Based on the Romantic poems, they display characteristics of structure, meter, rhythm, stanzas that were identical in number of lines to each other, and verse with eloquent usage of language and rhyme. Their punctuation and grammar did not stray from the standard rules. Also, Romantic poetry includes a lot of Nature imagery, reminiscences of Innocence, lots of emotional feelings, and creativity. In Blake's "Songs of Innocence,"
' "Piper sit thee down and write
In a book that all may read"--
So he vanish'd from my sight.
And I pluck'd a hollow reed,
And I made a rural pen,
And I stain'd the water clear,
And I wrote my happy songs
Every child may joy to hear.'
Dickinson's poems, to me, seem to contrast more than display influences from these types of poems. Some of her poems do keep to the same number of lines per stanza, as do most Romantic poems, and they do rhyme sometimes, more than one would think. She also uses some natural elements to symbolize aspects of life. However, she does not use just natural elements, she also uses man-made experiences and things to make her point.
'My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -
In Corners - till a Day
The Owner passed - identified -
And carried Me away -'
In this stanza, there is rhyme and meter as well. But also, we can see how much it differs from Blake's poems. Dickinson makes extensive use of irregular capitalization and hyphens. Her poems also seem to derive much of its emotional expressiveness from earlier Romantic poems, but in a much more unconventional and eccentric fashion. She writes a lot about Death and time.
'Rowing in Eden -
Ah - the Sea!
Might I but moor - tonight -
In thee!
Because I could not stop for Death -
He kindly stopped for me -
The Carriage held but just Ourselves -
And Immortality.'
The first poem is an example of her unconventional expressions and blatant ideas. It is different from what I was used to reading before Whitman and Dickinson. In the second quoted stanza, it is one of many other poems that speak of Death, especially Death personified. Her dark poems seem to break away from tradition, yet still keep some of the same elements that made the Romantic poems distinguishable from others.
~Kim
Status: Graded on October 2, 2007 10:06 PM (Attempt #1)
Grade: 10 out of 10
Most Recent Comment:
"Her dark poems seem to break away from tradition, yet still keep some of the same elements that made the Romantic poems distinguishable from others."
-- Yes, I agree with this - she is using her Transcendental leanings as an antidote to her Puritan ideals - kind of like two poles.
Excellent essay, once again.
