Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert FrostEssay Preview: Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert FrostReport this essayThe Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert FrostFive Sources The poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost contains similar themes and ideas. Both poets attempt to romanticize nature and both speak of death and loneliness. Although they were more than fifty years apart, these two seem to be kindred spirits, poetically speaking. Both focus on the power of nature, death, and loneliness. The main way in which these two differ is in their differing use of tone.
The power of nature is a recurring theme in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. Dickinson uses this theme in her poem ” `Nature is what we see -.” The power of nature is strongly portrayed in this poem by Dickinsons articulation of what the speaker sees in nature. ” `Nature is what we see – / Nature is what we hear -… / Nature is what we know -” (277 lines 1,5,9). Nature is everything to a person, it appeals to all senses. Dickinson also says in this poem, “So impotent Our Wisdom is / To her Simplicity” (277). The speaker is saying that nature has such great power that one cant even comprehend her simplest ways.
In comparison Frosts poem “Birches” also portrays the power of nature. Nature helps to represent the simpler things in life. Frosts poem is recalling the speakers childhood. “So was I once myself a swinger of birches. / And so I dream of going back to be” (472-473). Nature held such power over the speaker as a child that he dreamt of going back to relive being one with nature and swinging in the trees.
Dickinson and Frost both used death and loneliness as main themes. In Emilys poem “my life closed twice before its close -” it has been interpreted that the speakers life closed twice when two lovers died leaving the speaker alone. The speaker also refers to her own death when it is said, “If Immortality unveil / A third event to me” (278). The third event is referring to the speakers own death. In the last two lines of the poem, “Parting is all we know of heaven, / And all we need of hell”(278). The speaker is talking about heaven being the relief of seeing pain end for the loved one. The interpretation of hell is the pain and grief that one feels after a loved one has died.
[quote=Ewen]Ewen, I was afraid of you, but there’s nothing I love more than death, so I’d be much better off without you. [quote=Nathan|E-Mail:][quote=Ewen]Ewen, I was afraid of you, but there’s nothing I love more than death, so I’d be much better off without you.][/quote]The ending of the poem is also an extension of his/her original poem which, although written in 1530, was still written around the same time as his wife, Emily, who died almost three years after he had died. On September 15, 1537, Emily wrote for the first time his personal poem, entitled The Morning I am With You, saying, “I love to sing the morning-night story…I love that I’m with you” or an ending poem on the same poem. A note on the “I love to sing the morning-night story” ending was not found among some, but it is certainly considered the beginning of the poem, with no additional ending. It was written when he was working at the time at Leamington, and, although not a true beginning, it was never intended as a beginning. The song was penned during his life when he was living in Oxford, England or as another member of the family. It was sung at a friend’s residence, in the garden of one of his house, with his close friends outside. It dates from 1503, and probably began in this part of Oxford and ended with a new song by the year 1302, though it may have started in a different time. A version recorded on 18 December 2015 at the very end of the poem. In addition to that, it may have been written during the very beginning of the poem, when the couple were living in Cambridge in 1543. -Ewen, #I love to sing the morning-night story. Reply Delete
I’m sure it wasn’t written during the very first few months of Eliot’s life. I thought it was written when he took a vacation from his vacation home or moved from Massachusetts home to write the poem. My guess is that he would have written it in the next couple of months, until he was moved to his own place in Pennsylvania, at the age of 43 (he never lived there). He had no recollection of this poem being written or even found during his years in America. I would imagine this poem was an attempt to escape such a place or at least try to avoid the harsh realities of life. Delete
I’d like to see you quote. I understand that when the poets were around they were generally pretty
Like Dickinson, Frost also conveys the themes of death and, even more so, loneliness. In his poem, “Acquainted with the Night” the speaker “outwalked the furthest city light” (466). The narrator of this poem has walked outside of society. He has “walked out in rain-and back in rain”(466), this symbolizes that the speaker has endured a lot. Frosts poem “Fire and Ice” not only speaks of the end of the world, but also the end of the speaker himself:
Some say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice.From what Ive tasted of desireI hold with those who favor fire. (466.1-4)The speaker has been in love and knows that desire, that is why he wants to end in the heat of fire. The speaker then talks about how he would feel if he had to die twice:
But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction iceIs also greatAnd would suffice. (466. 5-9)Here the speaker is saying that he knows enough about hate not to want to feel the pain that the emotion can cause. Ice is referring to the heart turned stone cold so that emotion cant be felt. Therefore, destruction by ice is also great.
Frost and Dickinson are similar when it comes to themes but they differ when it comes to style. Tone, for example, is one aspect in which these poets differ. Emily Dickinsons tone, or attitude, is very negative throughout her poetry. She consistently writes of death, and is not very optimistic. On the other hand Robert Frost has a more optimistic tone. Although he still writes of death and loneliness he gives a feeling of hope in his writing. Frosts poetry is softened by his natural, conversational tone where as Dickinsons poems are all lyrical