'Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?' by Emily Dickinson
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Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?
Did I sing—too loud?
But—I can say a little "Minor"
Timid as a Bird!
Wouldn't the Angels try me—
Just—once—more—
Just—see—if I troubled them—
But don't—shut the door!
Oh, if I—were the Gentleman
In the "White Robe"—
And they—were the little Hand—that knocked—
Could—I—forbid?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
"Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is an elegiac poem written by Emily Dickinson. The poem was first published in 1890 in The Poems of Emily Dickinson, the first official collection of Dickinson's poetry. The poem's theme is the speaker's frustration with God, who has shut her out of heaven. The poem is an example of Dickinson's use of slant rhyme and her ability to create vivid imagery through language. The poem's central question, "Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is one that has been asked by many individuals throughout history who have felt ostracized from their communities or who have felt disconnected from their spiritual beliefs.
Summary
"Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a poem that explores the theme of spiritual alienation. The speaker of the poem is frustrated with God, who has shut her out of heaven. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct theme.
In the first stanza, the speaker describes her frustration with God. She asks why God has "shut her out of heaven" and why she cannot "enter in." The speaker is frustrated with God's lack of response and feels as though she has been ignored.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes her longing for heaven. She compares herself to a child who is unable to reach a toy that is just out of reach. The speaker longs to be in heaven, but feels as though it is just out of reach.
In the third stanza, the speaker describes her fear of dying. She fears that when she dies, she will be shut out of heaven forever. She describes the fear of dying as a "dread uncertainty" and wonders if she will ever be able to enter heaven.
Analysis
"Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a poem that is rich in language and imagery. The poem's use of slant rhyme gives it a musical quality that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem's central theme of spiritual alienation is one that is both personal and universal. The speaker's frustration with God is a feeling that many individuals can relate to, whether they are religious or not.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which the speaker expresses her frustration with God. The use of the word "they" instead of "he" or "she" is particularly interesting. This suggests that the speaker feels as though she is being shut out of heaven by a group of individuals, rather than just one entity. This group could represent society or the religious establishment, both of which may have contributed to the speaker's feelings of alienation.
The poem's use of vivid imagery is also noteworthy. The comparison between the speaker and a child who cannot reach a toy is particularly effective. This image conveys the speaker's longing for heaven in a way that is both relatable and poignant. The image of heaven as a "Door ajar" is also effective. This image suggests that heaven is within reach, but the speaker is unable to enter.
The poem's use of slant rhyme is also noteworthy. The poem's use of slant rhyme gives it a musical quality that is both haunting and beautiful. The use of slant rhyme also underscores the poem's themes of longing and frustration. The poem's use of slant rhyme is particularly effective in the second stanza, where the rhyme scheme is "toy" and "enjoy" and "sky" and "by." This use of slant rhyme gives the stanza a sense of momentum that is both powerful and effective.
Interpretation
"Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a poem that is both personal and universal. The poem's central theme of spiritual alienation is one that is relatable to individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. The speaker's frustration with God is a feeling that many individuals can relate to, whether they are religious or not. The poem's use of vivid imagery and slant rhyme underscores the speaker's feelings of longing and frustration.
At its core, "Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a poem about the human search for meaning and purpose. The speaker's frustration with God is born out of a desire to understand her place in the world. The poem's use of vivid imagery and slant rhyme suggests that the search for meaning is a journey that is both beautiful and haunting.
In many ways, "Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a reminder that the search for meaning is a never-ending journey. The speaker's frustration with God suggests that there are no easy answers to life's most pressing questions. The poem's use of vivid imagery and slant rhyme underscores this sense of uncertainty and underscores the importance of continuing to search for meaning, even in the face of frustration and uncertainty.
Conclusion
"Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a poem that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem's central theme of spiritual alienation is one that is relatable to individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. The speaker's frustration with God is a feeling that many individuals can relate to, whether they are religious or not.
The poem's use of vivid imagery and slant rhyme underscores the speaker's feelings of longing and frustration. The comparison between the speaker and a child who cannot reach a toy is particularly effective, as is the image of heaven as a "Door ajar." The poem's use of slant rhyme gives it a musical quality that is both haunting and beautiful.
At its core, "Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" is a reminder that the search for meaning is a never-ending journey. The poem's use of vivid imagery and slant rhyme suggests that the search for meaning is a journey that is both beautiful and haunting. The poem is a testament to the power of language and the importance of continuing to search for meaning, even in the face of frustration and uncertainty.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven? is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned American poets of the 19th century. The poem is a powerful expression of the poet's feelings of exclusion and isolation from the divine realm. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABCB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker expressing her confusion and frustration at being shut out of heaven. The second stanza explores the reasons why the speaker might be excluded from heaven, while the third stanza concludes with a powerful statement of the speaker's desire to be accepted into the divine realm.
The poem's central theme is the speaker's sense of exclusion and isolation from the divine realm. The speaker feels that she is being shut out of heaven, and she cannot understand why. The poem raises questions about the nature of God and the criteria for entry into heaven. The speaker's frustration and confusion are palpable, and the poem's emotional intensity is heightened by the use of repetition and rhetorical questions.
The first stanza begins with the speaker's plaintive cry: "Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven?" The use of the dash after "Why" emphasizes the speaker's sense of urgency and frustration. The speaker is not asking a rhetorical question; she genuinely wants to know why she is being excluded from heaven. The use of the word "they" is significant because it suggests that the speaker feels that she is being excluded by a group of people, rather than by God himself. This raises questions about the role of human beings in determining who is worthy of entry into heaven.
The second stanza explores the reasons why the speaker might be excluded from heaven. The speaker wonders if it is because she is not good enough, or if she has committed some sin that has made her unworthy of entry. The use of the word "sin" is significant because it suggests that the speaker comes from a Christian background, where sin is seen as a barrier to entry into heaven. The speaker's uncertainty about the reasons for her exclusion highlights the arbitrary nature of the criteria for entry into heaven.
The third stanza concludes with a powerful statement of the speaker's desire to be accepted into the divine realm. The speaker says that she would be willing to "knock" at the gates of heaven, even if it meant being rejected. This shows the speaker's determination and her willingness to take risks to achieve her goal. The use of the word "knock" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not asking for special treatment; she is willing to go through the same process as everyone else to gain entry into heaven.
The poem's emotional intensity is heightened by the use of repetition and rhetorical questions. The repetition of the word "Why" in the first line of each stanza emphasizes the speaker's sense of frustration and confusion. The use of rhetorical questions throughout the poem invites the reader to empathize with the speaker's plight and to question the criteria for entry into heaven.
The poem also makes use of literary devices such as metaphor and imagery to convey its meaning. The use of the metaphor of the "gates of heaven" emphasizes the idea of exclusion and the difficulty of gaining entry into the divine realm. The use of the word "shut" in the first line of the poem creates a sense of finality and emphasizes the speaker's sense of exclusion. The use of the word "knock" in the third stanza creates a sense of hope and determination, as the speaker is willing to take action to achieve her goal.
In conclusion, Why—do they shut Me out of Heaven? is a powerful expression of the speaker's sense of exclusion and isolation from the divine realm. The poem raises questions about the nature of God and the criteria for entry into heaven. The poem's emotional intensity is heightened by the use of repetition and rhetorical questions, while the use of literary devices such as metaphor and imagery conveys its deeper meaning. The poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in a few short lines.
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