Emily Dickinson

Dickinson’s Life Born 1830 Grew up in Amherst, Mass. Lived in the same house for almost her entire life (lived with prominent parents) Never married but had several relationships that influenced her writing. Myth that she was a “reclusive, eccentric, death-obsessed spinster” (p. 2554)

Dickinson’s Writing Only about 12 poems published during her lifetime- little known poet while she was alive Nearly 1800 poems and about 1000 letters written that survived Influence of current events on writing Influence of own life on writing Rebellion against conventional expectations

Dickinson’s Style Complex lyrics: “compressed statements abounding in startling imagery and marked by an extraordinary vocabulary” Subjects: physic pain and joy, relationship of self to nature, intensely spiritual, intensely ordinary Transformation of traditional form in poetry

Dickinson’s Style Rhythm: drew from nursery rhymes that are strongly rhythmical and easy to memorize and recite Took closed forms and broke their rules Use of dashes and syntactical fragments “to convey her pursuit of a truth that could best be communicated indirectly”- went directly to the core through a fragment

Dickinson’s Style Enjambment- run past standard line or stanza break- creating “dizzying ambiguities” Use of “off” or “slant” rhymes Compressed lyric as hallmark of modernist poetry in 20th century Focus on speaker’s response to a situation rather than the details of the situation itself

Unique Style Features Dash: –Interupts text –Adds uncertainty –Indefinite endings –Guides the reader Capitalization –Influence of German language –Adds emphasis to words

1129 Tell all the truth but tell it slant – Success in Circuit lies Too bright for our infirm Delight The Truth’s superb surprise As Lightening in the Children eased With explanation kind The Truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind -