Emily Dickinson

Life• Born December 10, 1830 in Amherst,

Massachusetts• Extremely close to family; especially brother

Austin and sister Lavinia• Attended Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary in 1846

▫Returned home after one year due to homesickness

▫This was the longest she was away from home• In later years, she became a recluse

and seldom left home or entertained visitors▫By 1860’s she lived in near total

isolation except for some correspondences

• Died May 15th, 1886

Works

•Not publically recognized during her lifetime▫Poems were found by her family after her

death and published ▫There were nearly 1800 poems in all

•Work was greatly influenced by the Metaphysical poets of 17th century England, the Book of Revelation, and her Puritan upbringing

•Majority of her poetry reflects a loneliness, but many show inspirational moments suggesting happiness

•Most well-known for her unusual use of dashes

Tell All The Truth But Tell It Slant

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant – Success in Circuit liesToo bright for our infirm DelightThe Truth’s superb surpriseAs Lightning to the Children easedWith explanation kindThe Truth must dazzle graduallyOr every man be blind –

Walt Whitman

“Nothing is better than simplicity…nothing can make up for excess or for the lack of definiteness”

Life•Born May 31, 1819•Learned to be a printer at age 12 and became a

teacher in 1836 at 17. ▫Taught until 1841 when be decided to become a

journalist•Founded the newspaper Long-Islander

▫Worked for several newspapers throughout his life

•Copyrights first edition of Leaves of Grass in 1855▫Consisted of 12 untitled poems▫Continued to edit and republish this work▫Sent a copy to Emerson who praised his work

•Visited and helped in war hospitals in Washington D.C. during the Civil War

•Died March 26, 1892

Works

•Whitman was part of the transition between Transcendentalism and realism▫Poetic works were filled with a love of

nature▫Identified with regeneration in nature

•Was called the “father of free verse” though he did not invent the writing form▫Incorporated natural speech rhythms into

his poetry▫Poems were written to be spoken

A Noiseless, Patient Spider

A noiseless, patient spider, I mark'd, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;Mark'd how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding, It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;Ever unreeling them--ever tirelessly speeding them.  

And you, O my Soul, where you stand, Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,--seeking the

spheres, to connect them; Till the bridge you will need, be form'd--till the ductile anchor

hold; Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my

Soul