'As imperceptibly as Grief' by Emily Dickinson
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As imperceptibly as Grief
The Summer lapsed away—
Too imperceptible at last
To seem like Perfidy—
A Quietness distilled
As Twilight long begun,
Or Nature spending with herself
Sequestered Afternoon—
The Dusk drew earlier in—
The Morning foreign shone—
A courteous, yet harrowing Grace,
As Guest, that would be gone—
And thus, without a Wing
Or service of a Keel
Our Summer made her light escape
Into the Beautiful.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
As Imperceptibly as Grief by Emily Dickinson
As imperceptibly as Grief is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson in the 19th century. The poem is a literary masterpiece that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the passage of time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various literary devices used by Emily Dickinson to convey her message to the reader.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem is structured in three stanzas with six lines each. The first stanza introduces the theme of the poem, which is the passage of time. The second stanza explores the concept of grief and loss, while the final stanza concludes the poem with a message of hope.
First Stanza
The first stanza of the poem reads:
As imperceptibly as Grief The Summer lapsed away— Too imperceptible at last To seem like Perfidy— A Quietness distilled As Twilight long begun,
In this stanza, Emily Dickinson compares the passage of time to the feeling of grief. She uses the word "imperceptibly" to describe how time passes by without us noticing it. It is a gradual process, and we only realize it when it's too late. The summer lapsed away, just like time, without us noticing it. The word "Perfidy" means betrayal or disloyalty, and Dickinson uses it to describe how time betrays us by passing by without us noticing it. The last two lines of the stanza create a feeling of calmness and stillness, like the beginning of twilight.
Second Stanza
The second stanza of the poem reads:
Nor like Disease—did we Imperious, conclude— But like Deity— Immortal—Indisputable— Without a Trace— Without a No—
In this stanza, Emily Dickinson uses the concept of grief and loss to further explore the theme of the passage of time. The word "Disease" is used to describe how we don't perceive time as a sickness or illness. It is not something that we can cure or fix. Instead, it is like a deity, immortal and indisputable. Time is something that we cannot control or change, and it leaves no trace, no evidence of its passing. It is a powerful force that we must accept and live with.
Third Stanza
The final stanza of the poem reads:
A Sunset's Vermilion— A Way of Gold— A Crimson Rapture— Nor Ishmael— Nor Job—
In this stanza, Dickinson concludes the poem with a message of hope. The sunset, with its vermillion and golden colors, represents the end of the day and the passage of time. It is a beautiful sight, and it reminds us that even though time passes, there is still beauty in the world. The word "Rapture" means a feeling of intense pleasure, and Dickinson uses it to describe the beauty of the sunset. The final two lines of the stanza reference two characters from the Bible, Ishmael and Job. Ishmael was cast out by his father and left to die in the desert, but he was saved by God. Job suffered great losses but remained faithful to God. These references suggest that even though we may suffer loss and grief, there is still hope and faith to be found.
Literary Devices Used
Emily Dickinson uses several literary devices to convey her message in the poem. Some of these devices include:
Metaphor
Emily Dickinson uses the metaphor of grief to describe the passage of time. She compares the gradual passing of time to the feeling of grief, which is a powerful and emotional experience. This metaphor allows the reader to understand the impact that time has on our lives and how it can be both subtle and overwhelming.
Allusion
The final two lines of the poem reference two characters from the Bible, Ishmael and Job. These characters are used as a symbol of hope and faith in times of loss and grief. By referencing these characters, Dickinson is able to convey a deeper message of resilience and perseverance.
Personification
The final stanza of the poem personifies the sunset, describing it as having a "way of gold" and a "crimson rapture." This personification creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and adds to the overall beauty of the poem.
Repetition
The word "imperceptibly" is repeated twice in the first stanza to emphasize the gradual passage of time. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and reminds the reader that time is passing by without us noticing it.
