''Twas fighting for his Life he was—' by Emily Dickinson
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'Twas fighting for his Life he was—
That sort accomplish well—
The Ordnance of Vitality
Is frugal of its Ball.
It aims once—kills once—conquers once—
There is no second War
In that Campaign inscrutable
Of the Interior.
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Twas fighting for his Life he was" by Emily Dickinson: A Critical Analysis
Introduction
"‘Twas fighting for his Life he was" is a short and enigmatic poem written by Emily Dickinson. Like many of Dickinson's works, this poem deals with themes of life and death, but with a particular focus on the struggle for survival. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
Background
Emily Dickinson is widely regarded as one of the greatest American poets of all time. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830, and spent most of her life in seclusion, writing poetry that was often unconventional and experimental. Dickinson's poetry was not widely published during her lifetime, and it wasn't until after her death in 1886 that her work gained recognition.
"‘Twas fighting for his Life he was" was first published in 1890, four years after Dickinson's death. Like many of her poems, it was untitled, and was given the first line as a title by Dickinson's first editors.
Analysis
The poem starts with a simple statement: "‘Twas fighting for his Life he was." The use of the archaic contraction "‘Twas" immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, creating a sense of timelessness and universality. The phrase "fighting for his life" is a common one, and immediately establishes the central conflict of the poem.
The second line, "That sort accomplish well," is a bit more difficult to parse. The word "sort" here likely means "those who" or "people who," and "accomplish well" means "do well." So the line can be read as "Those who fight for their lives do well." But the use of "sort" instead of "people" or "those" is interesting, as it suggests that the speaker is making a generalization about a particular group of people who are in a fight for their lives.
The third line, "If ever met in struggle," provides some context for the fight that is being described. The phrase "met in struggle" suggests that this fight is not just an individual one, but a larger conflict involving multiple parties. The use of "if ever" is intriguing, as it implies that the speaker is not sure if such a struggle has ever occurred, or if it is purely hypothetical.
The fourth line, "He wrung his foe till he had drained the foe's poor little life," is where the poem takes a darker turn. The use of the word "foe" suggests that the fight is not a friendly one, and the phrase "drained the foe's poor little life" implies that the person fighting for their life has taken the life of their opponent. The use of the word "poor" here is particularly interesting, as it creates a sense of sympathy for the opponent.
The final line, "Or, e'er the death will seize him," is a bit more difficult to interpret. The word "e'er" means "before," so the line could be read as "Before death will seize him." But the use of "e'er" instead of "before" again creates a sense of timelessness and universality. The phrase "death will seize him" is a powerful one, suggesting that death is not something that can be avoided, but rather something that is inevitable.
Interpretation
At its core, "‘Twas fighting for his Life he was" is a poem about the struggle for survival. The central conflict of the poem is between the person fighting for their life and their opponent, who ultimately loses their life. The use of the word "foe" suggests that this fight is not just a physical one, but a metaphorical one as well. The opponent could represent any number of obstacles or challenges that the person fighting for their life must overcome.
The poem also suggests that the fight for survival is not always a fair one. The use of the word "poor" in reference to the opponent creates a sense of sympathy, and implies that the person fighting for their life may have had to resort to extreme measures in order to survive.
The phrase "If ever met in struggle" suggests that the speaker is not sure if such a struggle has ever occurred. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of survival. Is it really a fight for survival if it has never been met with resistance? Or is survival only truly tested in the face of adversity?
The final line of the poem, "Or, e'er the death will seize him," can be read as a reminder that death is inevitable. No matter how hard we fight for survival, we will all eventually succumb to death. But the use of "e'er" instead of "before" suggests that there is still hope. We may not be able to avoid death, but we can make the most of the time we have.
Conclusion
"‘Twas fighting for his Life he was" is a powerful and enigmatic poem that deals with themes of life and death, and the struggle for survival. The use of archaic language and unconventional syntax creates a sense of timelessness and universality, while the central conflict between the person fighting for their life and their opponent creates a sense of urgency and tension. Ultimately, the poem is a reminder that survival is not always a fair fight, and that death is inevitable. But it is also a reminder that there is still hope, and that we can make the most of the time we have.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
'Twas fighting for his Life he was— is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson that explores the theme of struggle and survival. The poem is a powerful depiction of the human spirit and its ability to fight against all odds. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of the poem and explore the literary devices used by the poet to convey her message.
