Emily Dickinson A Unique Style

Background Born on December 10th 1830 Grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts (NE) Emily admired and respected her father She didn’t have a close relationship with her mother until after she had a stroke She was close with her siblings (older brother, younger sister) Had a passion for learning

Education Amherst Academy Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary While at school she had a religious crisis, struggling to join the church with doubts Poems reflect her religious struggle Educated herself at home Discovered her passion was poetry

The Influential Years 1862: turning point because man whom she loved, (Rev. Charles Wadsworth) moved to California Wrote 366 poems in that year When she was in her 30s, she withdrew from the world

Dickinson Downhill By middle age, she rarely went out of the house Frequently wore a white dress (a bride?) Corresponded with family through letters Interactive with neighbors on occasion 1884 she fell ill Died from Bright’s Disease (Kidney Failure) May 15, 1884 Brother rescued some of her poems

Dickinson’s Style Although secluded her poems reveal a life that was, “one of the richest and deepest ever lived on this continent.” (Allen Tate)

Characteristics of Dickinson’s Poetry…

Allows for pauses to emphasize the rhythm of the poem Punctuation (Dashes) Allows for pauses to emphasize the rhythm of the poem

Emphasizes words to draw attention to them Capitalization Emphasizes words to draw attention to them

Assonance or Slant Rhyme Also to draw attention to certain words or ideas. At that time, an unconventional way to rhyme poetry. Similar to near rhyme but words are not as closely rhymed; usually a rhyme scheme is already in place

Rhythm Usually set up as eight syllables, six syllables, eight syllables (Give or take) for stanza (four lines long).

Per stanza, usually it is A B C B Rhyme Scheme Per stanza, usually it is A B C B

(lots of PERSONIFICATION!) Metaphor In poetry that is as short as Dickinson’s, metaphor is powerful. It is an efficient way to produce complex themes in only a few lines (lots of PERSONIFICATION!)

Common Themes Nature and death. She often would take a simple scene and use it to communicate a more profound message until the last stanza (twist).

Example Dickinson Poem: I like to see it lap the Miles- And lick the Valleys up- And stop to feed itself at Tanks- And then- prodigious step Around a Pile of Mountains- And supercilious peer In Shanties-by the sides of Roads- And then a Quarry pare

Example Dickinson Poem (cont.): To fit its sides and crawl between Complaining all the while In horrid- hooting stanza- Then chase itself down Hill And neigh like Boanerges- Then- prompter than a Star Stop- docile and omnipotent At its own stable door-