emily-dickinsonemily-dickinsonEmily Dickinson (1830-1886) EmilyDickinsonwasbornin1830intoaCalvinistfamilyofAmherst,Massachusetts.Sheattended MountHolyokeFemaleSeminaryinSouthHadley.Emilywasanenergeticand outgoing woman while attending the Academy andSeminary.Itwaslater,duringhermid-twentiesthatEmilybegan to grow reclusive. In the years that followed, sheseldomleftherhouseandvisitorswerescarce.Thepeoplewith whom she did come in contact, however, had anintenseimpactonherthoughtsandpoetry.ShewasparticularlystirredbytheReverendCharlesWadsworth,whomshemetonatriptoPhiladelphia.HeleftfortheWestCoastshortlyafteravisittoherhomein1860,andhisdeparturegaverisetoaheartsickflowofversefromDickinson,whodeeplyadmiredhim.Bythe1860s,shelivedinalmosttotalphysical isolation from the outside world, but actively maintained manycorrespondencesandreadwidely.ExitContinueSheis,inasense,alinkbetweenhereraandtheliterarysensitivitiesoftheturnofthecentury.Shenevermarried,andsheledanunconventionallifethatwasoutwardlyuneventfulbutwasfullofinnerintensity.Shelovednatureandfounddeepinspirationinthebirds,animals,plants,andchangingseasonsoftheNewEnglandcountryside.Wefindnomentionofthewaroranyothergreatnationaleventinherpoetry.She lived a quiet, very private life in her little hometown of Amherst,Massachusetts.Dickinsonspentthelatterpartofherlifeasarecluse,duetoanextremelysensitivepsycheandpossiblytomaketimeforwriting(forstretchesoftimeshewroteaboutonepoemaday).Herdayalsoincludedmoneymakingforherattorneyfather,aprominentfigureinAmherstwhobecameamemberofCongress.Ofallthegreatwritersofthenineteenthcentury,shehadtheleastinfluenceonhertimes.Yet,becauseshewascutofffromtheoutsideworld,shewasabletocreateaverypersonalandpurekindofpoetry.Sinceherdeath,herreputationhasgrownenormouslyandherpoetryisnowseenasverymodernforitstime.Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) ExitContinueEmily Dickinson (1830-1886) Features Dickinsons terse, frequently imagistic style is even more modern andinnovativethanWhitmans.Sheneverusestwowordswhenonewilldo,andcombines concrete things with abstract ideas in an almost proverbial,compressed style. Her best poems have no fat; many mock currentsentimentality,andsomeareevenheretical.Shesometimesshowsaterrifyingexistentialawareness.LikePoe,sheexploresthedarkandhiddenpartofthemind,dramatizingdeathandthegrave.Yetshealsocelebratedsimpleobjects-aflower,abee.Herpoetryexhibitsgreatintelligenceandoftenevokestheagonizingparadoxofthelimitsofthehumanconsciousnesstrappedintime.Shehadanexcellentsenseofhumor,andherrangeofsubjectsandtreatmentisamazinglywide.HerpoemsaregenerallyknownbythenumbersassignedtheminThomasH.Johnsonsstandardeditionof1955.Theybristlewithoddcapitalizationanddashes.ExitContinueThe subjects of Dicksons poetry are the traditional ones of love, nature,religion,andmortality,seenthroughherpuritaneyes,orasshedescribedit,“NewEnglandly”.Muchofthedramatictensionstemsfromherreligiousdoubt;she was unable to accept the orthodox religious faith of her friends andschoolmates,yetshelongedforthecomfortandemotionalstabilitythatsuchfaithcouldbring.Manyofherlyrics,intheirmixtureofrebelliousandreverentsentiments,illustratethisconflict.Herpoetryisalsonotableforitstechnicalirregularities,whichalarmedherearlyeditorsandreviewers.Hercharacteristicstanzaisfourlineslong,andmostpoemsconsistofjusttwostanzas.Sheoftenseparated her words with dashes, which tend to relieve the density of thepoems and introduce into them moments of speculative silence. Othercharacteristicsofherstyle:sporadiccapitalizationofnouns;convolutedandungrammatical phrasing; off- rhymes; broken meters; bold, unconventional,and often startling metaphors; and aphoristic wit, all these have greatlyinfluenced20thcenturypoetsandcontributedtoDickinsonsreputationasoneofthegreatestandmostinnovativepoetsof19thcenturyAmericanliterature.Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) ExitContinueEarlyLifeShewasborntoreligious,well-to-dofamilyandhadanormalchildhoodinAmherst,Massachusetts.Everyoneexpectedhertomarryandraiseafamilylikemostwomenofherclass.Thisallsuddenlychangedwhenshewas24.Shebecameapoetandrecluse.“Dickinsonusedpreciselanguageanduniquepoeticformstosimultaneouslyrevealandconcealherprivatethoughtsandfeelings”(Elements of Literature345).Whathappenedtoturnayounggirlintoanunrecognizedpoetwhoneverleftherhouse?Whatwouldcauseayoungwomanof24suddenlytoisolateherselfwithinheryardandhouseandignoretheworldoutside?SpeculationsaboutWhyWenttoDCwithherfather,acongressman,becauseshehadfalleninlovewithamarriedlawyer,whosoondiedofTB.Therefellinlovewithanothermarriedman,aminister.HemovedtoSanFranciscoin1862.Aboutthistimeshewrote,“Isingastheboydoesbytheburyingground,becauseIamafraid.”ReturntoAmherstWithinafewyears,shehadretreatedfromallsociallifeinAmherst.Alwayswearingwhite,likethebrideshewouldneverbe,sheremainedinherparentshouseandrestrictedherselftohouseholdworkandwritingpoetry,whichshewouldsometimessendtopeopleasgiftsforvalentinesorbirthdays,alongwithapieorcookies.Onlyafewofherpoemswerepublishedinherlifetime.Shesentfourofthemtoacritic,Mr.Higginson,askingforhishelp.Whenhesentsuggestionsforchangingherpoems,sherepliedinaletter,“Thankyouforthesurgery;itwasnotsopainfulasIsupposed.Ibringyouothers,asyouask”(Higginson).Afterherdeath,friendsandrelativesfoundbundlesofherpoems,whichtheyeditedand“corrected”andhadpublishedininstallments.In1955,ThomasH.Johnsonfinallypublishedacollectionofherpoemsthathadnotbeen“corrected.”Thesearetheversionswereadtoday.Herearetwoversionsofonestanzaofoneofherpoems.Thefirstisunedited;thesecondhasbeen“corrected.”WepassedtheSchool,whereChildrenstroveAtrecessintheRingWepassedtheFieldsofGazingGrainWepassedtheSettingSunWepassedtheschoolwherechildrenplayedTheirlessonsscarcelydone;Wepassedthefieldsofgazinggrain,Wepassedthesettingsun.See the differences? How does the poem change?Whywassheapoet?Manypeoplehavecommentedthattherearenogreatwomanartists.WouldEmilyDickinsonhavebecomesucharenownedpoetifshehadmarriedandhadchildren?Whatevidenceisthereinherpoetrythatshehadarichemotionallifeinspiteofthefactthatsherarelylefthome?WasSheWeird?Knownforbeingarecluse,shedidntleaveherfamilyshomesteadforanyreasonafterthelate1860s.Shealmostalwaysworewhite.Sheoftenloweredsnacksandtreatsinbasketstoneighborhoodchildrenfromherwindow,carefulnevertoletthemseeherface.Whatsortofpoetwasshe?Dickinsonisknownforusingpoetryasprivateobservation.Herpoemsarecarefullycraftedinrhymeandmeter.A Poet Writes about Dickinson:Wethinkofherhiddeninawhitedressamongthefoldedlinensandsachetsofwell-keptcupboards,orjustoutofsightsendingjelliesandnoteswithnoaddresstoallthewonderingAmherstneighbors.EccentricasNewEnglandweatherthestiffwindofhermind,stingingorgentle,blewtwohalf-imaginedloversoff.Yetlegendwontexplainthesheersanityofvision,theseriousmischiefoflanguage,theeconomyofpain.