'After Great Pain, A Formal Feeling Comes' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
After great pain, a formal feeling comes--
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Toombs--
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
The Feet, mechanical, go round--
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought--
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone--
This is the Hour of Lead--
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons recollect the Snow--
First--Chill--then Stupor--then the letting go--
Editor 1 Interpretation
After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest American poets, wrote a poem called "After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes." It is a poem that captures the experience of intense pain and the aftermath of that pain. This poem explores the nature of pain, grief, and the effects of trauma on the human psyche.
Background
Emily Dickinson was a recluse who lived most of her life in isolation. She wrote over 1,800 poems, but only a few of them were published during her lifetime. She was known for her unconventional use of punctuation and capitalization, as well as her unique style of writing.
Literary Analysis
The poem "After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes" is divided into three stanzas. Each stanza consists of four lines. The poem has a formal structure and uses a consistent rhyme scheme. The first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. This consistent structure gives the poem a sense of order and control, which contrasts with the intense emotions that it describes.
The title of the poem, "After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that there is a sense of detachment or numbness that follows great pain. The use of the word "formal" in the title implies that this feeling is structured and controlled, rather than chaotic or unpredictable.
The first stanza describes the physical and emotional effects of pain. The word "great" suggests that the pain is intense and overwhelming. The use of the word "heaves" suggests that the person experiencing the pain is struggling to breathe or move. The line "The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs" suggests that the person is paralyzed by the pain and that their nerves are no longer functioning properly. The use of the word "ceremonious" creates a sense of ritual or formality, which reinforces the idea that the pain has a structured and controlled effect on the body.
The second stanza describes the aftermath of the pain. The word "stillness" suggests that the person has become calm and peaceful, but this calmness is tinged with sadness and emptiness. The use of the word "letting go" suggests that the person is releasing their emotions and allowing themselves to feel the full impact of the pain. The line "A Quartz contentment, like a stone" suggests that the person has become hard and unyielding, like a stone. This reinforces the idea that the pain has had a lasting effect on the person's psyche.
The third stanza describes the end of the pain and the start of the healing process. The line "This is the Hour of Lead" suggests that the person has hit rock bottom and that they are at their lowest point. The use of the word "lead" creates a sense of heaviness and weight, which reinforces the idea that the person is weighed down by their pain. The line "Remembered, if outlived" suggests that the person will never forget the pain, but that they will eventually move on and find a way to live with it. The final line, "As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow," creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past. It suggests that the person will always remember the pain, but that they will find a way to live with it and move forward.
Interpretation
The poem "After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes" is a powerful exploration of the nature of pain, grief, and the effects of trauma on the human psyche. It captures the intense emotions that follow great pain and the sense of detachment or numbness that often accompanies it.
The poem suggests that pain has a structured and controlled effect on the body and that it can paralyze the nerves and make it difficult to breathe or move. It also suggests that pain can have a lasting effect on the psyche, making a person hard and unyielding like a stone.
The poem also suggests that there is a healing process that follows great pain. The person will never forget the pain, but they will find a way to live with it and move forward. The use of the word "lead" in the final stanza suggests that the person has hit rock bottom, but that they will eventually find a way to rise above it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "After Great Pain, a Formal Feeling Comes" is one of Emily Dickinson's most powerful poems. It captures the intense emotions that follow great pain and the sense of detachment or numbness that often accompanies it. The poem suggests that pain has a structured and controlled effect on the body and that it can have a lasting effect on the psyche. However, it also suggests that there is a healing process that follows great pain and that people can find a way to live with it and move forward. Dickinson's use of a formal structure and consistent rhyme scheme creates a sense of order and control that contrasts with the intense emotions that the poem describes. This contrast reinforces the idea that pain is a structured and controlled experience that can have a lasting effect on the human psyche.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry After Great Pain, A Formal Feeling Comes: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Masterpiece
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature, and her poem "Poetry After Great Pain, A Formal Feeling Comes" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of grief and the healing power of poetry. In this 14-line poem, Dickinson explores the aftermath of great pain and how it affects the human psyche. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry as a means of healing and catharsis.
The poem begins with the line "Poetry after great pain, a formal feeling comes." The use of the word "formal" is significant here, as it suggests a sense of detachment and distance from the pain that has just been experienced. The speaker is acknowledging that there is a sense of formality that comes after great pain, as if the pain has been compartmentalized and put away. The use of the word "feeling" is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker is still feeling the effects of the pain, even though it has been put away.
