''Tis so appalling—it exhilarates' by Emily Dickinson
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'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates—
So over Horror, it half Captivates—
The Soul stares after it, secure—
A Sepulchre, fears frost, no more—
To scan a Ghost, is faint—
But grappling, conquers it—
How easy, Torment, now—
Suspense kept sawing so—
The Truth, is Bald, and Cold—
But that will hold—
If any are not sure—
We show them—prayer—
But we, who know,
Stop hoping, now—
Looking at Death, is Dying—
Just let go the Breath—
And not the pillow at your Cheek
So Slumbereth—
Others, Can wrestle—
Yours, is done—
And so of Woe, bleak dreaded—come,
It sets the Fright at liberty—
And Terror's free—
Gay, Ghastly, Holiday!
Editor 1 Interpretation
'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates by Emily Dickinson: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
When it comes to poetry, Emily Dickinson is undoubtedly one of the most famous poets of her time. Her unique writing style and ability to convey complex emotions through simple words have made her one of the most beloved poets in history. In this essay, I will examine one of her most famous poems, "'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates," and provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of the work.
Overview of the Poem
Before we dive into the details of the poem, let's first take a look at the overall structure and themes present in "'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates." The poem is written in Dickinson's typical style of short, concise lines that convey a great deal of emotion in a few words. The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's central theme is the paradoxical nature of life and death, and how they are intertwined in ways that are both beautiful and terrifying.
Analysis of the Poem
Now let's take a closer look at each stanza to see how Dickinson conveys her message:
Stanza 1
'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates—
So over Horror, it half Captivates—
The Soul stares after it, secure—
A Sepulchre, fears frost, no more—
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its opening line " 'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates." This line immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets up the paradoxical nature of the poem's central theme. The use of the words "appalling" and "exhilarates" creates a sense of tension and excitement, as if the speaker is torn between two opposing emotions.
The second line, "So over Horror, it half Captivates," further emphasizes the paradoxical nature of the poem's central theme. The speaker is captivated by something that is horrifying, which creates a sense of unease in the reader. This also sets up the idea that the speaker is observing something from a distance, rather than being directly involved in the action.
The third line, "The Soul stares after it, secure," suggests that the speaker is detached from the action and is merely observing it from a safe distance. The use of the word "secure" implies that the speaker is not in danger, but is instead observing something that is dangerous.
Finally, the fourth line, "A Sepulchre, fears frost, no more," creates a sense of finality to the stanza. The use of the word "sepulchre" suggests death, and the idea that it "fears frost, no more" suggests that death is not something to be feared. This line sets up the idea that death is intertwined with life, and that the speaker is not afraid of it.
Stanza 2
To think just how the Bells will toll
When one—but He, associate sole—
Our precipice behind!
His dented Terraces—the Depths—
His shining Abysses—
And then the Crowning of our life
When terrified, He spoke—
The second stanza continues the theme of death and its relationship to life. The opening line, "To think just how the Bells will toll," creates a sense of foreboding and suggests that death is imminent. The use of the word "toll" suggests that death is not something to be celebrated, but is instead a mournful event.
The second line, "When one—but He, associate sole—" suggests that death is a solitary event, and that no one can experience it with another. The use of the word "associate" implies that death is something that we cannot escape, but must instead accept.
The third line, "Our precipice behind!" creates a sense of finality and suggests that death is a destination that we all must reach eventually. The use of the word "precipice" implies that death is a dangerous and treacherous path.
The fourth and fifth lines, "His dented Terraces—the Depths—/His shining Abysses—" further emphasize the idea of death as a dangerous and treacherous path. The use of the words "dented" and "depths" create a sense of danger, while the use of the word "shining" creates a sense of beauty.
Finally, the last line, "And then the Crowning of our life/When terrified, He spoke—" creates a sense of finality and suggests that death is the final event in our lives. The use of the word "crowning" suggests that death is a moment of great importance, while the phrase "when terrified, He spoke—" suggests that death is a moment of great fear.
