Emily Dickinson

A Unique Style

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)

Characteristics of Dickinson’s Poetry…

Punctuation (Dashes)

Allows for pauses to emphasize the rhythm of the poem

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). This is why many

of her poems can be sung to the theme song of Gilligan’s Island

Rhyme Scheme

Per stanza, usually it is A B C B

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

Example Dickinson Poem (cont.):

To fit its sides and crawl betweenComplaining all the whileIn horrid- hooting stanza-Then chase itself down Hill

And neigh like Boanerges-Then- prompter than a StarStop- docile and omnipotentAt its own stable door-