EMILY DICKINSON By Michelle and Sami EARLY CHILDHOOD

EMILY DICKINSON By: Michelle and Sami

EARLY CHILDHOOD v Born Emily Elizabeth Dickinson December 10, 1830 v Amherst, Massachusetts v Successful family; Father worked for congress v Younger sister Lavinia and older brother William v Musically inclined v Mother cold and aloof; Emily considered older brother parent

TEENAGE YEARS v Impacted by her second cousins death; "it seemed to me I should die too if I could not be permitted to watch over her or even look at her face. "[ v Troubled teen; not many friends; rebelled against religion v Attended female seminary school; was removed by brother in march of 1848 at “all cost”

ADULTHOOD v Only two poems published during lifetime v Hundreds of poems found by sister after Emily's death v Over 18 000 poems written during lifetime v Secluded v In love with Minister v Never married v No children v Passed May 15, 1886

THE PURPOSE OF THE POEMS v Mostly writing for self v No outwordly influence and/or pressure v Coping method v Relatable v Questions religion – before her time

WRITING STYLE v Short v Meaningful v Wrote about emotions v Purposeful v Uses dashes to break rhythm (If I should die) v Long pauses to interrupt meter v Most common pattern – a, b, c, b v Five categories

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS "Hope" is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all, And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. I've heard it in the chillest land And on the strangest sea, Yet never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.

IF I SHOULD DIE If I should die, And you should live, And time should gurgle on, And morn should beam, And noon should burn, 5 As it has usual done; If birds should build as early, And bees as bustling go, — One might depart at option From enterprise below! 10 ’T is sweet to know that stocks will stand When we with daisies lie, That commerce will continue, And trades as briskly fly. It makes the parting tranquil 15 And keeps the soul serene, That gentlemen so sprightly Conduct the pleasing scene!

IF I CAN STOP If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.

ANALYSIS v Finding meaning in life v Pep talk v « If I can » - upset with life v « Precise and unpredictable » v « Breaking heart » , « cool one pain » v Iambic tetramter and unregular pattern v Little use of poetic devices v Written for self

PERSONAL CONNECTION v « What is the meaning of life? » v Reassurance, hope

WHY IS EMILY DICKINSON A WORTHY STUDY? v Descriptive v Modern v Word flow v Tone v Expression of both love and dark v Expressive v Short and honest