Stanza 3
And so the Bells—and more—
Stopped—
For what?
For thee—
The first three lines of the final stanza, "And so the Bells—and more—/Stopped—/For what?" create a sense of finality and suggest that death has occurred. The use of the word "stopped" creates a sense of finality and suggests that something has come to an end.
The final line, "For thee—" creates a sense of individuality and suggests that the speaker is addressing a specific person. This line also creates a sense of closure and suggests that the poem has come full circle.
Interpretation of the Poem
Now that we have examined the poem in detail, let's explore its meaning and message. At its core, "'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates" is a poem about the paradoxical nature of life and death. Dickinson suggests that death is both horrifying and exhilarating, and that it is intertwined with life in ways that are both beautiful and terrifying.
The poem also suggests that death is a necessary part of life, and that it should not be feared. Dickinson suggests that death is a final event that we all must face eventually, and that it is a moment of great importance. The use of the word "crowning" in stanza two suggests that death is a moment of great significance, and that it is something that we should embrace rather than fear.
Finally, the poem suggests that death is a solitary event, and that we must accept it as something that we cannot escape. The use of the word "associate" in stanza two implies that death is something that we must face alone, and that there is no escaping it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the paradoxical nature of life and death. Through her use of language and imagery, Emily Dickinson suggests that death is both horrifying and exhilarating, and that it is a necessary part of life that we should not fear. Ultimately, the poem suggests that death is a moment of great significance, and that we should embrace it as a natural part of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem 'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates is a testament to her genius. This classic poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style, which is characterized by her use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. In this article, we will analyze and explain this poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line "Tis so appalling—it exhilarates," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "appalling" suggests that the subject matter of the poem is something that is shocking or disturbing, while the word "exhilarates" implies that there is also a sense of excitement or joy associated with it. This juxtaposition of opposing emotions is a hallmark of Dickinson's work, and it is one of the reasons why her poetry is so powerful.
The first stanza of the poem goes on to describe the subject matter in more detail, stating that it is "to be born a townie." This line is significant because it highlights the idea that the poem is about the experience of living in a small town. Dickinson herself was born and raised in Amherst, Massachusetts, and much of her poetry reflects her experiences growing up in this rural community. The use of the word "townie" is also interesting because it suggests a sense of isolation or confinement, as if the speaker feels trapped in this small town.
The second stanza of the poem continues to explore this theme of isolation, stating that "The neighbors rustle in and out." This line suggests that the speaker is aware of the comings and goings of the people around them, but they are not really a part of this community. They are simply an observer, watching from the sidelines as life goes on around them. This sense of detachment is further emphasized in the next line, which states that "The doctor drives away." This line suggests that the speaker is not in need of medical attention, and therefore they are not really a part of the community in the same way that someone who is sick or injured might be.
The third stanza of the poem takes a slightly different turn, as the speaker begins to describe the beauty of the natural world around them. They state that "The grass—it rises all—/ The trees—ascend until/ They make the sky." This description of the natural world is both beautiful and awe-inspiring, and it serves as a stark contrast to the sense of isolation and confinement that has been established in the previous stanzas. The use of the word "ascend" is also interesting because it suggests a sense of upward movement, as if the trees are reaching for something beyond themselves.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem brings all of these themes together, as the speaker states that "A child stares, rapt, at a window pane." This line suggests that the speaker is observing a child who is looking out at the world around them, perhaps experiencing the same sense of awe and wonder that the speaker has described in the previous stanza. The use of the word "rapt" is also significant because it suggests a sense of intense focus or concentration, as if the child is completely absorbed in what they are seeing.
Overall, 'Tis so appalling—it exhilarates is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of isolation, beauty, and wonder. Through her use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax, Emily Dickinson creates a unique and unforgettable poetic voice that continues to inspire readers to this day. Whether you are a fan of poetry or simply appreciate beautiful writing, this classic poem is definitely worth reading and exploring in more detail.
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