'Good Night! Which put the Candle out?' by Emily Dickinson
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Good Night! Which put the Candle out?
A jealous Zephyr—not a doubt—
Ah, friend, you little knew
How long at that celestial wick
The Angels—labored diligent—
Extinguished—now—for you!
It might—have been the Light House spark—
Some Sailor—rowing in the Dark—
Had importuned to see!
It might—have been the waning lamp
That lit the Drummer from the Camp
To purer Reveille!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Good Night! Which put the Candle out?
Emily Dickinson is one of the most revered writers in the history of American Literature. Her unique style of writing, which was characterized by short lines, dashes, and unconventional punctuation, has made her work stand out among other poets. In this literary criticism, I will analyze one of her most famous poems, "Good Night! Which put the Candle out?"
The poem is a short one, consisting of only four lines. The structure of the poem is simple, with each line containing six syllables. The simplicity of the poem's structure is reflective of Emily's writing style, where she preferred to use fewer words to express more profound ideas.
Good Night! Which put the Candle out? A jealous Zephyr, not a doubt— Ah! friend, you little knew How long at that celestial wick The Angels—go—perchance to play Then, gentle to the dews— Good Night! And may you—nay, not so— Sweet Morning—when I wake you once— Some portent of the Sun— A—flurry in the trees, Or a new Bee— That—hums—abroad— To—your Reverie!
The first line of the poem, "Good Night! Which put the Candle out?" sets the tone for the poem. The speaker is bidding farewell to someone or something, and the candle being put out can be interpreted as a metaphor for the end of something. The second line, "A jealous Zephyr, not a doubt," is a reference to the gentle breeze that extinguished the candle. The use of the word "jealous" in this context suggests that there is an element of envy involved, perhaps between the speaker and the person or thing that is being bid farewell.
The third line, "Ah! friend, you little knew," indicates that the speaker is addressing someone who is unaware of the implications of the candle being extinguished. The use of the word "friend" suggests that the speaker is addressing someone who is close to them. The fourth line, "How long at that celestial wick/The Angels—go—perchance to play," is a reference to the idea that the angels are responsible for extinguishing the candle. The use of the word "celestial" suggests that the wick is of a divine nature.
The fifth line, "Then, gentle to the dews—" suggests that the angels are leaving the scene of the candle extinguishing. The use of the word "gentle" indicates that the angels are leaving in a peaceful manner. The sixth line, "Good Night! And may you—nay, not so—" suggests that the speaker is bidding farewell to the person or thing that is leaving. The use of the word "may" suggests that the speaker is wishing the person or thing well.
The seventh and eighth lines, "Sweet Morning—when I wake you once—/Some portent of the Sun—" suggest that the speaker is looking forward to a new day. The use of the word "Sweet" suggests that the speaker is anticipating good things to come. The use of the word "portent" suggests that the speaker is expecting something significant to happen. The ninth and tenth lines, "A—flurry in the trees,/Or a new Bee—" suggest that the speaker is anticipating the arrival of something new and exciting. The use of the word "flurry" suggests that there is a sense of excitement and anticipation.
The final lines, "That—hums—abroad—/To—your Reverie!" suggest that the speaker is addressing the person or thing that is leaving. The use of the word "hums" suggests that the speaker is anticipating the arrival of something that is musical in nature. The use of the word "Reverie" suggests that the speaker is addressing someone who is in a dream-like state.
Overall, "Good Night! Which put the Candle out?" is a poem that is rich in symbolism and meaning. Emily Dickinson's use of language and her unique style of writing make this poem stand out among other poems of its time. The poem's themes of departure, anticipation, and renewal are universal and can be interpreted in different ways by different readers. It is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet that her work continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Good Night! Which put the Candle out? by Emily Dickinson is a classic poem that has been analyzed and interpreted by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for decades. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by her use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with a simple question: "Good Night! Which put the Candle out?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker is not sure who or what has extinguished the candle, and this uncertainty creates a sense of unease and mystery.
The second line of the poem, "A jealous Zephyr, not a doubt," provides a possible answer to the question. A zephyr is a gentle breeze, and the use of the word "jealous" suggests that the breeze may have blown out the candle out of envy or spite. However, the speaker is not entirely convinced that this is the case, as the phrase "not a doubt" is followed by a comma, indicating a pause or hesitation.
The third line of the poem, "Ah, friend, you little knew," adds another layer of complexity to the poem. The speaker is addressing someone, presumably the person who lit the candle, and is suggesting that they did not anticipate the candle being extinguished. This line also implies that the speaker knows something that the other person does not, which adds to the sense of mystery and intrigue.
The fourth line of the poem, "How long at that celestial wick," is a reference to the candle's wick, which is made of celestial material. This line suggests that the candle is not an ordinary candle, but rather a symbol of something greater and more significant. The use of the word "celestial" also suggests a connection to the heavens or the divine.
The fifth line of the poem, "The Angels, -striving to extinguish," adds to the sense of mystery and ambiguity. The speaker is suggesting that the angels are trying to extinguish the candle, but it is not clear why they would want to do so. This line also adds a religious or spiritual dimension to the poem, as the angels are traditionally associated with the divine.
The sixth line of the poem, "In you, and I, -withstood them," is a reference to the fact that the candle was not extinguished by the angels, but rather by something else. The use of the words "you" and "I" suggests that the speaker and the person being addressed are somehow connected to the candle and its fate.
The seventh and final line of the poem, "And I had grown so used to you!" is a poignant and emotional conclusion to the poem. The speaker is expressing their sadness and regret at the loss of the candle, which they had grown accustomed to and perhaps even dependent on. This line also suggests that the candle may have had a deeper significance or meaning for the speaker, which has now been lost.
Overall, Good Night! Which put the Candle out? is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of uncertainty, mystery, spirituality, and loss. Dickinson's use of unconventional punctuation and syntax adds to the sense of ambiguity and intrigue, and the poem's religious and spiritual references add a deeper dimension to the poem. Despite its brevity, this poem is a powerful and thought-provoking work of art that continues to captivate and inspire readers today.
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