One of the Most Influential American Poets…

1. One of the Most Influential American Poets… Emily Dickinson

2. Part 1

3. Emily’s Biography • Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 at her Homestead in Amherst, Massachusetts • Her parents, Edward and Emily Norcross Dickinson, were prominent, but not wealthy • She had a brother named William Austin and a sister named Lavinia Norcross

4. Education • As a child, Emily was well-behaved, a good child, and had a particular talent for the piano • Emily attended a primary school in her childhood, the Amherst Academy from 1840 to 1847, and the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary for only a year from 1845 to 1846

5. Religion • The Dickinson family followed the religion of Calvinism • Emily did not practice religion regularly and it really did not matter to her • She mentioned “being shut out of heaven,” many times in various poems and talked a lot about original sin

6. The Start of Her Seclusion • As a teen, Emily’s depression and isolation started • “They shut me up in Prose – As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet – Because they liked me “still” – Still! Could themself have peeped – And seen my Brain – go round – They might as wise have lodged a Bird For Treason – in the Pound –”

7. Deaths • Emily went through many deaths in her lifetime, which is one of the reasons for her seclusion: • 1944- Sophia: second cousin and close friend • 1846- Joel Norcross: maternal grandfather • 1848- Emily Bronte: one of her favorite poets • 1849- Mary Lyon: founder of Mount Holyoke

8. More Deaths • 1860- Aunt Lavinia Norcross: loving aunt • 1861- Elizabeth Barrett Browning: another favorite poet • 1866- Newfoundland dog: her dog of 16 years • 1874- Edward Dickinson: supportive father • 1875- Emily’s mother became paralyzed • Emily wrote about death in many of her poems, because she’s had much experience with the matter

9. Relationships • Emily’s so-called ‘relationships’ often involved a man much older than her • She usually referred to her beau as her “master,” which is a term that she kept for only those men in her life that she wanted their wisdom, love, and advice • Some of these men whom she referred to as ‘master’ were Leonard Humphrey and Benjamin Franklin Newton

10. Leonard Humphrey and Benjamin Franklin Newton • Leonard Humphrey: • A popular principal of Amherst Academy • The whole affair lasted throughout her last year at Amherst Academy • Benjamin Franklin Newton: • A young attorney who also befriended Emily’s father • He helped her become more educated in poetry and arts

11. One Last Relationship • Emily’s last relationship was quite different than the others…because it was with a woman • Susan Gilbert was a close friend of Emily’s, with whom she had the most ‘intimate relationship’ • This affair was quickly ended, when Susan married Emily’s brother becoming Susan Gilbert Dickinson • This was not a happy marriage

12. Emily’s Isolation “By the 1860s, Dickinson lived in almost total physical isolation from the outside world, but actively maintained many correspondences and read widely” • Emily spent that last years of her life in isolation • Her sister Vinnie also suffered a similar isolation and lived at home also

13. Different Genres • Emily Dickinson did not write many different genres at all • She mainly focused on poetry and wrote many letters • She wrote over 1,775 poems and hundreds of letters during her isolation and throughout her years at school • She only saw 10 poems and one letter published

14. Emily’s Last Years • She suffered from Bright’s Disease, which affects the kidneys and has symptoms of edema and chronic pain • Some biographers think that this might have ministered to her seclusion • Emily died on May 15, 1886 at the age of fifty-six in her home • She now rests in the West Cemetery of Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts

15. Poem Analysis • most of Emily Dickinson’s poems were untitled and therefore are named by their first line • poems are composed of quatrain stanzas • 4 lines • Rhyme scheme – slant rhyme • in many of Emily’s poems she speaks of death and or misfortune because of all the deaths that she went through in her lifetime

16. Part 2

17. Events During Emily’s Time • During Emily Dickinson’s life, there were 3 historical and influential events in her society and the larger world: • The Civil War • The Fugitive Slave Act • Religious movements like the Great Revival

18. The Civil War (1861-1865) • “The Union” versus the southern slave states • Emily experienced many deaths of friends close to her • To Emily, this war was nothing but a pest • She showed no interest in politics whatsoever • Dickinson never wrote specifically about this war • Most likely, the deaths that Emily Dickinson experienced during Civil War influenced her to write about the topic of death that is so prominent in her poetry.

19. The Fugitive Slave Act • Return of runaway or fugitive slaves to their masters • Slavery was a critical part of the Civil War • Emily read quite often about this topic • This act caused Dickinson to reflect • In some way, everyone is like a slave, trying to escape from him or herself • This Act caused Emily to reflect on the “Master-Slave” relationship

20. Religious movements • Emily Dickinson and her society was Christian • Family was Puritan and visited church regularly • However, Emily disagreed with some aspects of Christianity • She did not support the church • But, she did believe in God and prayer

21. Great Revival • Recommitment to Jesus Christ and Christianity • Dickinson’s father supported this movement, though Emily remained unsure and did not proclaim it • Emily’s faith was sometimes ‘wishy-washy’ • However, her mostly close relationship with God allowed her to write so calmly about death in her poems

22. I Died For Beauty--But Was Scarce I died for Beauty—but was scarceAdjusted in the TombWhen One who died for Truth, was lainIn an adjoining room—He questioned softly ``Why I failed?''``For Beauty,'' I replied—``And I—for Truth—Themself are One—We Brethren, are,'' He said—And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night—We talked between the rooms—Until the moss had reached our lips—And covered up—our names—

23. Poem Analysis • Rhyme Scheme: ABCB • Makes poem ‘flow’ at a certain pace • Dashes create breaks in the poem • Emphasize various topics • Forces us to pause and question what we have just read • Causes us to reread words

24. More Poem Analysis • Helps create eerie mood • Topic of death makes most people uncomfortable • It is odd that Emily speaks in first person for half of the poem • Mood portrays death as startling, yet comfortable • Perhaps this is due to her Christian upbringing?

25. Part 3

26. Movements • Romanticism- Put emphasis on emotion, feelings, passion, natural world, spiritual things, spontaneous and imaginative approaches, and freedom in way of subjectivity and individualism • Realism- a way of portraying life as it really is, or as realistically as possible. Used in art, literature, music/operas

27. Influences • Reverend Charles Wadsworth- met on a trip to Philadelphia- his departure was the reason for heartsick poetry • Younger sister Lavinia and brother Austin were intellectual companions • Mount Holyoke Female Seminary not publicly confess faith led to isolation and made her mad. Fueled some writing. Maybe reason behind quitting the church • Correspondent to many well-known literary figures of her time: Helen Hunt Jackson, Samuel Bowles, Josiah Gilbert Holland, and Thomas Wentworth Higginson

28. Competition • Only 10 poems published in her lifetime and those were anonymous and against her will • She did not want fame or fortune • The poems were published after she died • So there was no competition that could influence her

29. This is my letter to the World This is my letter to the World That never wrote to Me – The simple News that Nature told – With tender Majesty Her message is committed To Hands I cannot see – For love of Her – Sweet – countrymen – Judge tenderly – of Me

30. Pictures of Emily