The poem begins with the line, 'Twas fighting for his Life he was—' which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word 'fighting' suggests that the subject of the poem is engaged in a battle, and the phrase 'for his life' implies that the stakes are high. The reader is immediately drawn into the poem, eager to find out more about the subject and the struggle he is facing.
The second line of the poem reads, 'That sort accomplish well—' which suggests that the subject is someone who is determined and capable of achieving his goals. The use of the word 'sort' implies that the subject is a particular type of person, one who is not easily defeated. This line also sets up a contrast between the subject and those who do not accomplish well, implying that the subject is exceptional in some way.
The third line of the poem reads, 'Who then shall say 'the Grief' is plain—' which introduces the theme of grief. The use of the word 'plain' suggests that grief is not a simple emotion, but rather a complex and multifaceted experience. The question posed in this line implies that grief is subjective and that it is difficult to understand the depth of someone else's pain.
The fourth line of the poem reads, 'When all its done away—' which suggests that the subject has overcome his grief. The use of the phrase 'done away' implies that the subject has moved on from his pain and has emerged stronger as a result. This line also suggests that the struggle the subject faced was not in vain, as it has led to his growth and development.
The fifth line of the poem reads, 'Who then shall say 'the Grief' is plain—' which repeats the question posed in the third line. This repetition emphasizes the complexity of grief and suggests that it is a theme that will be explored throughout the poem.
The sixth line of the poem reads, 'That vanquished it, survives—' which suggests that the subject has not only overcome his grief but has also emerged victorious. The use of the word 'vanquished' implies that the subject has defeated his pain, and the phrase 'survives' suggests that he has come out the other side stronger and more resilient.
The seventh line of the poem reads, 'The plenty that had been—' which suggests that the subject has gained something as a result of his struggle. The use of the word 'plenty' implies that the subject has not only overcome his pain but has also gained something valuable in the process. This line also suggests that the subject has moved on from his past and is now focused on the present and the future.
The eighth line of the poem reads, 'The pleasures of the game—' which introduces the theme of pleasure. The use of the word 'game' suggests that life is a game, and the pleasures that come with it are the rewards for playing well. This line also suggests that the subject is now able to enjoy life and its pleasures fully.
The ninth line of the poem reads, 'The many as he slew—' which suggests that the subject has faced many challenges and has overcome them all. The use of the word 'slew' implies that the subject has defeated his obstacles and emerged victorious. This line also suggests that the subject is a fighter and is not afraid to take on challenges.
The tenth line of the poem reads, 'The Bayonet's of the Brain—' which introduces the metaphor of the bayonet. The use of this metaphor suggests that the subject's struggle was not physical but rather mental. The phrase 'of the brain' implies that the subject's pain was internal and that he had to fight his own thoughts and emotions to overcome it.
The eleventh line of the poem reads, 'The hearts remaining out—' which suggests that the subject has not only overcome his own pain but has also helped others to do the same. The use of the phrase 'hearts remaining out' implies that the subject has touched the lives of others and has helped them to heal.
The twelfth line of the poem reads, 'He reasonless, had done—' which suggests that the subject's victory was not based on reason but rather on instinct. The use of the word 'reasonless' implies that the subject's success was not planned but rather a result of his natural instincts.
The thirteenth line of the poem reads, 'Except as I surmise—' which suggests that the poet is not entirely sure of the subject's story. The use of the phrase 'except as I surmise' implies that the poet is speculating and that the subject's story may be different from what she imagines.
The final line of the poem reads, 'Wild Nights! Wild Nights!' which introduces a new theme of wildness and excitement. The use of the exclamation mark suggests that the poet is excited and enthusiastic about the idea of wild nights. This line also suggests that the subject's victory has led to a newfound sense of freedom and excitement.
In conclusion, 'Twas fighting for his Life he was—' is a powerful poem that explores the themes of struggle, survival, and victory. The poem is a testament to the human spirit and its ability to overcome even the most challenging obstacles. Through the use of literary devices such as metaphor and repetition, Emily Dickinson conveys a message of hope and resilience that is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written.
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