EMILY DICKINSON

By: Michelle and Sami

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

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”

ADULTHOOD

Only two poems published during lifetime

Hundreds of poems found by sister after Emily's death

Over 18 000 poems written during lifetime

Secluded

In love with Minister

Never married

No children

Passed May 15, 1886

THE PURPOSE OF THE POEMS

Mostly writing for self

No outwordly influence and/or pressure

Coping method

Relatable

Questions religion – before her time

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

HO PE IS THE THIN G WITH FEATHERS

"Hope" is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without the wordsAnd never stops at all,And sweetest in the gale is heard;And sore must be the stormThat could abash the little birdThat kept so many warm.I've heard it in the chillest landAnd on the strangest sea,Yet never, in extremity,It asked a crumb of me.

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

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 robinUnto his nest again,I shall not live in vain.

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

PERSONAL CONNECTION

« What is the meaning of life? »

Reassurance, hope

WHY IS EMILY D ICKIN SO N A WO RTHY S TU DY?

Descriptive

Modern

Word flow

Tone

Expression of both love and dark

Expressive

Short and honest