American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)


1 Sep 2005

Dickinson [Assorted]

This entry contains three short Emily Dickinson poems. Many of her works were published long after her death, so a publication date is not immediately useful here. Dickinson's poems are typically known by their first lines, although she did not give them titles.

* * *

SUCCESS is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory,

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear.

* * *

Because I could not stop for Death --
He kindly stopped for me --
The Carriage held but just Ourselves --
And Immortality.

We slowly drove -- He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility --

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess -- in the Ring --
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain --
We passed the Setting Sun --

Or rather -- He passed Us --
The Dews drew quivering and chill --
For only Gossamer, my Gown --
My Tippet -- only Tulle --

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground --
The Roof was scarcely visible --
The Cornice -- in the Ground --

Since then -- 'tis Centuries -- and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity --


* * *

THERE is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.

This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!

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Comments

"There is no frigate like a book, to take us lands away" I believe this quote is talking about how a book is like a boat the takes us to different lands when we live in one spot. This also is compared to the poets life since she never left her home town but wrote about traveling

Posted by: Lainie Beckinger at September 1, 2005 10:43 AM

The second poem, "Because I could not stop for Death," was particularly interesting. The feeling of travel was easily understood. "We paused before a House that seemed a swelling of the ground, the roof was scarcely visible, the cornice in the ground." These lines are very clearly about the arrival at a cemetary. This imagery fascinates me! It is the Mausoleum at the location, followed by the individual tombstone. I enjoyed this poem and its approach to death.

Posted by: Meredith at September 1, 2005 10:47 AM

I felt a connection with the first Dickinson poem because I know what its like to appreciate the smallest success. I believe she is relating with people who don't commonly have a lot of success, unlike "all the purple host". The people she is referring to appreciate small victories.

Posted by: Ashley Holtzer at September 1, 2005 10:51 AM

In the first Dickinson poem, I felt that she was sayig that a person can't really understand victory unless you have experienced the ultimate low or an extreme loss.

Posted by: Stacy Estatico at September 1, 2005 10:52 AM

The first poem is saying that a person can not understand a total success until you have a small victory or loss first.

The second poem is saying that death is not eternal if you're remembered by your loved one.

Posted by: Lou Gagliardi at September 2, 2005 12:32 PM

Instead of feeling that those who have never had success cannot understand it in the first Dickinson poem, I saw a different meaning. In the first stanza she writes that people are always hoping for success and strongly desire it like a "nectar". Although it is always desireed, it is not always great as seen in the last stanza. The man is dying and has failed to be successful. The dream is over.
The second Dickinson poem focuses on the death of the speaker. Death becomes a person almost in that it travels to the speaker and comes to her. By personifying Death, it becomes less scary to the speaker and she fears her mortality less. Death is familiar and comforting as it leads her to eternity (heaven or cemetary).
In the last Dickinson poem she remarks that books and poetry can be used to escape this world and travel to another. For those who cannot go to distant places it is easier to merely read about them instead.

Posted by: Vanessa at September 3, 2005 02:21 PM

I agree with a lot of what Meredith said. This poem has been a favorite of mine for years for the way it looks at death. But I see the the "house that seemed a swelling of the ground" a reference to the dirt mounded on top of the freshly dug grave, her new home (or her body's, at least). And the roof being the tombstone. I never thought of it being a mausoleum. An interesting new idea to me.

Posted by: Holly McCloy at September 4, 2005 03:01 AM

Vanessa, that is a good analyze of the poems! I totally agree with every. We all have different opinions and its great to see them flow so freely!

Posted by: Lou Gagliardi at September 4, 2005 05:08 PM

Emily Dickinson in her poem "Because I cound not stop for Death" by her choice of words seems to take the fear and finality out of death. For instance, "Fields of Gazing Grain" paints a beautiful picture and is non-threatening.

Posted by: Nancy Gregg at September 5, 2005 11:43 AM

Lou, thank you for clarifing the meaning of both "Success is counted sweetest" and "Because I could not stop for death." My initial response to the first poem was that Dikinson was referring to success in battle or combat: "Who took the flag-to-day."

Posted by: Nancy Gregg at September 5, 2005 11:50 AM
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