Biography
Emily Dickinson is considered by many to be among the most talented poets of all time. The prominent poet Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Massachusetts, United States. During her youth, Dickinson barely spent a year attending Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in Amherst (Academy of American Poets). The poet died in her childhood home in Amherst in 1886 (Academy of American Poets). During her life, many classic poets served as an inspiration for Emily, and the specific field of literature that allured the woman was English poetry.
After her death, Dickinson’s poetry was printed in two volumes. The initial volume was released in 1890, and the final in 1955 (Academy of American Poets). There are currently only ten recognized publications of Emily Dickinson, while the estimated number of works during her lifetime is 1,800 (Academy of American Poets). The reason behind such a minuscule quantity of works is that while the poet sent her works in letters to her acquaintances, she ostensibly retained the majority for herself. As a result, she was not interested in publishing her poetry since she was committed to her own interests.
The poet was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, in a wealthy family of a local politician, a Yale graduate, and a prominent lawyer. As a member of the Whig party, the woman’s father, Edward Dickinson, was a widely recognized attorney (Dickinson and Bianchi 36). Moreover, Emily Dickinson made the decision to limit her interpersonal contact from a young age. The woman made the decision in her late twenties to spend a significant part of her time in the family house rather than stepping outside (Dickinson and Bianchi 14). She did not do much traveling and valued her friends by how well they could respond to her letters. Lastly, the decision of Dickinson to stay with her family was not due to her close relationship with her parents. The woman characterized her mother as being heartless and frigid (Dickinson and Bianchi 68). Once her mother became bedridden later in life, the poet reportedly began to develop greater compassion for her. She appeared to connect better with her father, although he was rumored to be against female intellectuals (Dickinson and Bianchi 69). This may aid in understanding Dickinson’s decision to keep her extensive library of poems a secret.
Interesting Facts
The poet was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, in a wealthy family of a local politician, a Yale graduate, and a prominent lawyer. As a member of the Whig party, the woman’s father, Edward Dickinson, was a widely recognized attorney (Dickinson and Bianchi 36). Moreover, Emily Dickinson made the decision to limit her interpersonal contact from a young age. The woman made the decision in her late twenties to spend a significant part of her time in the family house rather than stepping outside (Dickinson and Bianchi 14). She did not do much traveling and valued her friends by how well they could respond to her letters. Lastly, the decision of Dickinson to stay with her family was not due to her close relationship with her parents. The woman characterized her mother as being heartless and frigid (Dickinson and Bianchi 68). Once her mother became bedridden later in life, the poet reportedly began to develop greater compassion for her. She appeared to connect better with her father, although he was rumored to be against female intellectuals (Dickinson and Bianchi 69). This may aid in understanding Dickinson’s decision to keep her extensive library of poems a secret.
Despite not having numerous published works, Emily Dickinson is a renowned poet due to the quality of her writings and her talent. There are several documentaries and films based on her life experience and poetic path. For example, among the recent films that the story of the poet inspired are A Quiet Passion and Wild Nights with Emily (Dickinson & Bianchi, 2021).
Success Is Counted Sweetest
The poem Success is counted sweetest is among the most popular works of Emily Dickinson, rich in literary devices and common literary features. When it comes to the plot, in the poem, Emily Dickinson ponders about success and what it takes to achieve it. The author argues that holding onto anything valuable for too long causes it to lose its worth. Additionally, later in the poem, the author states that for individuals who have never experienced victory or who have been forced to deal with disappointments throughout their existence, achievement represents the most valuable and greatest feeling.
In this sense, the main themes of such poetry are need, achievement, and failure. The author utilizes several instances to illustrate her points on accomplishment. Dickinson draws a parallel between success for different people, illuminating the preciousness of achievement for those who worked hard and those who cannot “tell the definition / So clear of victory” (Dickinson 8). Thus, individuals that encounter setbacks or disappointments in life respect and cherish them. The point of view in her poem, Emily Dickinson, makes the case that those who possess the least of it love it most. Prosperity is paradoxical in this way since the more accomplished someone is, the less they value it, and the reverse is additionally true. In this way, the poem has both an aspirational and depressing tone.
As for the literary devices, in the given poem, the first stanza shows the successful and evident use of metaphor. A metaphor employed in the stanza is a figure of speech that conveys a comparison of two items with dissimilar natures. For instance, sweet success is compared to nectar, and in this sense, the author argues that “To comprehend a nectar / Requires sorest need” (Dickinson 4). Nectar, in this context, refers to the pleasure of success and what it takes to achieve it. Another literary device used in the second stanza of the poem Success Is Counted Sweetest is imagery. For instance, in order to catch the attention of the audience, the poet narrates, “Not one of all the purple Host / Who took the Flag today,” illustrating the visual and tactile imagery, employing color and movement, respectively (Dickinson 6). Lastly, “The distant strains of triumph / Burst agonized and clear!” illustrates the use of auditory imagery, emphasizing the noise for the audience (Dickinson 12). Thus, the imagery was necessary for the author to help the audience understand concepts involving all sensory experiences.
Finally, Dickinson employed symbolism to allude to specific personas. The process of employing symbols to represent concepts and traits by assigning them with symbolic interpretations separate from the actual literal definitions is known as symbolism. For instance, in the second stanza, “the purple Host” alludes to the royal army and royalty (Dickinson 5). The purple host symbolizes the royal army, which additionally stands for the Northern troops and individuals who view winning as an easy task. Additionally, nectar in the first stanza might allude to not only triumph and success but opulence as well.
