Emily Dickinson “The Belle of Amherst”

December 10, 1830 - May 15, 1886

Biography Family Life and Childhood Emily was Born on December 10th, 1830 into one of Amherst Massachusetts most prominent families. Her parents were Emily Norcross and Edward Dickinson. Edward was a Yale graduate, united states congressman, successful lawyer, and treasurer for Amherst College. She had a younger sister named Lavinia, and an older brother named William. Her childhood years she attended a primary school in town, and then went to Amherst academy for 7 years with her sister Lavinia. At the age of 17, Emily left home to attend the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. She was a student there for less than a year, her reasons for leaving before receiving her credentials are unknown. In 1865 Emily saw an eye doctor whereupon she was forbidden to read or write. She did so regardless, and began writing poetry.

Adult hood and Seclusion Biography Adult hood and Seclusion The 1870’s were the beginning of dark times for Emily. The death of her parents and other events provoked her into becoming the recluse. She confined herself to her home for the rest of her life, rarely even venturing out into her garden. Most of her time was spent in her room overlooking the cemetery, writing her hundreds of poems and letters to her numerous correspondences. The most prominent of these was her “dearest friend” Susan Gilbert, whom she wrote over 300 letters to. Many of Emily’s friends encouraged her to publish her poems, but only a handful appeared publicly during her lifetime. Emily died on the 15th of May, in 1886 at the age of 56.

Fame After Emily’s death, her sister Lavinia became obsessed with seeing her deceased sister’s approx.. 1,600 poems published. In 1890 Mabel Loomis Todd and T. W. Higginson published the first volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems, albeit heavily edited. Two other heavily edited volumes of her poems were published a few years later, but it wasn’t until 1955 that her poems were seen to the public in a manner close to how she had originally written them. At first, Emily’s poems we’re heavily criticized. Her unique writing style was considered unusual in the 19th century, and her slant rhymes and short lines went against the structured poems seen at that time. However she is now considered one of America’s major poets.

Criticism Thomas Bailey Aldrich- “She was deeply tinged by the mysticism of Blake, and strongly influenced by the mannerism of Emerson....but the incoherence and formlessness of her—versicles are fatal.” Mable Loomis Todd- “Emily Dickinson has a peculiar genius.“

I Haven’t Told My Garden Yet Like many other of Emily’s poem’s this one is without a title, so the first line is used instead. It is thought to have been written around the year of 1858.

I haven’t told my garden yet –. Lest that should conquer me I haven’t told my garden yet – Lest that should conquer me. I haven’t quite the strength now To break it to the Bee – I will not name it in the street For shops would stare at me – That one so shy – so ignorant Should have the face to die. The hillsides must now know it – Where I have rambled so – Nor tell the loving forests The day that I shall go – Nor lisp it at the table – heedless by the way Hint that within the Riddle One will walk today –

Rhyme Scheme Meter Theme Stylistic Elements -The pattern of rhyme between lines of a poem or song. ABCB, DBEF, GHIH, JKJK Meter The Meter for this poem is a mix of trimeter and tetrameter. Theme The poem, "I Haven’t Told My Garden Yet,” is open to much interpretation. My personal belief is that Emily is speaking of death, and how she doesn’t know when she will die. However in the last line I think she’s hinting that someone knows the answer to the riddle. God, perhaps? Stylistic Elements Emily made use of several stylistic Elements, such as assonance, internal rhyming, and Personification in her poem.

Resources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/   http://www.enotes.com/authors/emily-dickinson    http://www.inspiredbooks.com/1Emily.htm http://logb-chiccoreal.blogspot.com/2011/05/emily-dickinson-returns-poem-day.html

If I Can Stop If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again,