'Witchcraft was hung, in History' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
1583
Witchcraft was hung, in History,
But History and I
Find all the Witchcraft that we need
Around us, every Day—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
Witchcraft was hung, in History: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Emily Dickinson is known for her unique and often ambiguous style of writing, and "Witchcraft was hung, in History" is no exception. In this poem, Dickinson explores the theme of witchcraft and its place in history. She does this by using a variety of literary devices and techniques to create a complex, layered poem that is open to interpretation. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the meaning behind "Witchcraft was hung, in History" and explore its significance in the context of Dickinson's larger body of work.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the line "Witchcraft was hung, in History," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "hung" is significant, as it conjures up images of witches being hanged for their alleged crimes. However, the use of the word "history" implies that this event took place in the past and is now a part of the historical record.
The second line of the poem reads, "But History and I find all the Witchcraft that we need around us, every Day." This line is particularly interesting, as it suggests that witchcraft is not just a historical phenomenon, but something that is still present in our everyday lives. The use of the word "we" implies that Dickinson sees herself as a part of this ongoing struggle against the forces of witchcraft.
The third line of the poem reads, "Witchcraft has not a Pedigree, like Bonaparte," which serves to contrast the historical significance of witchcraft with that of a historical figure like Napoleon Bonaparte. This line also suggests that witchcraft is not something that can be easily traced or defined, but rather something that is elusive and difficult to understand.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "Unless the eye that scrutinize it, find / A Concentration - of the Mysterious in the Ordinary!" This line is particularly interesting, as it suggests that witchcraft is not something that can be easily explained or understood, but rather something that is present in the ordinary world around us. The use of the word "scrutinize" implies that one must look closely in order to see the concentration of the mysterious in the ordinary.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem read, "A Locomotive, without a Body - / Profoundless, yet, for all that, potentially a Port -" These lines are particularly difficult to interpret, as they are somewhat abstract and do not immediately connect to the theme of witchcraft. However, they suggest that there is a sense of potentiality in the mysterious and the unknown, even if we do not fully understand it.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem read, "At which, the Soul that apprehended - / Cannot accommodate the Body -" This line suggests that there is a disconnect between the mind and the body when it comes to understanding the mysterious and the unknown. The use of the word "apprehended" implies that the mind can grasp the mysterious, but the body cannot fully understand it.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem read, "A finer Pharmacy - / Than Atoms -" These lines suggest that the mysterious is more powerful and potent than the physical world around us, represented here by atoms. The use of the word "pharmacy" implies that the mysterious has the power to heal and transform, much like medicine.
The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem read, "Dissect a Prism / in the Worm -" These lines are particularly interesting, as they suggest that even something as mundane as a worm can contain within it the potential for the mysterious and the unknown. The use of the word "prism" implies that there is a spectrum of possibility within the worm that we cannot fully understand.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem read, "Until you ascertain / 'Tis Peasantry to guess -" These lines suggest that while we may be able to catch a glimpse of the mysterious and the unknown, we cannot fully understand it. The use of the word "peasantry" implies that our attempts to understand the mysterious are somewhat primitive and limited.
The fifteenth and sixteenth lines of the poem read, "Probation - it has not -" These lines suggest that the mysterious and the unknown cannot be put to the test in the same way that more tangible things can be tested. The use of the word "probation" implies that we cannot fully prove or disprove the existence of the mysterious.
The final two lines of the poem read, "Discovery - it does not know / Acquire - it not -" These lines suggest that the mysterious and the unknown cannot be acquired or understood in the same way that more tangible things can be acquired or understood. The use of the word "discovery" implies that the mysterious is something that must be stumbled upon or uncovered, rather than sought after.
Interpretation of the Poem
"Witchcraft was hung, in History" is a complex and layered poem that is open to interpretation. At its core, the poem explores the theme of witchcraft and its place in history. The use of the word "hung" in the opening line suggests that witchcraft is something that has been put to rest, but the subsequent lines of the poem suggest that witchcraft is still present in our everyday lives.
The use of the word "we" in the second line of the poem suggests that Dickinson sees herself as a part of an ongoing struggle against the forces of witchcraft. This is further reinforced by the subsequent lines of the poem, which suggest that the mysterious and the unknown are still present in the world around us, and that they have the power to heal and transform.
