'The Wind took up the Northern Things' by Emily Dickinson
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The Wind took up the Northern Things
And piled them in the south—
Then gave the East unto the West
And opening his mouth
The four Divisions of the Earth
Did make as to devour
While everything to corners slunk
Behind the awful power—
The Wind—unto his Chambers went
And nature ventured out—
Her subjects scattered into place
Her systems ranged about
Again the smoke from Dwellings rose
The Day abroad was heard—
How intimate, a Tempest past
The Transport of the Bird—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Wind Took Up the Northern Things: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
When it comes to American literature, Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned poets of all time. Her works have been celebrated for their unique style which is marked by their brevity, wit and sharp insights. One of her most famous poems is "The Wind Took Up the Northern Things", which is a beautiful and thought-provoking ode to autumn. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the poem in detail, exploring its themes, symbols, and literary devices.
A Brief Overview
Before we dive into the poem, let us first understand its context. "The Wind Took Up the Northern Things" was written by Emily Dickinson in the 1860s, a time when the American literary scene was dominated by Romanticism. The poem was first published in 1890, four years after Dickinson's death, in a collection of her poems titled "Poems by Emily Dickinson". The poem is short and consists of only three stanzas, each containing four lines. Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in symbolism and metaphor, making it a beautiful piece of literature to explore.
The Poem
The poem goes as follows:
The Wind took up the Northern Things And piled them in the south; Then gave the East unto the West, And opening his mouth,
The four winds issued from his cave In one imperial strain; And all the trees they shook themselves, And brushed and brushed again.
He touched the wood bird's folded wing, And said "Oh bird, arise, And take thy place among the flowers, And to the summer skies."
The poem begins with the description of the wind taking up the "Northern Things" and piling them in the south. This can be interpreted as the natural phenomenon of the wind blowing away the leaves and other debris from the northern regions of the country and depositing them in the southern regions. The wind then gives the East to the West in a unifying gesture, and from his cave, the four winds issue in one imperial strain, causing the trees to shake and brush themselves repeatedly. The wind then touches the wood bird's folded wing and asks it to arise and take its place among the flowers, urging it to soar high into the summer skies.
Themes
The poem is rich in themes, the most prominent of which is the theme of change. The poem depicts the changing of seasons, with autumn giving way to winter. The wind is personified as an agent of change, sweeping away the debris of the past and ushering in a new season. The wind's actions represent the cyclical nature of life, where everything changes and nothing remains the same.
Another theme present in the poem is that of unity. The wind is shown as unifying the East and the West, bringing them together in a harmonious gesture. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the unification of the country, which was divided by the Civil War at the time when the poem was written. The wind's actions represent the need for unity and the healing of divisions.
Finally, the poem explores the theme of rebirth. The wood bird is urged to arise and take its place among the flowers, representing the rebirth and renewal of life. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the human experience, where we are constantly reborn through new experiences and challenges.
Symbols
In addition to its themes, the poem is also rich in symbols. The wind, for instance, is a powerful symbol of change and transformation. It is personified as a living entity that can move mountains and shape the world around us. The wind's actions in the poem represent the cyclical nature of life and its ability to renew itself.
The wood bird is another symbol in the poem, representing rebirth and renewal. The bird is urged to arise and take its place among the flowers, representing the new life that emerges after the winter season. The bird's flight into the summer skies represents the rebirth of nature and the human experience.
The trees are also a powerful symbol in the poem, representing the resilience of nature. Despite the wind's powerful actions, the trees are able to shake themselves and brush off the debris, representing their ability to adapt and survive in a changing world.
Literary Devices
"The Wind Took Up the Northern Things" is a masterful use of literary devices, including personification, metaphor, and imagery. The wind, for instance, is personified as a living entity that can think and act on its own. The wind's actions represent the power of nature and its ability to shape the world around us.
Metaphor is also used extensively in the poem, with the wind's actions representing the cyclical nature of life and the changing of seasons. The wood bird is a metaphor for the human experience, representing the rebirth and renewal that comes with new experiences and challenges.
Finally, the poem is rich in vivid imagery, with the wind's actions described in detail. The trees are shown as shaking themselves and brushing away the debris, while the wood bird is urged to take its place among the flowers and soar high into the summer skies. This imagery creates a vivid and powerful picture in the reader's mind, making the poem a beautiful piece of literature to read and explore.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Wind Took Up the Northern Things" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of change, unity, and rebirth. The poem is rich in symbols and literary devices, making it a powerful piece of literature to explore. Emily Dickinson's unique style and wit are evident in this poem, making it a testament to her talent as a poet. As readers, we can find new meaning and insights in this poem every time we read it, making it a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Wind took up the Northern Things: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her work has been studied and analyzed by scholars and enthusiasts alike for over a century. Among her many works, "The Wind took up the Northern Things" stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of Dickinson's unique style and vision.
At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple description of the effects of a strong wind on the landscape. However, a closer examination reveals a deeper meaning that speaks to the human condition and the transience of life.
The poem begins with the line "The Wind took up the Northern Things," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "took up" suggests a forceful action, as if the wind is actively seizing the objects in question. The phrase "Northern Things" is also significant, as it implies a sense of coldness and isolation that is often associated with the North.
The second line of the poem, "And piled them in the south," further emphasizes the idea of movement and change. The wind is not simply blowing the objects around, but is actively rearranging them in a new location. The use of the word "piled" also suggests a sense of disorder and chaos, as if the wind is creating a jumbled mess out of the once orderly landscape.
The third line of the poem, "Then gave the East unto the West," introduces a new direction and a new set of objects. The wind is not content to simply rearrange the Northern Things, but is now moving on to a new area. The use of the word "gave" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of generosity or gift-giving. However, this is immediately undercut by the next line, which reads "The East unto the West." This phrase implies a sense of loss or displacement, as if the wind is taking something away from its rightful place.
The final two lines of the poem, "The East unto the West / And shook the deadest tree," bring the poem to a close with a sense of finality and closure. The wind has completed its task of rearranging the landscape, and has even gone so far as to shake the deadest tree. This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even the most lifeless and unchanging objects are subject to the whims of the wind.
So what does all of this mean? At its core, "The Wind took up the Northern Things" is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The wind represents the passage of time and the forces of nature that are beyond our control. The Northern Things, with their associations of coldness and isolation, represent the past and the things that we have left behind. The fact that the wind is actively rearranging them suggests that we cannot simply cling to the past and expect things to remain the same.
The East and West, with their connotations of sunrise and sunset, represent the future and the unknown. The fact that the wind is "giving" the East to the West suggests that we must be willing to let go of the past and embrace the future, even if it is uncertain and unknown.
Finally, the image of the deadest tree being shaken by the wind suggests that even the most lifeless and unchanging objects are subject to the forces of nature and the passage of time. This is a powerful reminder that we too are subject to these forces, and that we must embrace change and the inevitability of death.
In conclusion, "The Wind took up the Northern Things" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of Emily Dickinson's unique style and vision. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, the poem speaks to the human condition and the transience of life. It is a reminder that we must embrace change and the unknown, and that even the most lifeless and unchanging objects are subject to the forces of nature and the passage of time.
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