Dickinson Comparison Poem 112 and 479 Essay Example

Emily Dickinson is known as one of the most unique and influential poets of all time. Many of her poems are recognized for their deep meanings and dark tones. She often wrote about unconventional themes of death and immortality. Less than a dozen of her eighteen hundred poems were published while she was alive. Today, Dickinson is known as one of the greatest American poets for her eccentric and truth seeking pieces of literature. In Emily Dickinson's poem 112 she discusses what success feels like depending on your position in life. She expresses how those who are victorious do not see their success or appreciate it. Meanwhile, those who have never achieved success before, truly understand the meaning of real accomplishment. Dickinson talks about Nectar, which is considered by the Greeks and Romans to be the drink that gives them immortality. Once again, she focuses on death and the idea of never dieing. Dickinson goes on to discuss the “purple host” or soldiers in the Army and how even though they successful captured their opponents flag, they still could not tell her the true meaning of victory. In contrast, the soldiers who had just been defeated lay down, listening to the “distance strains of triumph” (Dickinson, 2008, p. 1201) from their opponents, they were able acknowledge the meaning of true success. It's often been said that we cannot fully appreciate success without first experiencing failure. I think this poem is Emily Dickinson's way to expressing to the world the significance of success. In her poem 479, Emily Dickinson personifies death and takes the reader on a journey to eternity. The first stanza, “Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me.” (Dickinson, 2008, p. 1214-1215) Dickinson refers to death as a horseman driving a carriage to take her away to die. She then goes on to explain he's driving very slow as she carefully tries to make peace with her life's work. Dickinson describes the children and fields of grains she