'He preached upon "Breadth" till it argued him narrow—' by Emily Dickinson
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He preached upon "Breadth" till it argued him narrow—
The Broad are too broad to define
And of "Truth" until it proclaimed him a Liar—
The Truth never flaunted a Sign—
Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence
As Gold the Pyrites would shun—
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus
To meet so enabled a Man!
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
"He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow" - A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most enigmatic poets of the 19th century, and her works continue to inspire and puzzle readers to this day. One of her most famous poems is "He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow," which is a profound exploration of the limits of human understanding and the nature of knowledge itself. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, imagery, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
Overview of the Poem
The poem "He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow" consists of three quatrains, each with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem begins with an assertion that the speaker has heard a man preaching about "Breadth," which is a reference to the concept of universal knowledge and understanding. The man is so obsessed with this idea that he argues that it is the only thing worth knowing, and that all other forms of knowledge are false and misleading. However, as the man continues to preach, his argument becomes increasingly narrow and intolerant, until he becomes completely closed-minded and incapable of understanding anything that falls outside of his narrow worldview.
Themes
One of the most important themes of this poem is the limits of human knowledge and understanding. The man who preaches about "Breadth" believes that universal knowledge is the only thing worth knowing, but he fails to realize that his own understanding is limited and subjective. As he becomes increasingly narrow-minded, he loses touch with the reality of the world around him and becomes unable to see anything that does not fit into his own narrow worldview.
Another theme of the poem is the danger of extremism and fanaticism. The man who preaches about "Breadth" becomes so obsessed with his own ideas that he becomes intolerant of anything that does not fit into his worldview. This kind of extremism can lead to violence, hatred, and oppression, and it is a warning to readers to be mindful of the dangers of fanaticism in all its forms.
Finally, the poem explores the relationship between knowledge and humility. The man who preaches about "Breadth" is so convinced of his own superiority that he fails to recognize the limits of his own knowledge. It is only through humility and an openness to new ideas that we can truly expand our understanding of the world.
Imagery
The imagery of the poem is rich and complex, and it helps to deepen our understanding of the themes that Dickinson is exploring. One of the most striking images is the contrast between "Breadth" and "narrow." The man who preaches about "Breadth" begins with a broad and expansive idea, but as he becomes more entrenched in his own worldview, his understanding becomes increasingly narrow and limited. This contrast between the expansive and the narrow is a powerful metaphor for the limits of human understanding.
Another important image in the poem is the idea of a preacher. Preachers are often seen as figures of authority who offer guidance and wisdom to their followers. However, in this poem, the preacher becomes a figure of intolerance and narrow-mindedness. This subversion of the traditional image of the preacher is a powerful reminder that authority figures are not always trustworthy or infallible.
Finally, the image of arguing is important in the poem. The man who preaches about "Breadth" argues so forcefully and passionately that he becomes blinded to any other form of knowledge or understanding. This image of arguing as a form of blindness is a powerful reminder of the dangers of extremism and the importance of humility in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
Language
The language of the poem is simple and direct, but it is also deeply evocative and resonant. Dickinson uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem. For example, the repetition of the word "narrow" in the second and third stanzas creates a sense of claustrophobia and confinement, while the alliteration of "preached" and "Breadth" in the first line gives the poem a sense of urgency and intensity.
Another important aspect of the language of the poem is the use of irony and sarcasm. Dickinson is clearly critiquing the man who preaches about "Breadth," but she does so in a subtle and ironic way. For example, the line "And when he came to himself" suggests that the man has been lost in his own ideas and has lost touch with reality. Similarly, the line "A theological grin" suggests that the man's ideas are not really theological at all, but rather a form of narrow-mindedness masquerading as wisdom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the limits of human understanding and the dangers of extremism and narrow-mindedness. Through its rich imagery and language, the poem offers a warning to readers to be mindful of the limits of our own knowledge and the importance of humility in our pursuit of wisdom and understanding. As readers, we are reminded that the pursuit of knowledge is an ongoing and never-ending process, and that true wisdom comes not from dogmatism or fanaticism, but from a willingness to listen to new ideas and perspectives.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson's poem "He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow" is a thought-provoking piece that delves into the limitations of human understanding and the vastness of the universe. The poem is a commentary on the limitations of human knowledge and the futility of trying to understand everything.
The poem begins with the line "He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is referring to a man who has been preaching about the concept of "breadth," which can be interpreted as the vastness of the universe or the infinite possibilities that exist in the world.
The man's preaching about "breadth" has led him to a realization that his own understanding is limited, and that there is much more to the world than he can comprehend. This realization has made him feel "narrow," or limited in his own understanding.
The second stanza of the poem further emphasizes the man's realization of his own limitations. The speaker says that the man "felt his mind cramped in its own dimension," which suggests that he has come to the realization that his own mind is not capable of fully understanding the vastness of the universe.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that the man "tried to sing, but could not," which suggests that he is overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe and cannot express his feelings in words. The man is so consumed by the enormity of the universe that he is unable to articulate his thoughts and feelings.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the man's realization of his own limitations. The speaker says that the man "wrestled with his thoughts and fought," which suggests that he is struggling to come to terms with his own limitations. The man is trying to understand the vastness of the universe, but he is unable to do so because his own mind is limited.
The poem is a commentary on the limitations of human understanding and the vastness of the universe. It suggests that no matter how much we try to understand the world around us, there will always be more to discover. The man in the poem has come to the realization that his own understanding is limited, and that there is much more to the world than he can comprehend.
The poem is also a commentary on the limitations of language. The man in the poem is unable to express his thoughts and feelings in words because he is overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe. This suggests that language is not always capable of fully expressing the complexity of human emotions and experiences.
Overall, Emily Dickinson's poem "He preached upon 'Breadth' till it argued him narrow" is a powerful commentary on the limitations of human understanding and the vastness of the universe. The poem suggests that no matter how much we try to understand the world around us, there will always be more to discover. It also suggests that language is not always capable of fully expressing the complexity of human emotions and experiences.
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