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Emily DickinsonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
In many ways, Dickinson’s poetry feels ahistorical. Despite living through the American Civil War, her poetry makes no explicit mention of this turmoil. This absence may be explained by geographical, autobiographical, and literary influences. Living in Massachusetts, her day-to-day life was likely unaffected despite Dickinson’s reading of the news about the war. In addition, her immediate family did not serve in the war, as her brother paid a fee rather than enlist. Since she lived more reclusively by the time of the war, her removal from the wider world might also explain this absence. The personal element of her poetry and her focus on small moments might also explain why such a significant historical event is absent from her work.
In contrast, her poetry is deeply grounded in the historical beliefs of the 19th century. Dickinson identified as a Congregationalist, a branch of the Calvinist church. Her most commonly used meter is the same as those used by hymns. This poem’s understanding of faith and despair are important ideas for Christianity at the time. Despair, one of two sins that could prevent a person from being allowed into Heaven, is the ultimate loss of hope.
By Emily Dickinson
A Bird, came down the Walk
Emily Dickinson
A Clock stopped—
Emily Dickinson
A narrow Fellow in the Grass (1096)
Emily Dickinson
Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Emily Dickinson
"Faith" is a fine invention
Emily Dickinson
Fame Is a Fickle Food (1702)
Emily Dickinson
Hope is a strange invention
Emily Dickinson
"Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers
Emily Dickinson
I Can Wade Grief
Emily Dickinson
I Felt a Cleaving in my Mind
Emily Dickinson
I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain
Emily Dickinson
If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking
Emily Dickinson
If I should die
Emily Dickinson
If you were coming in the fall
Emily Dickinson
I heard a Fly buzz — when I died
Emily Dickinson
I'm Nobody! Who Are You?
Emily Dickinson
Much Madness is divinest Sense—
Emily Dickinson
Success Is Counted Sweetest
Emily Dickinson
Tell all the truth but tell it slant
Emily Dickinson
The Only News I Know
Emily Dickinson