An Interview for Emily Dickinson Essay

When people think of Emily Dickinson, they think of a white dressed, ghostly woman hidden in the corridors of home, writing poem after poem. They do not think of the actual person Emily was. Emily Dickinson grew up in a rich, social, scholarly environment. She could have chosen many paths that would have led her to a completely different life, but because of circumstances, the social, high energy girl with a sense of humor became isolated by her own choice. Though Emily Dickinson’s depression is romanticized, sickness, social life, and death led her to seclusion and deep poems.

Emily Dickinson was an American poet who wrote during the 19th century. Her work is both emotional and thought-provoking and her lack of social interaction during her lifetime give her poetry a personality that is vastly different from other poets of her time. Desmond Powell writes in “Emily Dickinson” “She was not seeking new forms; she was only writing in a form inherent in her, a form quite different from the conventional ones employed by the other poets of her day.” Dickinson was not worried about copying the work of other poets, but instead concentrated on making an art form that was entirely her own and that has managed to stand the test of time even to this day. As one of the most recognizable names in American literature, she is truly

I grew up in Pakistan with a diverse culture around me. Before moving to the U.S., the city I grew up in was a blend of people who lived there because of their jobs, education and business purposes. I learned that poverty, marginalization and violence, neither had a religion nor selects people of a specific faith to attack them. This made me devote myself to the church and its programs to serve all children of God spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and fighting for social justice against the systemic evil in the world.

Emily Dickinson, recognized as one of the greatest American poets of the nineteenth century, was born December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts (Benfey, 1). Dickinson’s greatness and accomplishments were not always recognized. In her time, women were not recognized as serious writers and her talents were often ignored. Only seven of her 1800 poems were ever published. Dickinson’s life was relatively simple, but behind the scenes she worked as a creative and talented poet. Her work was influenced by poets of the seventeenth century in England, and by her puritan upbringing. Dickinson was an obsessively private writer. Dickinson withdrew herself from the social contract around the age of thirty and devoted herself, in secret, to writing.

My faith and how I lived in my faith made serves as a lasting example to believers in Christ (Lindslay, 3). In life, I believed that all work that I did was spiritual work for the betterment of the Lord’s kingdom. Whether I was writing, ministering, eating out, or simply talking with friends, all work, all things, all I did was for the advancement of the Lord’s kingdom. For the work of “a Beethoven” or the work of a “charwoman” were all the same in my eyes; for both the workers, their work should be “offered to God” and done “humbly” “as to the Lord” (Eshlemen, 2). Although I struggled with cynicism, this way of living life challenged and brought new meaning to my life (Lindslay, 3). This idea on the life I lived and how I lived the life I was given serves as an example of Colossians 3:17 for Christians who wish to live and long to live in similar fashions (The Holy, 237). This way of living my faith truly required me to be quite public and open with my thoughts and beliefs. My faith was not always outright and public. When I was young, my family was my first spiritual influence (Eshlemen, 5). My faith started when I was young, but was shattered with the death of my mother when I was ten years of age (Lindslay, 1). This tragedy shook who I thought God is. The death of my mother affected me deeply. In fact, in college, I denounced the protestant

As a student and a college applicant, I'm all too familiar with answering “why” questions, and similarly, I'm positive you are very familiar with reading these “why” answers. With that in mind, I proceed steadily and courageously in the effort to make anyone reading this truly understand “Why Dickinson?”, and what this means to me. Admittedly, Dickinson appeals to me because of the academic standards and accreditations, but it goes deeper than that. I feel remorse in saying that I have not had the opportunity to visit the campus due to familial conflicts, however, I have spent countless hours reading and looking through pictures of the campus so that it almost feels as if I have been. The campus and it’s surrounding areas are utterly breathtaking, and

