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October 12, 2005
Dickinson Selections
Emily Dickinson (selections) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"His quaint opinions to inspect,
His knowledge to unfold
On what concerns our mutual mind,
The literature of old;"
This poem was about a "him" that was taking people on these journies through what he had written. The "him" that takes people on these journies is a book. I liked this quote just because it talked about him as this very intelligent being that had so much knowledge about everyday things. He was so valuable to people. I really liked that the him was a book. That is the truth, once you start a really good book, its like it takes you in and takes you to another place.
"I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were give."
In the first part of this poem she says that even though she has never seen the moor or the sea, she knows that it is there. Then she goes on to talk about God. She is basically saying that she knows that there is a God and she knows that there is a heaven, even though she has not seen it. However, even though she knows it exists she does not have to believe in it and what it teaches.
http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/ I found this website. It is just some background information on Dickinson, along with access to some of her other works.
Posted by StacyEstatico at October 12, 2005 01:11 AM
Comments
I chose the same lines from the second poem you quoted. As you said, just knowing something is there and having a strong belief in it can almost be the same as being there and experiencing it for yourself. Sure, some people have seen moors and seas yet no one has ever seen heaven or spoken to God- yet we still believe. Isn't that really the basis of all religions?
Posted by: Vanessa at October 12, 2005 02:16 PM