-LindaPastan(Elements of Literature371)Importantpeople:WilliamAustinDickinsonSusanGilbert(sisterinlaw)Lavinia(sister)MabelTodd(brothersmistress)ThomasWentworthHigginsonCharlesWadsworthSusanGilbertDickinsonLavinia Lavinia NorcrossNorcrossDickinsonDickinsonSister of BloodSister of BloodSister of HeartSister of HeartTwoVeryInfluentialMenInEmilysentirelife,shetookonetriptoPhiladelphia(duetoeyeproblems),onetoWashington,andafewtripstoBoston.Fortunately,duringthoserarejourneysEmilymettwoveryinfluentialmenthatwouldbesourcesofinspirationandguidance:CharlesWadsworthandThomasWentworthHigginson.CharlesWadsworth:SourceofInspirationDickinsonsemotionalliferemainsmysterious,despitemuchspeculationaboutapossibledisappointedloveaffair.OnepossiblecandidateisReverendCharlesWadsworth,withwhomshecorresponded.MinisteroftheArchStreetPresbyterianChurchinPhiladelphia.ThomasWentworthHigginsonEditorandColonelDickinsoninitiatedacorrespondencewithhiminApril1862thatturnedintooneofthemainstaysofherwritinglife.HecorrespondedwithEmilyDickinsonfornearly25years.(1823-1911)HigginsonHigginsonvisitedherin1870andlatertoldofmeetingherinthedarkcoolparlor:“Asteplikeapattering（轻快的脚步声）childsintheentryandinglidedalittleplainwomanwithtwosmoothbandsofreddishhairandafacewithnogoodfeatureShecametomewithtwowhitedaylilieswhichsheputinachildlikewayintomyhandandsaid,Thesearemyintroduction,inasoft,frightened,breathless,childlikevoiceandaddedunderherbreath,ForgivemeifIamfrightened;Ineverseestrangersandhardlyknowwhattosaybutshetalkedsoonandthenthforthcontinuously”MabelTodd“Shehasnotbeenoutsideofherownhouseinfifteenyears,exceptoncetoseeanewchurch,whenshecreptoutatnight,andvieweditbymoonlight.Noonewhocallsuponhermotherandsistereverseeher,butsheallowslittlechildrenonceinagreatwhile,andoneatatime,tocomein,whenshegivesthemcakeorcandy,orsomenicety,forsheisveryfondoflittleones.Butmoreoftensheletsdownthesweetmeatbyastring,outofawindow,tothem.Shedresseswhollyinwhite,andhermindissaidtobeperfectlywonderful.Shewritesfinely,butnooneeverseesher.MabelTodd”AlltheDickinsonsstruckpeopleasunusual,butEmilywasidentifiedas“theclimaxofallthefamilyoddity”Severalmonthsbeforeherdeathin1882,Mrs.DickinsonreadsomeofherdaughterspoetrytoMabelTodd,whofoundthem“fullofpower.”SoonMabelToddandDickinsonhadestablished“averypleasantfriendship”withoutmeeting(MabelToddsawDickinsononce,inhercoffin),andMabelToddhaddecidedthateventhoughherneighborremindedherofDickenssMissHavishaminGreatExpectations,thisAmhersteccentricwas“inmanyrespectsagenius.”ThomasWentworthHigginson:“LettertoayoungContributor”appearedintheApril1862AtlanticMonthly,shefoundintheessaytheassurancethat“everyeditorisalwayshungeringandthirstingafternovelties,”eagerfortheprivilegeof“bringingforwardanewgenius.”LettertoThomasWentworthHigginsonmrhigginson,AreyoutoodeeplyoccupiedtosayifmyVerseisalive?TheMindissonearitselfitcannotsee,distinctlyandIhavenonetoaskShouldyouthinkitbreathedandhadyoutheleisuretotellme,IshouldfeelquickgratitudeIfImakethemistakethatyoudaredtotellmewouldgivemesincerehonortowardyouFeatures of Dickinsons poetry: telling images, suggestive and connotative, sometimes incomprehensible a severe economy of expression direct and plain words (Anglo-Saxon origin), simple syntax faulty grammar no regular rhythm, at most off or slant rhymes meters common to Protestant hymn books unusual capitalization unusual use of punctuation marksDickinsonsPoetryRegularmeterhymnmeterandballadmeter,alsoknownasCommonmeterQuatrainsAlternatingtetrameterandtrimeterOften1stand3rdlinesrhyme,2ndand4thlinesrhymeiniambicpentameterTheuseofdashesInfluencedbynatureandspiritualthemesIheardaflybuzzwhenIdied;ThestillnessroundmyformWaslikethestillnessintheairBetweentheheavesofstorm.Theeyesbesidehadwrungthemdry,AndbreathsweregatheringsureForthatlastonset,whenthekingBewitnessedinhispower.Iwilledmykeepsakes,signedawayWhatportionofmeICouldmakeassignable,andthenThereinterposedafly,Withblue,uncertain,stumblingbuzz,Betweenthelightandme;Andthenthewindowsfailed,andthenIcouldnotseetosee.I heard a fly buzz when I