Major Poet Essay

Riley Pavelich
Major Poet Essay
Advanced Comp.
24 January 2008

Biography


Perhaps one of the most prolific and widely read poets of all time, Emily Dickinson has finally earned fame. During her lifetime, her poems, on the rare occasion one was printed, were edited almost out of recognition. She was heavily criticized because she did not use conventional techniques, and her poems usually did not have titles. She would occasionally throw in a comma, a capital letter, or a period which caused more traditional writers confusion.


Emily was born in Amherst, Massachusetts were she spent her entire life. Her family was rich and respected. She was a brilliant student. As Emily grew older she left homeless, until eventually she never did again. She was known in her town as being odd, and she added to this notion by only wearing white clothing. Frequently, she would write poems without telling anyone. In 1886 she died from a stroke. After her death, Emily's younger sister was shocked to find thousands of untitled poems which she later published.

Review of Critical Essays

When researching Emily Dickinson, it is useful to read Cynthia Griffin Wolff’s critical essay. Ms. Wolff seems to be a feminist who admires Emily more for her gender than her writing. It is true that Emily is praise-worthy for standing up for her art and being brave enough to write poetry; however, her real claim to fame is her poetry. Ms. Wolf acknowledges this when she writes, “Irrefutable ‘Immortality’ resides in the work of art itself” (Wolff 11). When Wolff writes this she means that Emily’s poems will last forever, and her spirit and soul live on through them.

Analysis of One Poem

Emily Dickinson was an individual. She wrote using her own original style, and refused to sacrifice her uniqueness. Although she rarely left home, when one reads her poems she seems worldly and sophisticated. She is admired as both woman and a poet.

Most of Emily Dickinson’s poems have no titles, so most people identify them by the first line of each poem. “Hope is the thing with feathers” addresses Emily’s idea that hope is like a bird that is forever with humanity. It can not be seen or heard, but it is undeniably felt. The speaker in this poem, who seems to be Emily herself, comes off like someone who is very vulnerable. It seems as if she has had to rely on herself for comfort.

The images this poem evokes are very striking. The reader could envision a little robin sitting on every person’s shoulder. A powerful phrase is in the last stanza when Emily writes, “Yet, never, in extremity/ it asked a crumb from me” (11-12). This section is a play on words. The imaginary bird has never asked to be fed, but also hope comes naturally to all humans, and there is no price to pay for it. This poem makes the reader feel as if he will never be deserted by his robin, and together they can get through anything. Also, when others have forsaken somebody, he can count on himself and hope to pull through.

What would a woman who has lived in the same town, in the same house for her entire life know about needing hope? When Emily writes that she has felt hope “in the chillest land” and “on the strangest sea,” the reader must ask himself if this is true (9-10). Her personal struggles with depression, family, and love must have been overwhelming to her.

Emily was often criticized for her unconventional rhythms; however, in “Hope is the thing with feathers,” she uses end rhythms to her great advantage, which makes reading it easier and more enjoyable.

Overview of 3 Poems

In Emily Dickinson’s poem “I’m nobody! Who are you?” she tries to justify her lack of success in the literary world. When she writes “How dreary to be somebody/ How public, like a frog,” she is referring to the fact that nobody knows her name beyond her family and friends (5-6). She says that to be known would, in fact, be more distressing than pleasing.

Among Emily’s many poems about death, “Because I could not stop for Death,” is by far the most famous. She writes about a fanciful situation where Death picks her up in a carriage, and together they drive towards “eternity.” The poem is dark, but yet she does not seem too upset that she is dying. Rather, to her, it appears to be a release from the duty of living.

Emily’s bitterness about not being successful is a reoccurring theme in her writings. In the poem “Success is counted sweetest,” she writes about those people who are frequently successful do not value their achievements. She seems to be alluding to herself when she wrote “To comprehend a nectar/ Requires sorest need” (3-4). Apparently she felt she had the “sorest need.” Her loyalty to her art-form though prevented her from being frequently published. She would have had more success in her life time if she was willing to edit her poems.

Evaluation of Poet

Emily Dickinson was a master of her craft. She is arguably one of the most famous and influential poets of all time. When her poems were finally published, they inspired generations of writers. Her imagery is intriguing and beautiful; not a word or phrase is without meaning. Although, poems she wrote are short and deceivingly simple, they speak to any reader with imagination and appreciation of beauty.