Emily Dickinson is one of the most influential poets of all time, and has a unique way of using literal imagery to paint a picture in the readers mind. The best poets are those that excel at using their words to create clear, concrete images and intrigue their reader. Dickinson began writing poetry around the year 1855, and prospered for another 10 years. Some of her most famous poems include “I Taste a liquor Never Brewed”, “Success is Counted Sweetest”, and “Wild nights – Wild Nights!”, all of which have influenced many aspiring writers to become poets, and show her true colors as a poet. Among her works of poetry, I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, is one that resembles the frequent patterns of Dickinson’s style of

In this era, America was trying to form its own poetic identity. "...and poetic achievement was viewed as the standard by which a national culture was measured. The desire to create a distinctly American literature consequently took on a special urgency in the realm of poetry," (pg. 937). "But surely, many reasoned, a nation without its own poets and poetry could not be a real nation," (pgs. 937-938). Because of this, Daniel Whitaker "simply announced that American poetry in fact existed," (pg. 937). He was not alone in this opinion, as "so did many others view the writing of poetry as a patriotic act, a necessary part of building a new and culturally independent country," (pg. 938).

Instead of focusing on religion, Emily chose to focus on reading, especially Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Poems that was given to her by her male acquaintance, Benjamin Newton. Benjamin Newton also introduced Emily to the poetry of William Wordsworth and greatly inspired Emily’s beginnings as a writer (“Emily Dickinson Biography,” n.d.). While at home, Emily also cared for her sick mother and spent most of her time and energy focusing on renewing her mother’s health with the help of her sister, Lavinia. However, Emily and Lavinia’s mother passed away after many years of suffering due to a stroke (“Emily Dickinson Biography: American Poet and Author,” n.d.).

Many biographers believe Dickinson’s eventual decision to live as a recluse during her early to later adult years was strongly influenced by these two factors, Queen Victoria’s endless mourning created the mindset in women that only one true love existed and another would never be considered. Along with this was the endless prodding by nineteenth society for women to remain invisible. Women buried themselves beneath daily responsibilities. Thoughts or feelings were never allowed to be expressed freely.

Religion has been at the forefront of many issues recently covered by the news. In many of these news stories, religious beliefs are not used to demonstrate support for a cause or issue, but rather religion is used to voice dissent. During the week of June 23, 2013, news coverage touching upon religious issues, many of which remain unresolved.

Emily Dickinson was one of the most well-known poets, being considered as one of the most leading nineteenth-century poets. She commanded a remarkable cleverness of style and honor of idea. Only ten of Dickinson’s nearly one thousand, eight hundred poems are known to have been published in her entire lifetime. Devoted to private quests, she sent hundreds of poems to friends and correspondents while apparently keeping the greater number to herself. She habitually worked in verse forms suggestive of hymns and ballads, with lines of three or four stresses. She freely ignored the usual rules of versification and even grammar, and in the intellectual content of her work she came off exceptionally bold and original. Her verse is distinguished by

Michael Salvucci Mrs. Comeau English 10 Honors Death, Pain, and the Pursuit of Peace Although Emily Dickinson’s poetry is profoundly insightful, her poems have a very confinedpan of subjects and themes. Most likely due to her early life and social reclusion, Dickinson’s poetry is limited to three major subjects: death, pain, and on a somewhat lighter note, nature. Dickinson’s poetry is greatly influenced by her early life as she led an extremely secluded and pessimisticlife. In her early adult years the poet spent one year studying at female seminary, from 1847 to 1848. Dickinson’s blunt pessimistic attitude is shown in a letter, written to a friend, as she says “I am not happy…Christ is calling everyone here, all my companions have

Through the process of my liberal arts education, I have had several teachers and professors praise and crucify the biographical approach to literary analysis. Dickinson is perhaps more mysterious than any other writer I have studied. Part of the mystery has been created by analysts trying to decipher the meaning of poems written by a reclusive woman who published little of her work while still alive. During her life, Dickinson was not famous. Her fame and much of her profile has been created after her death. In an attempt to decipher her work, several literary scholars have used a biographical approach to Emily Dickinson and her poetry. My knowledge about Dickinson’s

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born December 10, 1830, into an influential family in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father helped found Amherst College, where Emily later attended between 1840 and 1846. She never married and died in the house where she was born on May 15, 1886.