'There came a Day at Summer's full' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
322
There came a Day at Summer's full,
Entirely for me—
I thought that such were for the Saints,
Where Resurrections—be—
The Sun, as common, went abroad,
The flowers, accustomed, blew,
As if no soul the solstice passed
That maketh all things new—
The time was scarce profaned, by speech—
The symbol of a word
Was needless, as at Sacrament,
The Wardrobe—of our Lord—
Each was to each The Sealed Church,
Permitted to commune this—time—
Lest we too awkward show
At Supper of the Lamb.
The Hours slid fast—as Hours will,
Clutched tight, by greedy hands—
So faces on two Decks, look back,
Bound to opposing lands—
And so when all the time had leaked,
Without external sound
Each bound the Other's Crucifix—
We gave no other Bond—
Sufficient troth, that we shall rise—
Deposed—at length, the Grave—
To that new Marriage,
Justified—through Calvaries of Love—
Editor 1 Interpretation
There Came a Day at Summer's Full: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, what a delight it is to delve into the works of Emily Dickinson! Her poetry is like a treasure trove, filled with rich and nuanced meanings that reveal themselves only upon close reading and contemplation. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will be examining one of her most famous poems, "There Came a Day at Summer's Full." So let's dive in and explore the depths of this masterpiece!
Context and Background
Before we begin analyzing the poem itself, let's first set the stage and provide some context. Emily Dickinson was a prolific American poet who lived during the mid-19th century. She was known for her prolific output of poetry, totaling nearly 1,800 poems, but only a handful were published during her lifetime. She was a recluse who rarely left her home and had few close relationships. She often explored themes of death, nature, and the human condition in her work, and was known for her unique use of language and unconventional punctuation.
"There Came a Day at Summer's Full" was written in 1864, when Dickinson was in her early thirties. It is one of her more popular poems, and has been widely anthologized and discussed by scholars and critics.
Analysis
Now, let's dive into the poem itself and explore its meaning and themes. The poem is only six lines long, but each line is packed with meaning and significance. Here is the poem in its entirety:
There came a day at summer's full,
Entirely for me;
I thought that such were for the saints
Where revelations be.
The sun, as common, went abroad,
The flowers, accustomed, blew,
First, let's look at the overall structure and form of the poem. It consists of three couplets, or two-line stanzas, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is written in iambic trimeter, which means that each line has three iambs, or metrical feet consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (da-DUM). This gives the poem a sing-songy, almost nursery rhyme-like quality.
But don't let the simple form fool you - there is much more going on beneath the surface. Let's start with the first line: "There came a day at summer's full." This line sets the stage and establishes the temporal and seasonal setting of the poem. Summer is a time of abundance and vitality, when the natural world is at its peak. The use of the word "full" emphasizes this idea of abundance and suggests that this day is particularly significant in some way.
The second line, "Entirely for me," is a bit more ambiguous. At first glance, it seems to suggest that this day is specifically tailored to the speaker's needs or desires. But upon closer examination, we can see that there might be more to it than that. The use of the word "entirely" suggests a sense of completeness or totality, as if this day is the culmination of something. It also raises the question of who or what is responsible for this day - is it a gift from a higher power, or simply a coincidence of circumstance? This ambiguity is characteristic of Dickinson's poetry, which often leaves interpretation open to the reader.
The third line introduces a comparison: "I thought that such were for the saints / Where revelations be." Here, the speaker is comparing their experience of this day to that of a saint who has received a revelation. This suggests that the day is somehow mystical or transcendent in nature, and that the speaker feels privileged to have experienced it. It also raises the question of what exactly the speaker means by "revelations" - is this a religious reference, or simply a way of describing a profound experience?
The fourth line, "The sun, as common, went abroad," shifts the focus to the natural world. The sun is personified, as if it has a will of its own, and is described as going "abroad," or traveling far and wide. This emphasizes the idea of the sun as a symbol of vitality and energy, and suggests that it is a key component of the day's significance.
The fifth line, "The flowers, accustomed, blew," continues the focus on the natural world. The flowers are personified as well, and are described as "accustomed," as if they are used to a certain routine or pattern. This suggests that the day is not necessarily unusual in terms of the natural world, but that the speaker's experience of it is what makes it special.
