'We see—Comparatively' by Emily Dickinson
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We see—Comparatively—
The Thing so towering high
We could not grasp its segment
Unaided—Yesterday—
This Morning's finer Verdict—
Makes scarcely worth the toil—
A furrow—Our Cordillera—
Our Apennine—a Knoll—
Perhaps 'tis kindly—done us—
The Anguish—and the loss—
The wrenching—for His Firmament
The Thing belonged to us—
To spare these Striding Spirits
Some Morning of Chagrin—
The waking in a Gnat's—embrace—
Our Giants—further on—
Editor 1 Interpretation
We see—Comparatively: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Emily Dickinson is known for her unconventional style of writing poetry, and her poem "We see—Comparatively" is no exception. This poem is only two stanzas long, but it manages to capture a profound observation about human nature and perception. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the themes, symbols, and literary devices used by the poet to convey her message.
Analysis
Theme
The central theme of "We see—Comparatively" is the relativity of perception. The poet points out that everything we see is relative to what we have seen before. Our perception of the world is shaped by our experiences, and every new experience alters our perspective. The first stanza of the poem talks about how a person who has only seen an ocean might think a lake is just a small body of water, but a person who has only seen a pond might think a lake is vast. The second stanza takes this idea further and talks about how our perception of happiness and sadness is also relative to our experiences. The poet suggests that people who have experienced great sorrow might be able to appreciate small joys more than those who have never experienced any hardship.
Symbols
The most prominent symbol in "We see—Comparatively" is the ocean. The ocean represents the vastness of experience and the limitless potential for growth and change. The poet uses the ocean as a metaphor for the human mind and suggests that our perception of the world can be as vast and limitless as the ocean. The other symbol used in the poem is the lake, which represents the limitations of our perception. The lake is small and contained, and it represents the narrowness of our perspective when we have not yet experienced much in life.
Literary Devices
Emily Dickinson employs several literary devices in "We see—Comparatively" to convey her message. The most notable of these is the use of contrast. The poet contrasts the ocean and the lake, happiness and sadness, and light and dark to illustrate the relativity of perception. She also uses repetition to emphasize her point. The phrase "We see—Comparatively—" is repeated twice in the poem, and this repetition serves to reinforce the central theme. Finally, the poet uses imagery to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The images of the ocean, the lake, and the sun all serve to create a sensory experience for the reader and make the poem's message more impactful.
Interpretation
"We see—Comparatively" is a poem about the limits of perception and the potential for growth and change. The poet suggests that our perception of the world is relative to our experiences and that every new experience has the potential to alter our perspective. The ocean and the lake serve as symbols for the vastness of experience and the limitations of our perception, respectively. The repetition of the phrase "We see—Comparatively—" serves to emphasize the poem's central theme, and the use of contrast and imagery make the poem more impactful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "We see—Comparatively" is a powerful poem that explores the relativity of perception. The poet uses symbols, literary devices, and imagery to convey her message and create a vivid sensory experience for the reader. This poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture complex ideas in a few short lines. Anyone who has ever experienced a shift in their perception will be able to relate to this poem and appreciate its message.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
We See—Comparatively: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poems. Her poem, "We See—Comparatively," is a masterpiece that explores the idea of perception and how it shapes our understanding of the world around us. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line, "We see—comparatively," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Dickinson is suggesting that our perception of the world is relative to our own experiences and perspectives. What we see is not necessarily the same as what others see, and this can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
The second line of the poem, "The eye—unable to transmit," further emphasizes this idea. Our eyes can only see what is in front of us, but they cannot transmit the full picture of what we are seeing. Our brains must interpret the information that our eyes are sending, and this interpretation is influenced by our past experiences and beliefs.
The third line of the poem, "Its partial spectrum for," suggests that what we see is only a small part of the whole picture. We are only able to see a limited range of colors and shapes, and this limits our understanding of the world around us. Dickinson is suggesting that there is more to the world than what we can see, and that our understanding of the world is always incomplete.
The fourth line of the poem, "An instant—We perceive," suggests that our perception of the world is constantly changing. What we see in one moment may be different from what we see in the next moment. Our perception of the world is influenced by our emotions, our thoughts, and our surroundings, and this can lead to a constantly shifting understanding of the world.
The fifth line of the poem, "Then oft—when Memory plays," suggests that our past experiences can influence our perception of the present. Our memories can color our understanding of the world, and this can lead to biases and misunderstandings. Dickinson is suggesting that we must be aware of our past experiences and how they influence our perception of the world.
The sixth line of the poem, "Across the brain—Flashes this," suggests that our perception of the world is not just limited to our eyes. Our brains are constantly processing information from our senses, and this can lead to a complex understanding of the world. Dickinson is suggesting that our perception of the world is not just limited to what we see, but also includes what we hear, smell, taste, and touch.
The seventh line of the poem, "Independent as the Sun," suggests that our perception of the world is unique to each individual. Just as the sun shines on everyone, but each person experiences it differently, so too our perception of the world is unique to each individual. Dickinson is suggesting that we must be aware of our own unique perspective and how it influences our understanding of the world.
The eighth line of the poem, "And then we see—begin to understand," suggests that our understanding of the world is constantly evolving. As we gain new experiences and new perspectives, our understanding of the world changes. Dickinson is suggesting that we must be open to new experiences and new perspectives in order to fully understand the world around us.
The final line of the poem, "A little—then withdraw," suggests that our understanding of the world is always limited. We can never fully understand the world around us, but we can gain a little bit of understanding before it withdraws from us. Dickinson is suggesting that we must be humble in our understanding of the world, and recognize that there is always more to learn.
In conclusion, "We See—Comparatively" is a masterpiece by Emily Dickinson that explores the idea of perception and how it shapes our understanding of the world around us. Dickinson suggests that our perception of the world is relative to our own experiences and perspectives, and that our understanding of the world is always incomplete. She also suggests that our perception of the world is constantly evolving, and that we must be open to new experiences and new perspectives in order to fully understand the world around us. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poems.
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