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Emily Dickinson Essay

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Emily Dickinson Essay
cember 2012

"Emily Dickinson's original approach to poetry results in startling and thought-provoking moments in her work"

Give your response to the poetry of Emily Dickinson in the light of this statement. Support your points with suitable reference to her poems.

Emily DIckinson is a wonderful, idiosyncratic poet, who's original and powerful poetry is marked by startling and thought-provoking moments, defining Dickinson's poetry. Dickinson describes in shocking detail, moments of utter elation, as demonstrated in 'I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed,' and 'I Could Bring You Jewels.' We see moments of depression and drastic desparation in 'I Felt a Funeral in My Brain,' and 'I Heard a Fly Buzz.' Even these titles give evidence of startling, profound moments which are both shocking and exciting and provoke personal consideration. Dickinson's poetry is extremely diverse and deals with many themes of human nature, in all its positive and negative cycles.

We appriciate mesmorising moments of ecstacy in 'I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed,' in which DIckinson uses delightful extended metaphores to exclaim her love of life. "Inebriate of Air - am I - And Debauchee of Dew -" Dickinson's abstractions are often rendered vividly and imaginatively in her work. On one level, the piece can be understood as a piece on nature's entertaining characters such as the 'drunken Bee,' and 'Butterflies,' However it becomes clear that Dickinson is instead communicating her intoxication, brought on by a joyous appriciation of life. "When Butterflies - renounce their 'drams' - I shall but drink the more!" The poet can outdo the butterfly and bee in their joy. She will "Tipple" away until death: "Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats - "

'I Could Bring You Jewels' is a poem again relating to intense positivity where the poet is exasperated and spellbound by fine trivial joys. The English language is transformed and a new emphasis and meaning is placed on each important word.

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