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'Contained in this short Life' by Emily Dickinson


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Contained in this short Life
Are magical extents
The soul returning soft at night
To steal securer thence

As Children strictest kept
Turn soonest to the sea
Whose nameless Fathoms slink away
Beside infinity

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

Contained in this short Life by Emily Dickinson: An Exploration of Life's Transience

Emily Dickinson's poem, "Contained in this short Life," is a poignant exploration of life's fleeting nature and the transience of human existence. In this 24-line poem, Dickinson captures the essence of human mortality, reminding us that our lives are but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things. Through her use of vivid imagery and carefully chosen words, Dickinson invites her readers to contemplate the meaning of life and the inevitability of death.

A Brief Overview

Before diving into a detailed analysis of the poem, let's first take a brief look at its structure and content. "Contained in this short Life" is a sonnet, with a traditional 14-line structure and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. However, unlike most sonnets, Dickinson's poem does not follow a strict iambic pentameter, opting instead for a looser, more conversational rhythm.

The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging the brevity of human life, stating that "this short life" contains all of our experiences and aspirations. She then goes on to describe the fleeting nature of our existence, comparing it to a "bubble" or a "dream that dies."

The middle section of the poem shifts focus to the natural world, with the speaker describing the ephemeral beauty of flowers and the impermanence of seasons. Through these images, Dickinson emphasizes the transience of all things, both living and non-living.

In the final quatrain, the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death, stating that even "eternal life" is "contained" within our brief mortal existence. She ends the poem with a powerful image of the "immortal sea," suggesting that while our individual lives may be fleeting, we are all part of a larger, eternal whole.

An Analysis

Now, let's take a closer look at the poem and explore some of its key themes and literary devices.

Mortality and Transience

Perhaps the most obvious theme in "Contained in this short Life" is the transience of human existence. From the very first line, Dickinson emphasizes the brevity of our lives, with the phrase "this short life" conveying a sense of impermanence and fragility.

Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses vivid and often poignant imagery to convey the fleeting nature of existence. For example, in the second line, she compares life to a "bubble," emphasizing its ephemeral and fragile nature. Similarly, in the following lines, she describes life as a "dream that dies," suggesting that even our most cherished aspirations and desires are ultimately fleeting and impermanent.

The middle section of the poem shifts focus to the natural world, with the speaker describing the transience of flowers and the changing of the seasons. Through these images, Dickinson emphasizes the universality of transience, suggesting that all things in the natural world are subject to the same impermanence as human life.

The Beauty of Transience

While Dickinson acknowledges the inevitability of mortality, she also suggests that there is a certain beauty in the fleeting nature of existence. This is particularly evident in the middle section of the poem, where she describes the beauty of flowers and the changing of the seasons.

Through these images, Dickinson suggests that there is a kind of beauty in impermanence, in the fleeting moments of life that are all the more precious because they are so fleeting. The beauty of the natural world is heightened by its transience, with each season and each blossom imbued with a sense of fleetingness and preciousness.

The Eternal Whole

The final quatrain of the poem shifts focus once again, with the speaker reflecting on the ultimate significance of mortality. Here, Dickinson suggests that while our individual lives may be fleeting, we are all part of a larger, eternal whole.

The image of the "immortal sea" suggests that there is a kind of eternal life that transcends our individual existences. While our individual lives may be brief, we are all part of a larger, eternal cycle of life and death.

Literary Devices

Throughout the poem, Dickinson makes use of a variety of literary devices to convey her themes and ideas. Some of the most notable include:

Conclusion

In "Contained in this short Life," Emily Dickinson offers a poignant and deeply moving exploration of the transience of human existence. Through vivid imagery and carefully chosen words, she reminds us that our lives are but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things, but that even in our brevity there is a kind of beauty that is all the more precious because it is so fleeting.

What makes Dickinson's poem so powerful is its ability to evoke a sense of both sadness and wonder at the same time. While she acknowledges the inevitability of mortality, she also suggests that there is a kind of immortality in the larger cycle of life and death. Ultimately, "Contained in this short Life" is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke deep emotions and to make us see the world in a new and profound way.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Contained in this short Life: A Masterpiece of Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem "Contained in this short Life" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human existence in just a few lines. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line "Contained in this short Life," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "contained" suggests that life is limited and confined, and that everything we experience is within the boundaries of this short existence. This idea is reinforced by the use of the word "short," which emphasizes the brevity of life.

The second line of the poem reads, "Are sorrows and joys." This line is significant because it suggests that both joy and sorrow are an integral part of life. Dickinson does not differentiate between the two, but rather presents them as equal and inseparable. This idea is further reinforced by the use of the word "and," which suggests that joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin.

The third line of the poem reads, "Which when they are counted," which suggests that life is a series of experiences that can be counted or measured. This line also suggests that we often take stock of our lives and reflect on the experiences we have had. The use of the word "counted" also suggests that life is finite and that we only have a limited number of experiences.

The fourth line of the poem reads, "Are less than the day," which emphasizes the brevity of life. Dickinson suggests that no matter how many experiences we have, they are all insignificant when compared to the span of a single day. This line also suggests that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of every moment.

The fifth line of the poem reads, "I first surmised this," which suggests that the speaker has come to this realization through personal experience. The use of the word "surmised" suggests that this realization was not immediate, but rather something that was gradually realized over time.

The final line of the poem reads, "As a child it was told to me," which suggests that the speaker was taught this lesson as a child. This line also suggests that this realization is universal and that it is something that we all learn at some point in our lives.

The structure of the poem is also significant. The poem consists of six lines, each of which is a complete sentence. The use of short, simple sentences emphasizes the brevity of life and the simplicity of the message. The poem is also written in iambic trimeter, which gives it a rhythmic quality that is easy to read and remember.

The poem also makes use of several literary devices. The use of repetition, for example, emphasizes the central message of the poem. The repetition of the word "contained" in the first line emphasizes the idea that life is limited and confined. The repetition of the word "are" in the second line emphasizes the idea that joy and sorrow are equal and inseparable.

The poem also makes use of metaphor. The use of the phrase "sorrows and joys" as a metaphor for life emphasizes the idea that life is a series of experiences that are both good and bad. The use of the phrase "less than the day" as a metaphor for the brevity of life emphasizes the idea that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of every moment.

In conclusion, "Contained in this short Life" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of human existence in just a few lines. The poem emphasizes the brevity of life and the idea that both joy and sorrow are an integral part of the human experience. The poem is written in a simple, rhythmic style that is easy to read and remember, and it makes use of repetition and metaphor to emphasize its central message. Overall, this poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in just a few words.

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