as imperceptibly as grief Flashcards
who was it written by and some brief life info?:
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
She spent much of her life living in nearly complete isolation. She only spent time with her family.
She admired the poetry of Keats and Robert and Elizabeth Browning.
She was a prolific poet (after her death her family found around 1,800 poems) but she did not find fame in her lifetime. Volumes of her poems were published after her death.
what is the structure like?
The first line is the same as the title. This adds to the understatement of the poem as it suggests it is not even worth naming.
It consists of 12 lines and was originally written as 4 stanzas of 4 lines which could symbolise the seasons.
Written in blank verse.
There is no rhyme scheme.
what are the key themes?
Dickinson’s poems were influenced by her Calvinist approach to Christianity. Calvinism takes a very strict and literal interpretation of the Bible.
She was influenced by the metaphysical poets of the 17th century who blended emotional and intellectual ideas.
Metaphysical conceit is when two things, one physical and one spiritual, are compared that would not usually be compared e.g. dead as a doorknob. The poem’s title and extended metaphor is a metaphysical conceit.
what is the historical and literary context?
A C19th American poet, Dickinson lived in isolation for the last 30 years of her life and spent much time brooding on death. Her house overlooked a cemetery.
She had a harsh and austere view of religion due to her Calvinist upbringing.
Dickinson’s free verse is modernist in its fragmentary style and highly original for the time.
Dickinson was influenced by the metaphysical poets of C17th England, as is evident in her use of a metaphysical conceit in the poem.
She also admired Keats and her appreciation of his concept of negative capability is evident in this poem.
quote 1: ‘As imperceptibly as grief’ what can you say about this?
this is an unusal similie and and example of metaphysical conceit. It is oxymoronic because grief is a strong emotion so cannot be imperceptible (meaning very slight, gradual or subtle).
quote 2: ‘The summer lapsed away, —/Too imperceptible, at last/ to seem like perfidy’
repetition of imperceptible. ‘Summer’ could be symbolic of life/happiness and ‘at last’ creates a sense of longing and nostalgia. ‘Too seem’ creates an uncertain tone.
quote 3: ‘A quietness distilled/ as Twilight long begun’
Can be seen as perfect description of death.
Sibilance links the words and creates a soft, whispering sound. She compares Autumn to night which can be seen as a metaphor for death.
quote 4: ‘A courteous, yet harrowing grace’
an oxymoron, questions over whether it is possible to be courteous and harrowing. Personifies nature.
quote 5: ‘A guest who would be gone’
nature is personified. It is polite but cold and distant.
quote 6: ‘Our summer made her light escape/ into the Beautiful’
summer/emotions cannot be captured or controlled. An abrupt ending, an adjective without a noun. Suggests the future is unknowable but is a positive affirmation.
Also, ‘into the beautiful’ could be showcasing her admiration for Keats and his concept of negative capability
