Emily Dickinson

Question 1

When was Emily Dickinson born?

Answer 1

Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830.

Question 2

Where was Emily Dickinson born?

Answer 2

Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Question 3

What was the name of the school Emily Dickinson attended for a year?

Answer 3

Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.

Question 4

How many poems did Emily Dickinson write?

Answer 4

Emily Dickinson wrote nearly 1,800 poems.

Question 5

Did Emily Dickinson marry during her lifetime?

Answer 5

No, Emily Dickinson never married.

Question 6

What style of punctuation and capitalization was characteristic of Dickinson’s poetry?

Answer 6

Emily Dickinson’s poetry was known for its unconventional capitalization and frequent use of dashes.

Question 7

What were the central themes of Emily Dickinson’s poetry?

Answer 7

The central themes were death, immortality, nature, and inner emotions.

Question 8

How many of Emily Dickinson’s poems were published during her lifetime?

Answer 8

Fewer than a dozen of her poems were published during her lifetime.

Question 9

Who discovered Emily Dickinson’s poems after her death?

Answer 9

Her sister Lavinia discovered her poems.

Question 10

What major American event occurred during Dickinson’s lifetime that influenced her work?

Answer 10

The Civil War occurred during her lifetime.

Question 11

Which religious tradition did Emily Dickinson’s family follow?

Answer 11

Emily Dickinson’s family followed the Calvinist tradition.

Question 12

How did Dickinson’s poetry differ from the poetry of her contemporaries?

Answer 12

Her poetry focused on personal introspection and broke conventional forms with short lines, unique punctuation, and an unconventional style.

Question 13

What challenge did Emily Dickinson face regarding the publication of her poetry during her lifetime?

Answer 13

Her unconventional style led to the rejection of her poems by publishers.

Question 14

What is the legacy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry today?

Answer 14

Emily Dickinson is regarded as one of the greatest American poets, known for her originality and innovation in poetry.

Question 15

How has Emily Dickinson’s poetry influenced future generations of writers?

Answer 15

Her innovative use of form and style laid the groundwork for modernist poetry.

Question 16

What was Emily Dickinson’s relationship with nature?

Answer 16

She was an avid gardener, and her love of nature is reflected in her poetry.

Question 17

Why were many of Emily Dickinson’s poems edited after her death?

Answer 17

They were edited to fit traditional poetic norms at the time.

Question 18

What museum today is dedicated to Emily Dickinson’s memory?

Answer 18

The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst.

Question 19

Why is Emily Dickinson considered a reclusive figure?

Answer 19

She spent much of her life isolated in her family home, especially in her later years when she rarely left the house.

Question 20

What was a quirky thing Emily Dickinson did for neighborhood children?

Answer 20

She used to lower baskets of gingerbread out of her window to children playing nearby.

Question 21

Fill in the blank: Emily Dickinson is best known for her themes of ________ and ________ in her poetry.

Answer 21

Death and immortality.

Question 22

True or False: Emily Dickinson’s work was fully appreciated during her lifetime.

Answer 22

False. Most of her work was unpublished and unrecognized during her lifetime.

Question 23

How did Emily Dickinson’s poetry influence modern literature?

Answer 23

Her unconventional style and deep themes influenced modernist poets and altered the landscape of American poetry.

Question 24

What historical events may have influenced Emily Dickinson’s introspective style?

Answer 24

Events like the Civil War and the rise of industrialization likely influenced her themes of death and existential reflection.

Question 25

What was the ‘funny fact’ about Emily Dickinson’s interactions with neighborhood children?

Answer 25

She would lower baskets of gingerbread from her window to the children, making her the ‘mysterious cookie lady.’