to connect and recognize the significance of the Orchard to the speaker. Dickinson appropriately illustrates the importance of connecting with one’s religion while enjoying God’s creations. The message Dickinson is trying to convey is the importance of self exploration in one’s faith. Her idea of conformity in the church is not to be condemned, but she proposes other ways of religious practice to truly take advantage of God’s creations.