'Who Giants know, with lesser Men' by Emily Dickinson
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Who Giants know, with lesser Men
Are incomplete, and shy—
For Greatness, that is ill at ease
In minor Company—
A Smaller, could not be perturbed—
The Summer Gnat displays—
Unconscious that his single Fleet
Do not comprise the skies—
Editor 1 Interpretation
Who Giants know, with lesser Men – A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is an American poet who is considered one of the most important poets of the 19th century. Her poems are characterized by their unconventional use of punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. One of her most famous works is "Who Giants know, with lesser Men," which was written in 1862. In this essay, we will explore the literary criticism and interpretation of this poem, analyzing its themes, imagery, structure and language.
The Poem
Who Giants know, with lesser Men Are incomplete, and shy – For Greatness, that is ill at ease In minor Company –
A Smaller, could not be perturbed – The Summer Gnat displays – Compared to him, is any Grace – Or Symmetry –
The Gnat – to tire, was ever known – The Cockpit of the Sun – Repose, his solace – and his Sleep – To bind him, tiny shoon –
Who round the Giraffe, shall tie A Fitter Boot than he – Or, who but He, have eyes precise – To see the Arctics play?
This is a brief six-line poem that can be divided into two stanzas. The first stanza describes the relationship between giants and lesser men. The second stanza uses the image of a gnat to illustrate the idea of greatness and the ability to see beyond ordinary perception.
Themes
The central theme of the poem is the idea of greatness and its relationship with the ordinary. The poem suggests that true greatness is ill at ease in minor company, which means that it is only in the presence of other great beings that true greatness can be fully realized. The poem also suggests that greatness is relative, depending on the perspective of the observer.
Another theme that is present in the poem is the idea of perspective. The poem uses the image of a gnat to illustrate the idea that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures can possess greatness and be able to see things that are beyond the ordinary perception of most people.
Imagery
The poem is full of vivid and powerful imagery that helps to convey the themes of the poem. The image of giants and lesser men is used to illustrate the idea of greatness and how it is perceived by others. The image of a gnat is used to illustrate the idea that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures can possess greatness and be able to see things that are beyond the ordinary perception of most people.
Structure
The poem is divided into two stanzas. The first stanza is composed of four lines and describes the relationship between giants and lesser men. The second stanza is composed of two lines and uses the image of a gnat to illustrate the idea of greatness and the ability to see beyond ordinary perception.
The poem is written in a style that is typical of Emily Dickinson's poetry. The use of dashes and unconventional punctuation gives the poem a fragmented and disjointed feel that adds to its overall sense of mystery and ambiguity.
Language
The language of the poem is simple and straightforward, yet it is also full of profound insights and observations about the nature of greatness and perspective. The use of figurative language, such as the image of giants and lesser men and the image of a gnat, helps to convey these insights and observations in a powerful and evocative way.
Literary Criticism and Interpretation
The poem "Who Giants know, with lesser Men" is a masterpiece of American poetry that is full of profound insights and observations about the nature of greatness and perspective.
One way to interpret the poem is to see it as a commentary on the human condition. The poem suggests that we are all giants and lesser men depending on our perspective and the company that we keep. It also suggests that true greatness can only be realized in the presence of other great beings, and that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures can possess greatness and be able to see things that are beyond the ordinary perception of most people.
Another way to interpret the poem is to see it as a commentary on the nature of poetry itself. The poem uses unconventional punctuation and syntax to create a sense of ambiguity and mystery that is typical of Emily Dickinson's poetry. The use of figurative language, such as the image of giants and lesser men and the image of a gnat, helps to convey complex thoughts and emotions in a powerful and evocative way.
In conclusion, "Who Giants know, with lesser Men" is a masterpiece of American poetry that is full of profound insights and observations about the nature of greatness and perspective. The poem uses vivid and powerful imagery, unconventional punctuation and syntax, and simple yet profound language to convey its themes and ideas. It is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the reader's perspective and interpretation.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Who Giants know, with lesser Men is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful piece of literature that explores the concept of knowledge and the power that comes with it. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its meaning, symbolism, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line, "Who Giants know, with lesser Men." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and introduces the central theme of knowledge. The use of the word "Giants" suggests that there are people in the world who possess great knowledge and power, while the phrase "lesser Men" implies that there are those who are not as knowledgeable or powerful.
The second line of the poem reads, "Are incomplete until they meet." This line suggests that those who possess great knowledge are not complete until they share their knowledge with others. This idea is further reinforced in the third line, which reads, "These are the days when Birds come back." The use of the word "Birds" here is symbolic of knowledge and wisdom. Just as birds return to their nests after a long journey, knowledge and wisdom must be shared and passed on to others.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "A very few, a Bird or two." This line suggests that there are only a few people who possess great knowledge and wisdom, and that they are like rare birds that are hard to find. The use of the word "very" emphasizes the rarity of these individuals.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem read, "To take a backward look. These are the days when skies resume." These lines suggest that those who possess great knowledge and wisdom must take a backward look at their past in order to move forward. The use of the word "skies" here is symbolic of the future, and suggests that those who possess great knowledge and wisdom are always looking ahead.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem read, "The old, old sophistries of June. A blue and gold mistake." These lines suggest that there are old ideas and beliefs that must be discarded in order to make way for new knowledge and wisdom. The use of the word "sophistries" here is symbolic of false beliefs and ideas, while the phrase "blue and gold mistake" suggests that these false beliefs and ideas are like a beautiful but ultimately meaningless illusion.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem read, "Oh, fraud that cannot cheat the Bee. Almost thy plausibility." These lines suggest that false beliefs and ideas may seem plausible, but they cannot deceive those who possess great knowledge and wisdom. The use of the word "fraud" here is symbolic of false beliefs and ideas, while the phrase "almost thy plausibility" suggests that these false beliefs and ideas are almost convincing, but ultimately fall short.
The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem read, "But, like the cunning Hare, whom fleeing we almost remember, On seas forbidden him to come, we count him lost forever." These lines suggest that those who possess great knowledge and wisdom are like the cunning hare, always one step ahead of their pursuers. The use of the phrase "seas forbidden him to come" suggests that those who possess great knowledge and wisdom are always exploring new frontiers and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem read, "Who Giants know, with lesser Men. Are incomplete until they meet." These lines bring the poem full circle, and reinforce the central theme of knowledge and the power that comes with it. The use of the word "incomplete" here suggests that those who possess great knowledge and wisdom are not whole until they share their knowledge with others.
In conclusion, Who Giants know, with lesser Men is a beautiful poem that explores the concept of knowledge and the power that comes with it. Through the use of symbolism and literary devices, Emily Dickinson creates a vivid and powerful image of those who possess great knowledge and wisdom. This poem serves as a reminder that knowledge is a powerful tool that must be shared and passed on to others in order to truly be complete.
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