'We like a Hairbreadth 'scape' by Emily Dickinson
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We like a Hairbreadth 'scape
It tingles in the Mind
Far after Act or Accident
Like paragraphs of Wind
If we had ventured less
The Breeze were not so fine
That reaches to our utmost Hair
Its Tentacles divine.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
We like a Hairbreadth 'scape: A Literary Analysis
Emily Dickinson is a renowned American poet, known for her unique style and unconventional themes. One of her most notable works is the poem, "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape." This poem is a complex and intriguing piece that requires careful attention and analysis to understand fully. In this literary analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem and how it relates to the larger themes in Dickinson's work.
Overview of the Poem
Before we dive into the deeper meanings of the poem, let us first take a look at its structure and form. "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is a short poem, consisting of only four stanzas, with each stanza containing four lines. The poem follows a consistent ABCB rhyme scheme, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming.
The poem opens with the line "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape." This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting that the speaker enjoys living dangerously, taking risks, and flirting with danger. The poem's subsequent stanzas delve deeper into this idea, exploring the speaker's relationship with danger and the thrill that comes with narrowly avoiding it.
Analysis of the Poem
The central theme of "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is the speaker's relationship with danger. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes their love for living on the edge, taking risks, and narrowly escaping danger. The poem seems to suggest that the speaker finds a sense of thrill and excitement in flirting with danger, and that this excitement is an essential part of their life.
The opening line of the poem, "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape," sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The phrase "Hairbreadth 'scape" suggests a narrow escape from danger, and the fact that the speaker likes it implies that they enjoy living dangerously. The use of the word "we" suggests that the speaker is not alone in their love for danger, and that there is a community of people who share the same feelings.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes the feeling of being in danger, saying "When everything that ticked has stopped / And space stares all around." This description creates a sense of tension and uncertainty, suggesting that the speaker is in a dangerous situation where time has stopped, and there is nowhere to turn. The phrase "space stares all around" suggests a sense of emptiness and vastness, further emphasizing the speaker's isolation and vulnerability.
The third stanza describes the moment of danger passing, saying "Or grisly frosts—first Autumn morns / Repeal the Beating Ground." The phrase "grisly frosts" suggests a sense of coldness and danger, while the mention of autumn mornings creates a sense of change and transition. The phrase "Repeal the Beating Ground" seems to suggest that the danger has passed, and the speaker is once again safe. However, the use of the word "repeal" suggests that the danger could return at any moment, further emphasizing the speaker's love for danger and their willingness to take risks.
The final stanza concludes the poem, saying "But, where the Grave's dim boundary / Who knows? / His timid tongue is mute— / His vibrant look a-glow." This final stanza is the most cryptic of the four, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. The phrase "Grave's dim boundary" suggests a sense of finality and mortality, while the phrase "His timid tongue is mute" creates a sense of silence and finality. The use of the word "vibrant" seems to suggest that the speaker is still alive, but the fact that they are "a-glow" suggests that they are in a dangerous situation. The final line of the poem leaves the reader with a sense of uncertainty, wondering what the speaker means by "a-glow" and what danger they are facing.
Literary Devices
Emily Dickinson was an expert in the use of literary devices, and "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is no exception. The poem uses a variety of literary devices to create a sense of tension and danger, including imagery, metaphor, and rhyme.
One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is imagery. Dickinson uses vivid and evocative descriptions to create a sense of danger and uncertainty. For example, the phrase "grisly frosts" in the third stanza creates an image of coldness and danger, while the phrase "space stares all around" in the second stanza creates a sense of emptiness and isolation.
The poem also makes use of metaphor to communicate its central themes. The use of the phrase "Hairbreadth 'scape" in the opening line is a metaphor for the speaker's love of danger and risk-taking. The phrase "Repeal the Beating Ground" in the third stanza is also a metaphor, suggesting a sense of danger passing and the speaker returning to safety.
Finally, the poem's consistent ABCB rhyme scheme creates a sense of structure and formality, contrasting with the poem's themes of danger and uncertainty. The use of rhyme creates a sense of predictability and familiarity, which is at odds with the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the poem's themes.
