Who is Emily Dickinson?

1. Who is Emily Dickinson? HAYLEY VOGLER Mrs. Gottfried September 2011 English 3 “A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.” -Emily Dickinson

2. Biography Born in 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Spent one year away from home to attend Mount Holyoke Female Seminary (in South Hadley) Rarely left house Rarely had visitors Friends, family, and acquaintances had large impact on her poetry 1860s: Lived in almost complete isolation from outside world, besides letters and literature

3. Emily Dickinson

4. Family • Father: Edward Dickinson • State and national politics • Mother: Emily Dickinson • Sister: Lavina Dickinson • Also lived in isolation • Intellectual companion of Emily’s • Brother: Austin Dickinson • Law school; later became an attorney • Married Susan Gilbert • Intellectual companion of Emily’s

5. Biography On June 16, 1874, Edward Dickinson (father) suffered a stroke and died.  Wrote that “His heart was pure and terrible and I think no other like it exists” about her father. On June 15, 1875, (a year later) Emily's mother also suffered from a stroke but did not die. Mournful from her mother's increasing physical as well as mental strain, Emily wrote that "Home is so far from Home".

6. Importance All of Emily Dickinson’s poems had meaningful themes and lots of beautiful literary devices. Her poems brought to light many issues and also helped readers to understand how much they took for granted Because Emily was isolated most of her life and never had a family of her own, she had all the time in the world to write about important issues, religion, family, and the things that truly make life beautiful

7. Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickenson Because I could not stop for Death He kindly stopped for meThe Carriage held but just OurselvesAnd Immortality.We slowly drove, he knew no hasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my leisure too,For his civility.We passed the School, Where Children stroveAt recess in the ringWe passed the fields of gazing grainWe passed the setting sun. Or rather, he passed usThe dews drew quivering and chillFor only Gossamer, my gownMy tippet only tulle.We paused before a house that seemedA swelling of the GROUNDThe roof was scarcely visibleThe cornice in the ground.Since then 'tis centuries and yetFeels shorter than the DAYI first surmised the horses' headsWere toward eternity -Emily Dickinson

8. Meaning Death is kind and is never truly frightening, as he was the one to pick her up when she was too buy to go to him Death is kind and pays individual attention to her “Immortality” is her goal, seeing as it is the only other person in the carriage

9. Explanation Speaker is communicating after she has died Personified journey with death from life to afterlife. Death was slow and civil, taking a long time to “drive” “Pause” at temporaryhome (grave), but only apause because it is not her final destination (heaven)

10. Poetic Devices Personification: death as a human Slant rhyme: “He kindly stopped for me” and “immortality.” Hyperbole: “Since then- 'tis centuries and yet, feels shorter than the Day.” (eternity) Symbol:"We passed the Setting Sun” (where sun is her life)

11. Emily Dickinson

12. Works Cited “Emily Dickinson.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. 2011. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.” Famouspoetsandpoems.com. 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2011. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death Analysis.” Shmoop.com. 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2011