Who Is Emily Dickinson

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

Emily Dickinson overcame many loses and obstacles in her life to create the poetry that she is known for today. Her poems are widely read to this day and talked about. Although Emily Dickinson had no intention of publishing her poems, her poems are known all through the world.

Emily Dickinson’s works are studied by various audiences from high school students to college scholars. Even without striving to hope that her works would impact so many generations, Dickinson has influenced many generations of poets and plays a major role in the development of American Literature. Dickinson did not become famous for her works until after her death in 1886. Not only is Emily Dickinson’s work important to the study of American Literature, most of her writings were composed during the tumultuous Civil War era. The study of her work is important to historians a snap shot into the mindset of American citizens during a violent time in our countries history.

Emily Dickinson was an American poetess during the 19th century, born in Amherst, Massachusetts, December 10, 1830. Dickinson died at the age of 56, on May 15, 1886. Although her family was prominent, she was most unsociable, being intensely solitary. People considered her as an eccentric, as she showed disinclination towards guests, which in some cases, even caused them to leave, leaving most of her acquaintanceships founded upon by correlation. Dickinson was known for her adherence for wearing white clothing, and her introverted personality. She remained unwedded for life, and rarely ever left her front gate of her homestead. Emily Dickinson started writing poetry in her youthful years, and was encouraged by Benjamin Franklin Newton to continue her writings. During her teenage years, she had uncovered poetic works through verses of Ralph Waldo Emerson and William Wordsworth, she also deeply admired by John Keats and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Her poetry was deeply affected by the Book of Revelation, and her Puritan background, that influenced her to explore concepts like love and death, and write in styles that made her be noticeable to the crowd. Critics believe that her biggest influence in poetry was Reverend Charles Wadsworth, whom she had met on her trip to Philadelphia, and fell in love with him. It is believed that her flow of verses came when Wadsworth left, which gave rise to heartsick poems, as she had considered him as her “closest

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.

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

Emily Dickinson was a very important poet of the nineteenth century, even though she did not have any of her poems published under her name until after her death. She did have some published anonymously and she put poems in letters to her friends after her isolation. Dickinson 's writing obviously did not stop at this though. “Upon her death, Dickinson 's family discovered 40 handbound volumes of nearly 1800 of her poems, or "fascicles" as they are sometimes called” (Poets Online). She wrote all of these poems for herself with seemingly no intent to get rich or famous off of them, but just to use her intelligence or express her emotions that could not be expressed during this time period. “Much Madness is divinest Sense” is a very good representation of Emily Dickinson and her life; it was full of intelligence, creativity, and rebellion. Emily Dickinson did not assent with the majority, she demurred and created her own status quo.

When she was twenty-three she pulled away from society to focus on her poetry ("The American Romantic Movement."). Dickinson also chose to only dress in white clothing ("The American Romantic Movement."). During her isolation many of her friends and mentors died. One friend in particular whose passing was especially hard on her was Leonard Humphrey (“Emily Dickinson - Biography”). Leonard Humphrey was the principal of Amherst Academy, he was also a friend, and great tutor to Dickinson. She wrote to a poem to a friend after his death, “... make the tears come… for they are the only tribute I can pay the departed Humphrey.” (“Emily Dickinson - Biography”). His death, among many others, motivated Dickinson to write more poetry about the deceased. With so many of her friends dead, she became even more isolated from society. Even though she almost never left her home or accepted visitors, she would send flowers with poems attached to her friends ("The American Romantic Movement."). Her main hobby was gardening, some went as far as saying that during her life her flowers were more famous than her poetry (“Emily Dickinson - Biography”). She only published eight of her poems herself while she was alive so she never received any awards (“Emily Dickinson - Biography”). Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was never truly acknowledged until after her

“Poets such as Hart Crane, Adrienne Rich, and Amy Lowell have expressed their gratitude for Dickinson’s work in their own poetry” (Johnson 24). Emily’s poems have been enjoyed across the globe and read in other languages (Johnson 24). Emily’s poems are enjoyed by many poets and readers around the world. “Over the next seven years she created 40 such booklets and several unsewn sheaves, and altogether they contained about 800 poems (Habegger 5). She arranged her work this way to keep it to herself or maybe wanted her work published after her death (Habegger 5). Many writers try to get their work well known and Emily was one who chose to keep it as private as possible. “She sent her poems and letters only to close family and friends who appreciated her writing and skills and never solicited recognition for the same (“Emily Dickinson Biography” 3). Later on in life problems with her eyesight did not stop her from writing and in contrast inspired her to write even more (“Emily Dickinson” 11). Emily Dickinson’s inspiration to write progressed as she got older. Emily Dickinson’s poems have had a great impact on American Literature and are enjoyed by many people around the

Emily Dickinson is said to be one of “America’s greatest and most original poets of all time” (Poetry Foundation). Dickinson grew up in a time where literacy and education were important features of the average person. Because of this great emphasis on learning and literature, Dickinson intended all of her poetry to be based merely on possibility, which is still strongly seen by her readers today (McCormack). Emily Dickinson was easily influenced by events occurring around her and her feelings toward such events, which caused her to write on the themes of nature, death, and spirituality (Borus 44-6). Emily Dickinson was born on December 10th, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts, to Edward and Emily Dickinson (Wider 104-5).

Most people try to understand where she was trying to go with her writings, but here is my favorite part about it, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson did not write to nobody. She was not writing thinking that she was going to publish these. She was not writing thinking that she had to impress someone. That is the big kicker! That is why she is my favorite and that is why she is the greatest female poet.

Emily Dickinson is considered one of the greatest poets today in America, yet in the 19th century her work was considered inconsequential, unconventional, and unacknowledged amongst many of her peers. Dickinson’s work is unique beyond measure, because it changed the traditional rules of rhythm. Emily Dickinson’s experience of lost loved ones throughout her childhood and on into her adulthood made a significant impact on her life. It impacted her by making her disgruntled towards religion, and obsessing on death. Miss. Dickinson’s writing did closely reflect her life experiences, and emotions. Yet, when examining Dickinson’s poetry closely one can identify it as though she shaped personalities, and occasions

Emily Dickinson wrote many poems in her lifetime. She writes two of my favorite poems. They are: ?I heard a Fly buzz when I died? and ?Because I could not stop for Death?. They both have similarities and differences from each other.

Emily Dickinson is an American poet born in Amherst Massachusetts December tenth, 1830. As a child Dickinson’s love for books was massive yet she did not start writing poetry until she was eighteen. However, she was not known of until after her death. Nonetheless, some people other than her family did now about Dickinson’s remarkable poems. Furthermore, most tried encouraging her to publish her poems yet others did the contrary. Emily Dickinson’s life is what caused her to write such great poetry.

Emily Dickinson is one of the most interesting female poets of the nineteenth century. Every author has unique characteristics about him/her that make one poet different from another, but what cause Emily Dickinson to be so unique are not only the words she writes, but how she writes them. Her style of writing is in a category of its own. To understand how and why she writes the way she does, her background has to be brought into perspective. Every poet has inspiration, negative or positive, that contributes not only to the content of the writing itself, but the actual form of writing the author uses to express his/her personal talents. Emily Dickinson is no different. Her childhood and adult experiences and culture form