EMILY DICKINSON

EARLY YEARS Second of three children in Amherst, MA Second of three children in Amherst, MA Father was a lawyer – wealthy and respected Father was a lawyer – wealthy and respected Attended Puritan church services where father was a leader Attended Puritan church services where father was a leader Well educated for a woman of her time. Well educated for a woman of her time. Attended Amherst Academy – modern curriculum of English and sciences, Latin, botany, and math Attended Amherst Academy – modern curriculum of English and sciences, Latin, botany, and math

The Dickinson Homestead in Amherst, MA

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS… Only left home TWICE Only left home TWICE Family library provided her access to books about religion, works by Emerson, and other transcendentalists Family library provided her access to books about religion, works by Emerson, and other transcendentalists 1850: began to write and circulate poems around to friends 1850: began to write and circulate poems around to friends First publication: “Sic transit Gloria mandi” in the Springfield Darily Republican in 1852 First publication: “Sic transit Gloria mandi” in the Springfield Darily Republican in 1852

PUBLICATIONS 1862: second poem published – “Safe in their alabaster chambers” 1862: second poem published – “Safe in their alabaster chambers” Became a recluse around this time Became a recluse around this time Mentor: Thomas Wentworth Higginson Mentor: Thomas Wentworth Higginson Responded to an advertisement he placed about developing young writers Responded to an advertisement he placed about developing young writers Advised against publishing – “raw form” and subject matter Advised against publishing – “raw form” and subject matter

LATER YEARS… Suffered from eye-trouble Suffered from eye-trouble Allegedly … dressed entirely in white, communicated indirectly with visitors from behind a folding screen or via notes and gifts let down from her window into the garden Allegedly … dressed entirely in white, communicated indirectly with visitors from behind a folding screen or via notes and gifts let down from her window into the garden During civil war, wrote an estimated 800 poems During civil war, wrote an estimated 800 poems

AFTER HER DEATH… Locked box found in her bedroom containing 40 notebooks full of poems Locked box found in her bedroom containing 40 notebooks full of poems Unarranged and only 24 were titled Unarranged and only 24 were titled

NOTORIETY AFTER DEATH Higginson published volumes Dickinson’s works but edited them heavily for conventional punctuation, form, and content Higginson published volumes Dickinson’s works but edited them heavily for conventional punctuation, form, and content His edition helped her poetry gain national prominence and attention His edition helped her poetry gain national prominence and attention

Emily’s Room and Dress

THEME AND TONE Observer who used images to probe universal themes: the wonders of nature, identity of self, death and immortality, and love Observer who used images to probe universal themes: the wonders of nature, identity of self, death and immortality, and love Uses humor and pathos Uses humor and pathos

FORM AND STYLE Lyric poems = short poems w/ single speaker who expresses thoughts and feelings Lyric poems = short poems w/ single speaker who expresses thoughts and feelings Speaker is first person (“I”) and not necessarily Emily herself Speaker is first person (“I”) and not necessarily Emily herself Fewer than 10 of her 1800 are titled – given numbers as titles for first lines act as titles Fewer than 10 of her 1800 are titled – given numbers as titles for first lines act as titles Lines of 3 and 4 iambs: trimester and tetrameter Lines of 3 and 4 iambs: trimester and tetrameter Imperfect rhyme – slant rhyme or approximate rhyme Imperfect rhyme – slant rhyme or approximate rhyme

TRIMETER AND TETRAMETER I dwell in possibility -4 iambs A fairer House than Prose -3 iambs More numerous of windows -4 iambs Superior for doors -3 iambs

DICKINSON ASSIGNMENT, 1/2 Title of Poems 1. What is the meaning? Use an example from text to support your answer 2. Find three examples of Poetic Devices: imagery, metaphor, simile, alliteration, consonance, symbol, personificatio n 3. Write one line that is trimeter and one that is tetrameter 4. Tone and Mood: use an example from text to support your answer 5. What time in Dickinson’ s life do you believe she wrote this? Why? Title

ASSIGNMENT, PERIODS 5/6 Choose 2 Dickinson poems Choose 2 Dickinson poems Complete the following tasks: Complete the following tasks: Identify 3 examples of the follow ing poetic devices (red): imagery, symbol, metaphor, simile, allusion, alliteration, consonance, personification Identify 3 examples of the follow ing poetic devices (red): imagery, symbol, metaphor, simile, allusion, alliteration, consonance, personification Identify the meter of the poem (orange): trimeter (3 iambs), tetrameter (4), pentameter (5) Identify the meter of the poem (orange): trimeter (3 iambs), tetrameter (4), pentameter (5) What is the meaning of this poem? Give evidence to support your analysis What is the meaning of this poem? Give evidence to support your analysis What is the tone/mood? Provide evidence What is the tone/mood? Provide evidence At what time in Emily’s life do you believe she wrote this? Why? At what time in Emily’s life do you believe she wrote this? Why? Choose an emotion to write a poem about – using “254” as a model. Must be 3 stanzas long Choose an emotion to write a poem about – using “254” as a model. Must be 3 stanzas long