diedExitContinueThedeathinthispoemispainless,yetthevisionofdeathitpresentsishorrifying,evengruesome.Theappearanceofanordinary,insignificantflyattheclimaxofalifeatfirstmerelystartlesanddisconcertsus.Butbytheendofthepoem,theflyhasacquireddreadfulmeaning.Clearly,thecentralimageisthefly. Itmakesaliteralappearanceinthreeofthefourstanzasandiswhatthespeakerexperiencesindying.Theroomissilentexceptforthefly.Thepoemdescribesalullbetweenheaves,suggestingthatupheavalprecededthismomentandthatmoreupheavalwillfollow.Itisamomentofexpectation,ofwaiting.Thereisstillnessintheair,andthewatchersofherdyingaresilent.Andstilltheonlysoundistheflysbuzzing.Thespeakerstoneiscalm,evenflat;hernarrativeisconciseandfactual.IheardaflybuzzwhenIdiedisoneofEmilyDickinsonsfinestopeninglines.Iteffectivelyjuxtaposesthetrivialandthemomentous;themovementfromonetotheotherissoswiftandsounderstatedandthemeaningsosignificantthattheeffectislikeablowtoanemotionalsolarplexus(solar plexus:pitofthestomach).Somereadersfinditmisleadingbecausethefirstclause(Iheardaflybuzz)doesnotprepare for the second clause (when I died). Is the dying woman or are thewitnesses misled about death? does the line parallel their experience and so themeaningofthepoem?I heard a fly buzz when I diedExitContinueIm Nobody! Who are you? (260)ImNobody!Whoareyou?Areyou-Nobody-too?Thentheresapairofus?Donttell!theydadvertise-youknow!Howdreary-tobe-Somebody!Howpublic-likeaFrog-Totellonesname-thelivelongJuneToanadmiringBog! ExitContinueDickinsonadoptstheofachildwhoisopen,naive,andinnocent.However,arethequestionsaskedandthefinalstatementmadebythispoemnaive?Iftheyarenot, then the poem is because of the discrepancy between the personasunderstandingandviewandthoseofDickinsonandthereader.Undertheguiseof the childs accepting societys values, is Dickinson really rejecting thosevalues?IsDickinsonsuggestingthatthetruesomebodyisreallythenobody?Thechild-speakerwelcomesthepersonwhohonestlyidentifiesherselfandwhohasatrueidentity.Thesequalitiesmakethatpersonnobodyinsocietyseyes.Tobesomebodyistohavestatusinsociety;society,themajority,excludesorrejects those who lack status or are nobody-theyd banish us for beingnobody.Instanza2,thechild-speakerrejectstheroleofsomebody(Howdreary).Thefrog comparison depicts somebody as self-important and constantly self-promoting.Shealsoshowsthefalsevaluesofasociety(theadmiringbog)whichapprovesthefrog-somebody.Doesthewordbog(itmeanswet,spongyground)havepositiveornegativemeanings?Whatqualitiesareassociatedwiththesoundsafrogmakes(croaking)?Im Nobody! Who are you? (260)ExitContinueThematic concerns of Dickinson: death and immortality 465, “I Heard a Fly buzzwhen I died” 712, “Because I could not stop for Death” 1732, “My life closed twice before its close”Thematic concerns of Dickinson: nature 328, “A Bird came down the Walk” 986, “A narrow Fellow in the Grass” 1624, “Apparently with no surprise” death and immortalityThematic concerns of Dickinson: naturedeath and immortality unity of goodness, truth and beauty 449, “I died for Beautybut was scarce”Thematic concerns of Dickinson: naturedeath and immortality unity of goodness, truth and beauty other subjects 632, “The Brainis wider than the Sky” 675, “Essential oilsare Wrung” 1129, “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant”SelectedpoemsPublication-istheAuctionOftheMindofMan-Poverty-bejustifyingForsofoulathing(PoemNo.709)303TheSoulselectsherownSocietyThenshutstheDoorToherdivineMajority（优势。多数。死人）Presentnomore灵魂选择自己的伴侣，然后，把门紧闭她神圣的决定再不容干预UnmovedshenotestheChariotspausingAtherlowGateUnmovedanEmperorbekneelingUponherMat发现车辇，停在，她低矮的门前不为所动一位皇帝，跪在她的席垫不为所动IveknownherfromanamplenationChooseOneThenclosetheValvesofherattentionLikeStone我知道她，从人口众多的整个民族选中了一个从此，封闭关心的阀门像一块石头（江枫译）ThemesofDickinsonsPoetryLife&Death(thelargestportion)Love(someareratherbold,evenerotic;)Nature(about300poems)Time&Eternity449IdiedforBeautybutwasscarceAdjustedinthetombWhenOnewhodiedforTruth,waslainInanadjoiningRoomHequestionedsoftly“WhyIfailed”?