As imperceptibly as grief Flashcards
Context on Poet
At 13, Emily Dickinson experienced deep grief after her cousin died, she was then sent away to recovery
She lived through the American Civil War, which resulted in 600,000 deaths.
Her house overlooked the town cemetery.
She enjoyed solitude and gradually withdrew from society as she grew older.
Summary of poem
The poem explores the unnoticed passing of time through the changing of seasons
The changing of seasons symbolizes different stages of grief
The end of summer represents the fading or end of grief
Form
The poem has a stable rhythm, reflecting the predictable cycle of nature and life as time passes
Structure
The single stanza format emphasizes gradual change
Enjambment reflects the unstoppable nature of time
Caesura encourages reflection on the passing of time and grief
Language
Nature is personified as a woman who is isolated, creating a peaceful atmosphere
The personal pronoun “our” suggests that the passing of time is inevitable
Mood
The loss of summer and grief happen so gradually that the speaker does not notice the change
Grief is comforting, reconnecting the speaker with the person they have lost
Ultimately, the end of grief is a positive experience
Key Quotes
As imperceptibly as grief
- Simile
- Draws a parallel between the passing of summer (life) and the passing of grief (death).
The dusk drew earlier in
- Alliteration
- Reflects how days shorten in winter, symbolizing life nearing its end.
Harrowing grace
- Oxymoron
- Something expected to be pleasant is unsettling
- Contradictory images highlight the complexity of grief
Our summer made her light escape into the beautiful
- Only full stop in the poem signifies finality
- Light and sark (death) contrast - acceptance that death is natural and should not be feared
- “Escape” suggests it is not painful
- Ends on a positive and uplifting note
