emily dickinson a unique style. background born on december 10th 1830 grew up in amherst,...
TRANSCRIPT
Background
Born on December 10th 1830Grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts (NE)Emily admired and respected her fatherShe didn’t have a close relationship with her mother until after she had a strokeShe 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 houseFrequently wore a white dress (a bride?)Corresponded with family through lettersInteractive with neighbors on occasion1884 she fell illDied from Bright’s Disease (Kidney Failure) May 15, 1884Brother 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)
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). This is why many
of her poems can be sung to the theme song of Gilligan’s Island
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 peerIn Shanties-by the sides of Roads-And then a Quarry pare