Emily Dickinson Along with Walt Whitman, Dickinson is credited with bringing American poetry into the 20 th century

Family and Life Emily Dickinson ( ) born in Amherst, Massachusetts Emily Dickinson ( ) born in Amherst, Massachusetts Father: Edward Dickinson  Lawyer  Treasurer of Amherst College  Strict head-of-the-house

Dickinson’s Education Extensive for young women of the period Extensive for young women of the period

Dickinson in Seclusion 1853 Dickinson began to lead a rather solitary life 1853 Dickinson began to lead a rather solitary life By 30 years of age, essentially withdrawn from society By 30 years of age, essentially withdrawn from society Solitude did not turn morbid until 1874 (when her father died) Solitude did not turn morbid until 1874 (when her father died) After 1874, Dickinson practically never left the family house. After 1874, Dickinson practically never left the family house.

Possible reasons for seclusion… Love for Charles Wadsworth (41 year old, married, with a family) – he eventually moved to San Francisco Love for Charles Wadsworth (41 year old, married, with a family) – he eventually moved to San Francisco Cared for Judge Otis P. Lord of Salem (a widower and old family friend) – considered marriage Cared for Judge Otis P. Lord of Salem (a widower and old family friend) – considered marriage She was an idealist in human relations, expecting too much of people – and of God and religion (her poetry indicates a disenchantment both with present life and with the promise of heaven She was an idealist in human relations, expecting too much of people – and of God and religion (her poetry indicates a disenchantment both with present life and with the promise of heaven

Dickinson was Eccentric She always dressed in white and preferred to socialize through letters and to confide her deepest thoughts in her poems She always dressed in white and preferred to socialize through letters and to confide her deepest thoughts in her poems

Dickinson wrote 1775 Poems Only seven were published during her lifetime… and they were published anonymously Only seven were published during her lifetime… and they were published anonymously After Emily Dickinson’s death, her sister discovered hundreds of her poems and persuaded Thomas Higginson, Dickinson’s friend/mentor, and Mabel Loomis Todd, a family friend to publish the poems. After Emily Dickinson’s death, her sister discovered hundreds of her poems and persuaded Thomas Higginson, Dickinson’s friend/mentor, and Mabel Loomis Todd, a family friend to publish the poems.

Editors of her work freely made changes because her poems did not meet the conventional standards such as rhymes and meter, punctuation and diction. Editors of her work freely made changes because her poems did not meet the conventional standards such as rhymes and meter, punctuation and diction. Dickinson was given to erratic and uncommon punctuation and extensive use of capital letters. Dickinson was given to erratic and uncommon punctuation and extensive use of capital letters. Her poems were untitled- titles we see come from the first line of each poem. Her poems were untitled- titles we see come from the first line of each poem. 1950’s- her estate was given to Harvard University and a more authentic version finally reached the public. 1950’s- her estate was given to Harvard University and a more authentic version finally reached the public.

Dickinson’s Themes Dickinson wrote mainly about universal themes: nature, love, death, immortality, and God Dickinson wrote mainly about universal themes: nature, love, death, immortality, and God Wrote about common things, too Wrote about common things, too Most powerful poetry dwells on time, death, and eternity… (later in her life her questions about death and immortality became somewhat morbid – almost grotesque) Most powerful poetry dwells on time, death, and eternity… (later in her life her questions about death and immortality became somewhat morbid – almost grotesque)

How to read Dickinson’s poetry Poems often appear simple, but reading her poetry requires careful attention, often to what is not said Poems often appear simple, but reading her poetry requires careful attention, often to what is not said She makes unstated shifts in perspective – frequently investigating her subject by turning it all around, considering it from differing attitudes and points of view She makes unstated shifts in perspective – frequently investigating her subject by turning it all around, considering it from differing attitudes and points of view She was one of the first American poets to map careful the interior landscape of feeling, exploring the terrain of the subconscious before it was “discovered” decades later by Sigmund Freud. She was one of the first American poets to map careful the interior landscape of feeling, exploring the terrain of the subconscious before it was “discovered” decades later by Sigmund Freud. Concealment of personal facts and private thoughts is the very framework of her poetry Concealment of personal facts and private thoughts is the very framework of her poetry