“ForBeauty”,Ireplied“AndIforTruthThemselfareOneWeBretheren,are”,HesaidAndso,asKinsmen,metaNightWetalkedbetweentheRoomsUntiltheMosshadreachedourlipsAndcoveredupournamesLovelyrics,249WildNightsWildNights!WereIwiththeeWildNightsshouldbeOurluxury!暴风雨夜，暴风雨夜！我若和你同在一起，暴风雨夜就是豪奢的喜悦！FutiletheWindsToaHeartinportDonewiththeCompassDonewiththeChart!风，无能为力-心，已在港内-罗盘，不必，海图，不必！RowinginEdenAh,theSea!MightIbutmoorTonightInThee!泛舟在伊甸园-啊，海！但愿我能，今夜，泊在你的水域！919IfIcanstoponeHeartfrombreakingIshallnotliveinvainIfIcaneaseoneLifetheAchingOrcoolonePainOrhelponefaintingRobinUntohisNestagainIshallnotliveinVain.ImNobody!Whoareyou?Areyou-Nobody-Too?Thentheresapairofus!Donttell!theydadvertise-youknow!Howdreary-tobe-Somebody!Howpublic-likeaFrog-Totellonesname-thelivelongJune-ToanadmiringBog!做个，显要人物，好不无聊！/像个青蛙，向仰慕的泥沼/在整个六月，把个人的姓名/聒噪何等招摇！(PoemNo.288)NobodyknowsthislittleRose-ItmightapilgrimbeDidInottakeitfromthewaysAndliftituptothee.它很可能漂泊流离/若不是我从路旁拾取/把它捧起，奉献给你OnlyaBeewillmissit-OnlyaButterfly,Hasteningfromfarjourney-Onitsbreasttolie-OnlyaBirdwillwonder-OnlyaBreezewillsigh-AhLittleRose-howeasyForsuchastheetodie!(PoemNo.35)97Tomakeaprairieittakesacloverandonebee,Onecloverandabee,Andrevery.Reveryalonewilldo,Ifbeesarefew.SUCCESSiscountedsweetestBythosewhoneersucceed.TocomprehendanectarRequiressorestneed.NotoneofallthepurplehostWhotooktheflagto-dayCantellthedefinition,Soclear,ofvictory,Ashe,defeated,dying,OnwhoseforbiddenearThedistantstrainsoftriumphBreak,agonizedandclear.UniqueFeaturesExtensiveusesofdashes（varyinlength）OptionalemploymentsofcapitallettersDerailmentofthepropergrammar（fullofgrammaticallywrongstructures）FreshImagesAnalysisofBecauseIcouldnotstopforDeathBecauseIcouldnotstopforDeathHekindlystoppedformeTheCarriageheldbutjustOurselvesAndImmortality.Dickinsondescribes“Death”asapersonShedescribesthemeetingasapleasantevent;thattakesplaceinacarriagePoemstartsoffwithdeathhavingtostopforDickinson-WeslowlydroveHeknewnohasteAndIhadputawayMylaborandmyleisuretoo,ForHisCivilityShewalksawayfromherbusyschedule,suchasworkandevenherleisuretimefordeath-WepassedtheSchool,whereChildrenstroveAtRecess-intheRingWepassedtheFieldsofGazingGrainWepassedtheSettingSunItisthoughtthathere,DickinsonistalkingaboutthedifferentstagesofherlifeCanalsobethoughtofasherseeingherownlifeflashbeforehereyesthechildrenatrecesssymbolizingthebeginningofherlifethefieldsofgrazinggrainreferstoadolescence/adultthesettingsunisthewritersfinalyears-Orrather-HepassedusTheDewsdrewquiveringandchillForonlyGossamer,myGownMyTippet-onlyTulle-SheisrestatingthatthephasesofherlifehaspassedherbyDescribingbeinginsidetheground;beingcoldAlsotalksaboutwhatsheiswearing(tippet&Tulle)WepausedbeforeaHousethatseemedASwellingoftheGroundTheRoofwasscarcelyvisibleTheCornice-intheGround-Thehouse/swellingofthegroundthatsheisdescribingishergravesiteSincethen-tisCenturiesbuteachFeelsshorterthantheDayIfirstsurmisedtheHorsesHeadsWeretowardEternity-Time(centuries)haspassedsincehercarriageridewithdeathEndswithherrealizingthattowardstheendofherridewithdeathshefiguredoutthatthiswasnttemporary“HorsesHeadsweretowardeternity”meaningthehorsespullingthecarriageweretakinghersomewhereshecouldntreturnfrom-realizessheisdead;thatthis“ride”isforalleternityDickinsonsLegacyDickinsondiedMay15,1886ofnephritis(kidneydisease).Dickinsonisconsideredinfluentialtomanypoetsoflatergenerations.AlongwithWaltWhitman,DickinsonisoneofthetwogiantsofAmericanpoetryofthe19thcentury.结束语结束语谢谢大家聆听！谢谢大家聆听！62