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The Influences On Emily Dickinson's Poetry

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The Influences On Emily Dickinson's Poetry
Considered by many to be the greatest American female poet of all time, Emily
Dickinson was born on December 10th, 1830 in Amherst Massachusetts. She was the second of three children and spent much of her life with her family (“Emily Elizabeth”). Although she partook in social events during her young adult years, the world remembers her as a recluse. Dickinson never married, yet there are many speculative theories about her love life. Some critics claim that she was perhaps America’s first lesbian poet while others assert that several men that came and went throughout her life ("Emily Dickinson"). She lived in the Civil War era, during which women did not have public roles or jobs and they were prohibited from pursuing a serious career in the arts (Wolff).
Although she lived a secluded life, Dickinson wrote over 1800 poems covering a large range of themes. Many of her poems contemplated religious issues such as mortality, eternity, and
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The fantastical parts of her poetry came from Blake while the philosophical portions emanated from Emerson (Ferlazzo). Although Dickinson had many outlets of influence, her works original are remembered for their timeless diversity. Her poems have been translated into multiple languages and are read around the world (Wolff).
Contributing hundreds of poems to today’s collection of literature, Dickinson wrote to convey experience and virtues to her readers. Despite her elected seclusion, her universal themes span many nations and invoke a sense of meaning and importance into her readers. Incorporating irregularities into her poetry with a clear purpose, Dickinson’s unique command of punctuation, capitalization, and rhyme contribute to the overall power of her writing. Emily Dickinson is one of the greatest female American poets of all time, and her words will continue to influence people for centuries to

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