“Hope” Is the Thing with Feathers
“Hope” Is the Thing with Feathers is another poem by Emily Dickinson that serves as an inspiring and calming piece. In the plot, Dickinson likens hope to a brave and independent bird that performs its music in any condition. This creature, similar to a quiet friend, keeps encouraging the heart to keep faith in the face of challenges. Its melody aids the recovery of perceptions in souls in despair. Dickinson conveys the idea that faith is unfailing, unending, and brilliant. The author explains how hope acts as a shining beacon amid that storm by contrasting human tragedy with the weather conditions. At the end of the poem, Dickinson depicts her personal awful situation and resilience. The woman claims that having hope enabled her to go over her life’s challenges. Thus, resilience and the notion that there is a constant promise are among the piece’s central themes. There is always a ray of optimism, despite the hardest and saddest of circumstances. Everyone has a voice that is audible in any weather.
Moreover, the tone of the poem is quite gracious and grateful for both the challenges and strength to persevere. The author’s perspective toward the topic is optimistic, which she endeavors to project onto others. The narrator in this piece talks about how optimism “perches in the soul” and persists with singing, despite the enormous obstacles (Dickinson 2). Therefore, the point of view of the author is that no matter what difficulties the person faces, there should always be hope that will navigate the person.
As for the literary devices, the first method used is the application of metaphor. In the first stanza, the author claims that “Hope” is the thing with feathers – / That perches the soul – / And sings the tune without the words – / And never stops – at all.” (Dickinson 4). Here, the author successfully likened hope to a bird, illustrating how it sings and bolsters a man’s soul. From here, one can see another instance of the literary device, such as personification. It is the process of giving human traits or features to an inanimate item. In the first stanza, the bird can be perceived as a friend or a preacher who never quits teaching and supporting. In order to provide the men with inner strength, it whispers its quiet melody into their hearts. In this sense, Emily Dickinson humanized hope in her poetry.
Moreover, Emily Dickinson used imagery to fill the poem with the necessary details to allow the audience to relate to the piece and feel the implied emotions. The imagery was employed to aid in their ability to see the reported items in their minds. Among the examples of tactile imagery is the weather, which is illustrated in the last stanza through temperature: “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land” (Dickinson 10). Another instance of tactile imagery is “That could abash the little Bird / That kept so many warm.” Lastly, symbolism is the final literary device, where “the chillest land” represents challenges through difficult times during which there is yet hope (Dickinson 9). Thus, it was employed to highlight the enormous influence that hope has on people’s lives.
I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed
The last poem of Emily Dickinson is I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed, which emphasizes the connection between a human and nature. The plot of the poem revolves around the perceptions and elated mood of the author, who narrates about the insects who additionally become drunken by the summer days and alive nature. In this sense, nature is the primary topic of the poem, which is preceded by the imagery of booze and inebriation. Moreover, the tone of the poem is ecstatic since the work by Emily Dickinson is about becoming fully intoxicated, not with alcohol, but rather with life. The narrator of the verse envisions drinking so intensely and joyfully from humanity’s greatest beauty on a magnificent warmer months morning that many angels rush to their homes to see the author’s joyful actions. Therefore, with the setting in a rural area on a summer day, the author perceives life as joyful during warmer months.
As for the literary devices, the first one is a metaphor. The first metaphor is a comparison of happiness to drunken euphoria in nature, which is seen in the first line, “I taste a liquor never brewed,” which alludes that this is not real alcohol (Dickinson 1). Another example is when Dickinson draws a parallel between a flower and a pub inside this context “When “Landlords” turn the drunken Bee / Out of the Foxglove’s door” (Dickinson 10). In this sense, the author additionally uses personification since she gives bees and butterflies human traits of being drunk and thrown out of the tavern.
Furthermore, Dickinson uses hyperbole throughout the entire poem. The main hyperbole is that the bees and butterflies are so addicted to nature and warmth that they become intoxicated, “When Butterflies – renounce their “drams” – I shall but drink the more” (Dickinson 12). Thus, hyperbole allows the audience to see how affected and thrilled they are by the environment.
Summary
Hence, Emily Dickinson can be perceived as a talented poet for many reasons due to her inspiring works. While examining and reading her poems of Dickinson attentively, I could not but admire her skillful use of literary devices that make the pieces sound sophisticated and full of life. I liked the poems of Emily Dickinson because she did not incorporate complicated language or verse forms. After millennia, the works of the famous poet can still be understood without a problem. Moreover, I noticed that the poems have overarching themes, such as resilience, aspirations, and appreciation. The poet implements similar approaches to her writing and strives to instill hope and happiness in the readers. While reading the verses of Dickinson, I felt inspired and grateful. However, the works of Emily Dickinson did not remind me of any other poet, and I perceive the poet’s writing as unique, which proves her pure talent. Emily Dickinson had the skill of writing simple poetry to which people could relate. While many poets of her time had quite pompous works that exuded a sense of grandeur, for the most part, they were merely sophisticated words. In the case of Dickinson’s works, they are filled with a wide array of true emotions, including hope, happiness, grief, sorrow, and others.
Works Cited
Academy of American Poets. Emily Dickinson. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web.
Dickinson, Emily. Hope Is the Thing with Feathers: Poems of Emily Dickinson. United States, Gibbs Smith, 2019.
Dickinson, Emily, and Bianchi, Martha Dickinson. Life and Letters of Emily Dickinson. United Kingdom, West Margin Press, 2021.