Finally, we come to the last line: "As if no novice in the world / Had ever looked on June." This line is perhaps the most enigmatic of the poem. At first glance, it seems to suggest that the speaker is witnessing something completely new and unprecedented - as if they are the first person to ever see the month of June. But upon closer examination, we can see that the use of the word "novice" complicates things. A novice is someone who is new to a particular skill or activity, suggesting that the speaker is inexperienced or unskilled in some way. This raises the question of why the speaker would feel like a novice when witnessing something as simple as the month of June. Perhaps there is something about the experience that is overwhelming or profound, causing the speaker to feel like they are seeing the world with fresh eyes.
Themes
So what are the themes of this poem? As with much of Dickinson's work, there is no single answer, and interpretation is open to the reader. However, here are a few possibilities:
-
Transcendence: The poem suggests that there are moments in life when we can experience something beyond the ordinary. The comparison to the saints and the use of the word "revelations" suggest that this day is something mystical or transcendent in nature.
-
Perception: The last line of the poem suggests that the speaker is seeing the world in a new way. This raises the question of how our perceptions of the world can change, and how we can experience something as familiar as the month of June with fresh eyes.
-
Nature: The poem is full of natural imagery, from the sun and the flowers to the month of June itself. This emphasizes the idea that we are part of the natural world, and that there is something profound in our connection to it.
Conclusion
"There Came a Day at Summer's Full" is a deceptively simple poem that is full of hidden depths and rich meaning. Dickinson's use of language and imagery create a sense of mystery and ambiguity, leaving interpretation open to the reader. The poem explores themes of transcendence, perception, and nature, and reminds us of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. As Emily Dickinson herself once wrote, "Nature is a haunted house--but Art--is a house that tries to be haunted." With this poem, Dickinson has certainly succeeded in haunting us with her art.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
There came a Day at Summer's full - a classic poem by Emily Dickinson that captures the essence of summer and the fleeting nature of life. This poem is a beautiful representation of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by her use of unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax.
The poem begins with the line "There came a Day at Summer's full," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "full" suggests that this is a time of abundance and richness, a time when everything is at its peak. The poem then goes on to describe the beauty of this day, with its "blue untarnished weather" and "bright untainted sky." Dickinson's use of vivid imagery creates a sense of wonder and awe, as if the reader is experiencing this day for themselves.
However, the poem takes a darker turn in the second stanza, with the line "And summer's lease hath all too short a date." This line is a reference to Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, which describes the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of death. Dickinson is using this reference to convey the idea that even though this day is beautiful, it will not last forever. The use of the word "lease" suggests that summer is only borrowing this day from the future, and that it will eventually have to be returned.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant, with its description of the "swelling of the ground." This line is a metaphor for the cycle of life and death, with the ground representing the earth and the swelling representing the growth of new life. Dickinson is suggesting that even though this day will eventually come to an end, new life will continue to emerge and flourish.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the beauty of this day and the inevitability of its passing. Dickinson writes, "But when the days of golden dreams had perished / And even Despair was powerless to destroy," suggesting that even though this day will eventually come to an end, its beauty will live on in memory. The use of the word "golden" suggests that this day was precious and valuable, and that its passing is a loss.
Overall, There came a Day at Summer's full is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of summer and the fleeting nature of life. Dickinson's use of vivid imagery and unconventional syntax creates a sense of wonder and awe, while her references to Shakespeare and the cycle of life and death add depth and complexity to the poem. This is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us to appreciate the beauty of life while we can.
Editor Recommended Sites
ML Startups: Machine learning startups. The most exciting promising Machine Learning Startups and what they doCloud Automated Build - Cloud CI/CD & Cloud Devops:
Prelabeled Data: Already labeled data for machine learning, and large language model training and evaluation
Cloud Data Fabric - Interconnect all data sources & Cloud Data Graph Reasoning:
Cloud Checklist - Cloud Foundations Readiness Checklists & Cloud Security Checklists: Get started in the Cloud with a strong security and flexible starter templates
Recommended Similar Analysis
Once by the Pacific by Robert Lee Frost analysisRequiescat by Matthew Arnold analysis
Helen by H.D. analysis
They Flee From Me by Sir Thomas Wyatt analysis
Porphyria's Lover by Robert Browning analysis
My Father's Love Letters by Yusef Komunyakaa analysis
Excelsior by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
Moonlight by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Sonnet 22 - When our two souls stand up erect and strong by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Eloisa To Abelard by Alexander Pope analysis