Interpretation
As imperceptibly as Grief is a powerful poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the passage of time. Through the use of metaphor, allusion, personification, and repetition, Emily Dickinson is able to convey a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
The message of the poem is that even though time may pass quickly and we may experience grief and loss along the way, there is still beauty and hope to be found in the world. The sunset, with its vermillion and golden colors, represents the end of the day and the passage of time. It is a reminder that even though time may be fleeting, there is still beauty to be found in the world.
Overall, As imperceptibly as Grief is a literary masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today. Its timeless message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
As imperceptibly as Grief is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of grief and how it slowly creeps up on us, almost imperceptibly, until it becomes a part of our very being. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem opens with the line, "As imperceptibly as Grief," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "imperceptibly" suggests that grief is a slow and gradual process that we may not even be aware of until it has fully taken hold of us. The capitalization of the word "Grief" also gives it a sense of importance and weight, as if it is a force that cannot be ignored.
The second line, "The Summer lapsed away," sets the scene for the poem and establishes the passing of time. The use of the word "lapsed" suggests that time has slipped away without us even noticing, much like grief. The reference to summer also adds to the sense of loss and melancholy that permeates the poem.
The third line, "Too imperceptible at last," reinforces the idea that grief is something that slowly builds up over time until it becomes too much to bear. The use of the word "too" suggests that there is a breaking point, a moment when we can no longer ignore the grief that has been building up inside us.
The fourth line, "To seem like Perfidy," introduces the idea that grief can feel like a betrayal. The use of the word "Perfidy" suggests that grief can be a treacherous and deceitful emotion, one that can turn on us when we least expect it.
The fifth and sixth lines, "A Quietness distilled," and "As Twilight long begun," create a sense of stillness and quietness, as if the world is holding its breath in anticipation of something. The use of the word "distilled" suggests that this quietness is something that has been carefully crafted and refined, much like the process of distilling alcohol.
The seventh and eighth lines, "Or Nature spending with herself," and "Sequestered Afternoon," continue to build on this sense of stillness and quietness. The use of the word "sequestered" suggests that this afternoon is something that has been set apart from the rest of the world, as if it is a sacred moment.
The ninth and tenth lines, "The Dusk drew earlier in," and "The Morning foreign shone," introduce the idea that time is moving in a different way, as if the world is out of sync with itself. The use of the word "foreign" suggests that this morning is something that is unfamiliar and strange.
The eleventh and twelfth lines, "A courteous, yet harrowing Grace," and "As Guest, that would be gone," introduce the idea that grief can be both beautiful and painful at the same time. The use of the word "courteous" suggests that grief can be polite and well-mannered, while the word "harrowing" suggests that it can also be distressing and traumatic.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines, "And thus, without a Wing," and "Or service of a Keel," introduce the idea that grief is something that cannot be seen or touched, but is still a powerful force. The use of the words "Wing" and "Keel" suggest that grief is something that is intangible and ethereal, much like a bird or a boat.
The fifteenth and sixteenth lines, "Our Summer made her light escape," and "Into the Beautiful," bring the poem to a close. The use of the word "escape" suggests that summer has fled from us, much like grief can feel like an escape from reality. The reference to "the Beautiful" suggests that there is something beyond grief, something that is worth striving for.
In terms of structure, the poem is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. This gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry, which is appropriate given the subject matter. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase runs over into the next line, also gives the poem a sense of flow and continuity.
In terms of literary devices, the poem is full of metaphors and personification. The use of the word "Grief" as a proper noun personifies it as a force that is almost alive. The use of the word "Perfidy" as a metaphor for grief suggests that it can feel like a betrayal. The use of the word "distilled" as a metaphor for the quietness suggests that it is something that has been carefully crafted and refined.
Overall, As imperceptibly as Grief is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of grief and how it slowly creeps up on us. Through its use of metaphors, personification, and careful structure, Emily Dickinson has created a poem that captures the essence of this complex and often overwhelming emotion.
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