emily dickinson sample essay 2014

Emily Dickinson’s Biography and Analysis of Poems Essay

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

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.

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.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, September 20). Emily Dickinson's Biography and Analysis of Poems. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emily-dickinsons-biography-and-analysis-of-poems/

"Emily Dickinson's Biography and Analysis of Poems." IvyPanda , 20 Sept. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/emily-dickinsons-biography-and-analysis-of-poems/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Emily Dickinson's Biography and Analysis of Poems'. 20 September.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Emily Dickinson's Biography and Analysis of Poems." September 20, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emily-dickinsons-biography-and-analysis-of-poems/.

1. IvyPanda . "Emily Dickinson's Biography and Analysis of Poems." September 20, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emily-dickinsons-biography-and-analysis-of-poems/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Emily Dickinson's Biography and Analysis of Poems." September 20, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emily-dickinsons-biography-and-analysis-of-poems/.

Plath and Dickinson: Brilliant and Tragic
Nectar Boutique Business Vision
“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson
John Donne’s and Emily Dickinson’s Poetry on Death
Impression of Emily Dickinson's Work
Emily Dickinson - Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Emily Dickinson “If I Should Die” Analysis
Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes Poems
Emily Dickinson and Death as a Theme in Her Poetry
Poetry Comparison by Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes
Critical Assessment of Layli Long Soldier’s “38”
The Poems "The Song of Roland," "The Epic of Gilgamesh," and "The Odyssey"
The Poem "Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath
The Poem "Beowulf": The Monster Grendel
Homerian Odysseus' Heroism (Arête)

Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Writers / Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson Essay Examples

Extensive analysis of the poem 'because i could not stop for death'.

'Because I Could Not Stop For Death' poem analysis consists of the essay that examines and interpretates the poem title, briefly states in own words what the subject of the poem and discusses what could be discovered in it. Prior to acknowledging the text of...

An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's "Hope is the Thing with Feathers"

Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" is a profound exploration of the intangible yet enduring nature of hope. Written during a period of personal introspection and creative expression, this poem has resonated with readers for generations due to its universal themes and...

To What Extent Did Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath’s Life of Crisis Affect Their Poetry

Abstract lip>Introduction Feminism Domestic Dissatisfaction and Family Relations Imagery and Symbolism Death Conclusion The purpose of this extended essay is to challenge the effects of the life and ordeals of literary icons on their poetry, by examining the question ‘To what extent did Emily Dickinson...

Analysis of Metaphors in the Poems of Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson became well-known all over the world after her death. Thanks to her sister, the rest of Dickinson’s poems were published in 1890. Mabel Loomis Todd edited contents of Dickinson’s poems. Among Emily Dickinson’s 1,775 poems, only twenty-four of them are titled. Twenty-one poems...

The Personification of Death in the Poems "Mid-term Break" and "Because I Could not Stop for Death"

“It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time.” Samuel Johnson (English poet -1784) Seamus Heaney was the eldest sibling in his family of 9, Heaney wrote the poem...

The Portrayal of the Personal Identity in Selective American Poems

At the end of the 19th century, a time has emerged in which poets provided a historical and cultural overview of America via poetry while assessing the importance and meaning of them. American poets of the 20th century like Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Emily Dickson...

Emily Dickinson’s -"because I Could not Stop for Death" Analysis

Emily Dickinson view on death was one that showed that people do not need to fear death, because death is something that all people should accept if they want to live a full life. How is death seen as an old friend to those who...

Comparisons in Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson Poems

Poems are ways to express an individual’s feelings and aspects arousing different sentiments and perspectives of the reader. The analyzed poems were written between 19th and 20th century. Sylvia Plath’s ‘Daddy’ was written in 1962, when women were not treated equally to men whereas Dickinson’s...

Analysing Lyric Appeal of Emily Dickinson's Poem

‘Because I could not stop for death’ explores the inevitability of death and the uncertainties that surround what happens after people die. ‘Death’ is personified as a ‘kindly’ gentleman, who takes the reader on a mysterious journey through time. Unlike most lyric poetry, the poem...

The Lifeway and Creativity: Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, one of the greatest poets of the 19th century, wrote her poetry differently than others during her time and generation. The metaphors and symbolism she uses throughout her poems are enthralling, and incites her audience to continue to reflect on her poems...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

About Emily Dickinson

December 10, 1830 Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.

May 15, 1886 (aged 55) Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.

Mount Holyoke Female Seminary

List of poems

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->