Interpretation of the Poem
The meaning of "We like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that the poem is a commentary on the human desire for risk and excitement. The speaker seems to suggest that danger and uncertainty are essential parts of life, and that living without them would be dull and unfulfilling.
The poem also seems to suggest that there is a sense of community among those who enjoy living dangerously. The use of the word "we" in the opening line implies that there are others who share the speaker's love for risk-taking, and that this is a common human trait.
Finally, the poem's cryptic final stanza suggests that danger and uncertainty are always present, even in the face of mortality. The use of the phrase "Grave's dim boundary" suggests that death is the ultimate danger, while the phrase "His vibrant look a-glow" implies that the speaker is facing danger even in death.
Conclusion
"We like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores the human desire for risk and excitement. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and rhyme, the poem creates a sense of tension and danger, emphasizing the speaker's love for flirting with danger. While the poem's meaning is open to interpretation, it seems to suggest that living without risk and uncertainty would be dull and unfulfilling.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
We Like a Hairbreadth 'scape: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, the renowned American poet, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. One of her most famous works is the poem "We Like a Hairbreadth 'scape," which is a masterpiece in its own right. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem, as well as its literary devices and structure.
The poem "We Like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is a short but powerful piece that captures the essence of human nature. It is a poem that speaks to the human desire for adventure, risk-taking, and the thrill of danger. The poem begins with the line "We like a hairbreadth 'scape," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "scape" is a shortened form of "escape," which suggests that the poem is about escaping danger or narrowly avoiding it.
The first stanza of the poem describes the thrill of danger and the excitement that comes with it. Dickinson writes, "When hemmed in by the sea, / By thee, old world, I cry, / Escape! But in my soul arise / A thousand loves that die." Here, the speaker is describing the feeling of being trapped or hemmed in by the sea, which could represent any kind of danger or obstacle in life. The speaker cries out for escape, but at the same time, they feel a sense of love and attachment to the danger that they are trying to escape from. This paradoxical feeling is what makes the poem so powerful and relatable.
The second stanza of the poem continues this theme of danger and risk-taking. Dickinson writes, "Leave to the diamond its display, / And the gem its glory too, / Or these were scarce as bright as thou, / And as enduring too." Here, the speaker is saying that the thrill of danger and risk-taking is more valuable than any material possession, such as diamonds or gems. The danger is enduring and has a lasting impact on the human soul, whereas material possessions are fleeting and temporary.
The third stanza of the poem takes a darker turn, as Dickinson writes, "The shoreless sea which surrounds the world / Is more than all the stars, / And whether it is death or life / I cannot tell." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the fact that danger and risk-taking can lead to death, but at the same time, they are saying that the sea of danger is more valuable than all the stars in the sky. This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that the human desire for danger and risk-taking is stronger than the fear of death.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem brings the theme of love and attachment back into focus. Dickinson writes, "The love that lasts longest is the love that is never returned." Here, the speaker is saying that the love that lasts the longest is the love that is unrequited or never returned. This line is a powerful statement about the nature of love and the human desire for attachment. It suggests that the human desire for attachment is stronger than the desire for reciprocation.
The literary devices used in this poem are what make it so powerful and memorable. Dickinson uses imagery, metaphor, and paradox to convey her message. The imagery of the sea and danger is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of vastness and uncertainty. The metaphor of the diamond and gem is also effective, as it contrasts the value of material possessions with the value of danger and risk-taking. Finally, the paradoxical nature of the poem is what makes it so memorable. The idea that the human desire for danger and risk-taking is stronger than the fear of death is a paradox that is both unsettling and relatable.
In terms of structure, the poem is written in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which creates a sense of symmetry and balance. The use of repetition, particularly the repetition of the word "escape," is also effective, as it reinforces the theme of danger and risk-taking.
In conclusion, "We Like a Hairbreadth 'scape" is a masterpiece by Emily Dickinson that captures the essence of human nature. It explores the themes of danger, risk-taking, love, and attachment in a way that is both powerful and relatable. The use of literary devices such as imagery, metaphor, and paradox, as well as the structure of the poem, make it a memorable and impactful piece of literature. Dickinson's ability to capture the complexity of human nature in such a short poem is a testament to her skill as a poet and her understanding of the human condition.
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