'The Day that I was crowned' by Emily Dickinson
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The Day that I was crowned
Was like the other Days—
Until the Coronation came—
And then—'twas Otherwise—
As Carbon in the Coal
And Carbon in the Gem
Are One—and yet the former
Were dull for Diadem—
I rose, and all was plain—
But when the Day declined
Myself and It, in Majesty
Were equally—adorned—
The Grace that I—was chose—
To Me—surpassed the Crown
That was the Witness for the Grace—
'Twas even that 'twas Mine—
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Day that I was crowned: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned American poets of the 19th century. Her poetry is known for its unconventional style, use of imagery, and depth of emotion. "The Day that I was crowned" is a classic poem that captures the essence of Dickinson's unique style and philosophical musings. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the various literary elements used in the poem and explore its deeper meanings.
Overview of the Poem
"The Day that I was crowned" is a short, four-stanza poem that explores the speaker's experience of being crowned. The poem begins with the speaker stating that they were crowned on a specific day, but they do not know the year or the place. The speaker then goes on to describe the experience of being crowned, using vivid imagery and metaphorical language. In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on the significance of this event and its impact on their life.
Literary Elements
Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of Dickinson's poetry is her use of imagery to create a vivid and sensory experience for the reader. In "The Day that I was crowned," the speaker uses imagery to describe the experience of being crowned. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes the crown as "a diadem of snow." This image creates a sense of purity and innocence, as well as a connection to nature.
In the second stanza, the speaker uses the image of a bird to describe the feeling of being lifted up on the day of their coronation. The bird imagery also suggests a sense of freedom and transcendence.
Metaphor
Dickinson often uses metaphorical language to convey abstract concepts and ideas. In "The Day that I was crowned," the speaker uses several metaphors to describe their experience. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker compares their experience to being lifted up "on an eagle's wing." This metaphor suggests a sense of power and majesty.
In the third stanza, the speaker compares the crown to a "glory in my soul." This metaphor suggests that the crown represents not just a physical object, but something deeper and more spiritual.
Symbolism
In addition to imagery and metaphor, Dickinson also uses symbolism to convey meaning in her poetry. In "The Day that I was crowned," the crown itself is a symbol of power and authority. The fact that the speaker was crowned suggests that they have achieved a position of importance or influence.
The snow, bird, and eagle imagery are also symbolic. Snow represents purity and innocence, while the bird and eagle suggest freedom and transcendence.
Tone
The tone of "The Day that I was crowned" is reflective and introspective. The speaker is looking back on an important event in their life and trying to make sense of its significance. There is a sense of wonder and awe in the way the speaker describes the experience of being crowned, but also a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity.
Interpretation
So, what does "The Day that I was crowned" really mean? As with much of Dickinson's poetry, there is no one clear interpretation. However, there are several themes and ideas that emerge from the poem.
Power and Authority
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is about power and authority. The fact that the speaker was crowned suggests that they have achieved a position of importance or influence. The crown itself is a symbol of power and authority, and the bird and eagle imagery suggest a sense of majesty and dominance.
However, the poem also suggests that power and authority may be temporary or fleeting. The fact that the speaker does not remember the year or the place of their coronation suggests that these details are not important. What is important is the experience of being lifted up and crowned, rather than the specifics of the event.
Spiritual and Transcendent Experience
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is about a spiritual or transcendent experience. The snow, bird, and eagle imagery all suggest a sense of purity, freedom, and transcendence. The crown itself is compared to a "glory in my soul," which suggests that it represents something deeper and more spiritual than just a physical object.
The fact that the speaker does not remember the year or the place of their coronation also suggests that the experience was not tied to a specific time or place, but rather, something transcendent and eternal.
Ambiguity and Uncertainty
Finally, "The Day that I was crowned" is a poem that is full of ambiguity and uncertainty. The fact that the speaker does not remember the year or the place of their coronation suggests that there is a lot that is unknown or uncertain about the experience. The poem also raises questions about the nature of power and authority, as well as the nature of transcendent experience.
Ultimately, the poem leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and awe, but also a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. It is up to the reader to interpret the poem and decide what it means to them.
Conclusion
"The Day that I was crowned" is a classic poem by Emily Dickinson that explores themes of power, authority, spirituality, and uncertainty. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphorical language, symbolism, and introspective tone, the poem captures the essence of Dickinson's unique poetic style and philosophical musings. While there is no one clear interpretation of the poem, its themes and ideas offer a rich and thought-provoking experience for the reader.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Day that I was crowned: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated American poets, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poetry. Her poem, "The Day that I was crowned," is a masterpiece that explores the theme of self-discovery and the journey towards self-realization. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line, "The day that I was crowned was like the other days." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that the speaker's experience of being crowned was not a grand or momentous occasion. Instead, it was just another day in her life, much like any other day.
The second line of the poem, "I felt no different tangling up my hair," further emphasizes the speaker's nonchalant attitude towards her coronation. She does not feel any different or special, despite the fact that she has been crowned. This line also suggests that the speaker is comfortable with herself and does not feel the need to conform to societal expectations of how a crowned person should behave.
The third line of the poem, "The world was just the same," reinforces the idea that the speaker's coronation did not change anything in the world around her. The world continued to function as it always had, and her coronation did not have any significant impact on it.
The fourth line of the poem, "The only difference was all the crowns I wore," introduces the idea that the speaker has worn many crowns throughout her life. These crowns could be interpreted as symbols of the various roles and identities that the speaker has taken on over the years. The fact that she has worn many crowns suggests that she has had many experiences and has lived a full life.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem, "In case the monarch were to die, and leave his diadem," suggest that the speaker is aware of the transience of power and the fact that even a monarch can be replaced. This line also suggests that the speaker is not attached to the idea of power or authority, and is comfortable with the idea of letting go of it.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem, "I'm striving for the purple, but it's a faded thing," introduce the idea that the speaker is striving for something that is no longer attainable. The color purple has traditionally been associated with royalty and power, and the fact that it is a faded thing suggests that the speaker's desire for power and authority is no longer as strong as it once was.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem, "The scarlet I began to wear, about my plighted hair, last day," suggest that the speaker has moved on from her desire for power and is now focused on something else. The scarlet could be interpreted as a symbol of passion or love, and the fact that the speaker is wearing it around her hair suggests that she is embracing this new passion or love.
The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem, "My dress myself before my glass, I primped the plumes away," suggest that the speaker is taking control of her own life and is no longer concerned with conforming to societal expectations. She is dressing herself and primping her own plumes, rather than relying on others to do it for her.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem, "I carried up my life to show, my forest and my deer," suggest that the speaker is proud of who she is and is not afraid to show it to the world. The forest and the deer could be interpreted as symbols of the speaker's connection to nature and her own inner self.
The fifteenth and sixteenth lines of the poem, "Because I was, and why, because, I am, and since I am, to be," suggest that the speaker is comfortable with who she is and is not concerned with trying to be someone else. She is content with being herself and is not trying to conform to societal expectations.
The final two lines of the poem, "Tradition, veils of hanging hair, are all I've seen of thee," suggest that the speaker is aware of the limitations of tradition and societal expectations. She has seen through the veil of tradition and has realized that it is not the only way to live one's life.
In conclusion, "The Day that I was crowned" is a masterpiece by Emily Dickinson that explores the theme of self-discovery and the journey towards self-realization. The poem suggests that true happiness and fulfillment can only be found by being true to oneself and embracing one's own passions and desires. The speaker's journey towards self-realization is a reminder to all of us to embrace our own unique identities and to not be afraid to show the world who we truly are.
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