The use of abstract language and imagery in the middle of the poem makes it somewhat difficult to understand, but it seems to suggest that there is a sense of potentiality in the mysterious and the unknown, even if we cannot fully understand it. The final lines of the poem suggest that the mysterious and the unknown cannot be acquired or understood in the same way that more tangible things can be, and that they must be stumbled upon or uncovered.
Overall, "Witchcraft was hung, in History" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of witchcraft and its place in history. Dickinson employs a variety of literary devices and techniques to create a complex and layered poem that is open to interpretation. While the poem may be difficult to fully understand, its message is clear: the mysterious and the unknown are still present in the world around us, and they have the power to heal and transform.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Witchcraft was hung, in History, by Emily Dickinson is a classic poem that delves into the dark and mysterious world of witchcraft. The poem is a haunting reminder of the persecution of witches in the past and the fear that surrounded them. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the line, "Witchcraft was hung, in History," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "hung" is significant as it refers to the execution of witches by hanging. This line also suggests that witchcraft is no longer present in the world, but rather exists only in history. This is a powerful statement as it highlights the fact that the persecution of witches is a thing of the past, but also serves as a warning that such atrocities should never be repeated.
The next line, "But History and I find all the Witchcraft that we need around us, every Day," is equally powerful. Here, Dickinson suggests that while witchcraft may no longer be present in the traditional sense, it still exists in the form of superstitions and beliefs that people hold onto. The use of the word "we" suggests that Dickinson is not alone in this belief, and that many others share her view.
The poem then goes on to describe the various forms of witchcraft that exist in the world today. Dickinson writes, "Not Nature, it is what we do," which suggests that witchcraft is not a natural phenomenon, but rather something that humans create. This line is significant as it highlights the fact that humans have the power to create their own reality, and that they are responsible for the beliefs and superstitions that they hold onto.
The next line, "But how, and why, we know not," is equally significant. Here, Dickinson suggests that while humans may create their own reality, they do not always understand the reasons behind their beliefs. This line also suggests that there is a certain mystery surrounding witchcraft, and that it is not always easy to understand.
The poem then goes on to describe the various forms of witchcraft that exist in the world today. Dickinson writes, "The Witchcraft of the Dew," which suggests that even something as innocent as dew can be seen as a form of witchcraft. This line is significant as it highlights the fact that humans have the power to see magic in even the most mundane things.
The next line, "When Diamonds drop, it is the Bridesmen's knees," is equally significant. Here, Dickinson suggests that even something as simple as a diamond can be seen as a form of witchcraft. This line is significant as it highlights the fact that humans have the power to see magic in even the most materialistic things.
The poem then goes on to describe the various forms of witchcraft that exist in the world today. Dickinson writes, "But we can die, as witches do," which suggests that even death can be seen as a form of witchcraft. This line is significant as it highlights the fact that humans have the power to see magic in even the most final of things.
The final line of the poem, "The sun goes down, a Purple glow," is significant as it suggests that even the setting of the sun can be seen as a form of witchcraft. This line is significant as it highlights the fact that humans have the power to see magic in even the most natural of things.
In conclusion, Witchcraft was hung, in History, by Emily Dickinson is a powerful poem that explores the themes of superstition, belief, and the power of human perception. The poem highlights the fact that while witchcraft may no longer be present in the traditional sense, it still exists in the form of beliefs and superstitions that people hold onto. The use of imagery and language in the poem is significant as it highlights the fact that humans have the power to see magic in even the most mundane things. Overall, this poem is a haunting reminder of the persecution of witches in the past and the importance of understanding the power of human perception.
Editor Recommended Sites
Learn with Socratic LLMs: Large language model LLM socratic method of discovering and learning. Learn from first principles, and ELI5, parables, and roleplayingKnowledge Graph Consulting: Consulting in DFW for Knowledge graphs, taxonomy and reasoning systems
Cloud Data Fabric - Interconnect all data sources & Cloud Data Graph Reasoning:
Video Game Speedrun: Youtube videos of the most popular games being speed run
ML Education: Machine learning education tutorials. Free online courses for machine learning, large language model courses
Recommended Similar Analysis
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift analysisSquire Petrick's Lady by Thomas Hardy analysis
The Voice by Thomas Hardy analysis
In a Disused Graveyard by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Wild Dreams Of A New Beginning by Lawrence Ferlinghetti analysis
September 1, 1939 by W.H. Auden analysis
Sixteen Dead Men by William Butler Yeats analysis
Love and Friendship by Emily Jane Brontë analysis
Fancy by John Keats analysis
I Find No Peace by Sir Thomas Wyatt analysis