As Imperceptibly as Grief Flashcards
What is As Imperceptibly as Grief by Emily Dickinson about?
The poem reflects Dickinson’s fear of death and the feeling that time is tricking her by passing away quietly. It could also suggest her happiness fading away.
What does the title As Imperceptibly as Grief suggest?
It links the subtle passage of time to the quiet, almost unnoticed nature of grief, comparing it to the gradual end of summer.
Identify a key tone in As Imperceptibly as Grief.
The tone is melancholic, as seen in the phrase “Twilight long begun,” which suggests that grief is overtaking happiness.
How does Dickinson use imagery to convey the passing of time?
She uses images like “dusk”, “twilight”, and “summer lapsed away” to symbolise the end of a day or season, representing time and life passing.
What is significant about the final line, “summer made her light escape Into the Beautiful”?
It suggests that while the passage of time is inevitable, it may lead to something positive, possibly hinting at an afterlife or peace in death.
How does the tone of the final lines differ from the rest of the poem?
The final lines are more hopeful, implying a positive outcome after the grief and passage of time.
What does the word imperceptible mean?
Slight, subtle, hardly noticeable.
What does lapsed mean?
No longer valid, expired, or out of date.
Define perfidy.
Being deceitful and untrustworthy.
What does distilled mean?
Heated to extract something, often meaning purified or concentrated.
Define sequestered.
Isolated or hidden away.
What does courteous mean?
Polite and respectful.
Define harrowing.
Really distressing or traumatic.
When and where did Emily Dickinson live?
Massachusetts, USA, from 1830 to 1886.
How did Dickinsons’ personal life influence her poetry?
She was reclusive, rarely leaving her house, and had experienced the deaths of several close family members and friends before writing this poem.
How did Dickinsons’ use of dashes affect the poem’s structure?
The dashes create a hesitant and disjointed pace, reflecting her fractured state of mind.
Which poems could As Imperceptibly as Grief be linked to by the theme of time passing?
To Autumn and Afternoons.
Which poems could As Imperceptibly as Grief be linked to by the theme of the natural world?
To Autumn, Excerpt from the Prelude, and Death of a Naturalist.
What does the word imperceptibly suggest in the poem?
It suggests that the speaker’s pain go unnoticed because they have developed so gradually.
What does grief imply in As Imperceptibly as Grief?
It implies unbearable, overwhelming pain, indicating that grief is life-changing.
How is summer symbolically used in the poem?
Summer represents happiness or the peak time in life, which is quietly slipping away.
What does twilight symbolise in the poem?
It suggests that the speaker is trapped between happiness and grief, or light and darkness.
How does the verb lapsed contribute to the theme of the poem?
It suggests that time is passing and hints at the speaker’s awareness of approaching death.
What does the word perfidy imply in the context of the poem?
It may reflect Dickinson’s mistrust of time, as she feels tricked by how quickly happiness fades.
