1. Emily Dickinson
By: Michelle and Sami

2. Early childhood Born Emily Elizabeth Dickinson December 10, 1830
Amherst, Massachusetts
Successful family; Father worked for congress
Younger sister Lavinia and older brother William
Musically inclined
Mother cold and aloof; Emily considered older brother parent

3. Teenage years
Impacted by her second cousins death; "it seemed to me I should die too if I could not be permitted to watch over her or even look at her face."[
Troubled teen; not many friends; rebelled against religion
Attended female seminary school; was removed by brother in march of 1848 at “all cost”

4. Adulthood Only two poems published during lifetime
Hundreds of poems found by sister after Emily's death
Over poems written during lifetime
Secluded
In love with Minister
Never married
No children
Passed May 15, 1886

5. The purpose of the poems
Mostly writing for self
No outwordly influence and/or pressure
Coping method
Relatable
Questions religion – before her time

6. Writing style Short Meaningful Wrote about emotions Purposeful
Uses dashes to break rhythm (If I should die)
Long pauses to interrupt meter
Most common pattern – a,b,c,b
Five categories

7. Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea,
Yet never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

8. If I should die If I should die, And you should live,
And time should gurgle on,
And morn should beam,
And noon should burn, 5
As it has usual done;
If birds should build as early,
And bees as bustling go,—
One might depart at option
From enterprise below! 10
’T is sweet to know that stocks will stand
When we with daisies lie,
That commerce will continue,
And trades as briskly fly.
It makes the parting tranquil 15
And keeps the soul serene,
That gentlemen so sprightly
Conduct the pleasing scene!

9. 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,
I shall not live in vain.

10. Analysis Finding meaning in life Pep talk
« If I can » - upset with life
« Precise and unpredictable »
« Breaking heart » , « cool one pain »
Iambic tetramter and unregular pattern
Little use of poetic devices
Written for self

11. Personal connection
« What is the meaning of life? »
Reassurance, hope

12. Why is Emily Dickinson a worthy study?
Descriptive
Modern
Word flow
Tone
Expression of both love and dark
Expressive
Short and honest