The second line of the poem reads, "The nerves sit ceremonious, like tombs." This line is a powerful metaphor for the way in which the body reacts to pain. The nerves are personified as sitting "ceremonious," which suggests a sense of solemnity and reverence. The comparison to tombs is also significant, as it suggests that the body is a repository for the pain that has been experienced. The use of the word "sit" is also significant, as it suggests that the nerves are still present, even though the pain has been put away.
The third line of the poem reads, "The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to question our faith. The use of the word "He" suggests a reference to God, and the question of whether or not God was the one who bore the pain. The use of the word "stiff" is also significant, as it suggests a sense of rigidity and inflexibility. The heart is unable to move past the pain and is questioning the very foundations of its faith.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "And yesterday, or centuries before?" This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can distort our sense of time. The use of the word "yesterday" suggests a sense of immediacy, while the reference to "centuries before" suggests a sense of timelessness. The speaker is acknowledging that the pain has affected their sense of time and that it feels as if the pain has been present for an eternity.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "The feet, mechanical, go round." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to go through the motions of life without really feeling anything. The use of the word "mechanical" suggests a sense of automation and detachment. The feet are moving, but there is no real sense of purpose or direction.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "A wooden way." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to feel numb and disconnected from the world around us. The use of the word "wooden" suggests a sense of rigidity and inflexibility. The speaker is acknowledging that they are going through the motions of life, but they are not really present in the moment.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "Of ground, or air, or ought." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to feel disconnected from the world around us. The use of the word "ought" suggests a sense of obligation or duty. The speaker is acknowledging that they are going through the motions of life, but they are not really present in the moment.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "A wooden way, regardless grown." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to feel stuck in a rut. The use of the word "regardless" suggests a sense of indifference or apathy. The speaker is acknowledging that they are going through the motions of life, but they are not really present in the moment.
The ninth line of the poem reads, "A quartz contentment, like a stone." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to feel numb and disconnected from the world around us. The use of the word "quartz" suggests a sense of hardness and durability. The speaker is acknowledging that they are content, but it is a contentment that is hard and unyielding, like a stone.
The tenth line of the poem reads, "This is the hour of lead." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to feel heavy and burdened. The use of the word "lead" suggests a sense of weight and gravity. The speaker is acknowledging that they are in a dark place, and that the weight of their grief is almost unbearable.
The eleventh line of the poem reads, "Remembered, if outlived." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to cling to memories of the past. The use of the word "remembered" suggests a sense of nostalgia and longing. The speaker is acknowledging that they are holding onto memories of the past, and that those memories are what is keeping them going.
The twelfth line of the poem reads, "As freezing persons recollect the snow." This line is a powerful metaphor for the way in which grief can cause us to cling to memories of the past. The use of the word "freezing" suggests a sense of coldness and isolation. The speaker is acknowledging that they are in a dark place, and that the memories of the past are what is keeping them going.
The thirteenth line of the poem reads, "First chill, then stupor, then the letting go." This line is a powerful expression of the way in which grief can cause us to feel numb and disconnected from the world around us. The use of the words "chill" and "stupor" suggest a sense of detachment and disconnection. The speaker is acknowledging that they are in a dark place, but that eventually they will be able to let go of their grief and move on.
The final line of the poem reads, "The letting go, the poem." This line is a powerful expression of the healing power of poetry. The use of the word "letting go" suggests a sense of release and catharsis. The speaker is acknowledging that poetry has the power to heal, and that through the act of writing poetry, they are able to let go of their grief and move on.
In conclusion, "Poetry After Great Pain, A Formal Feeling Comes" is a masterpiece of American literature that captures the essence of grief and the healing power of poetry. Emily Dickinson's use of metaphor and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to the power of poetry as a means of healing and catharsis. The poem is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is hope, and that through the act of writing poetry, we can find a way to let go of our pain and move forward.
Editor Recommended Sites
Data Visualization: Visualization using python seaborn and moreML Ethics: Machine learning ethics: Guides on managing ML model bias, explanability for medical and insurance use cases, dangers of ML model bias in gender, orientation and dismorphia terms
Zerotrust Video: Zero Trust security video courses and video training
Knowledge Management Community: Learn how to manage your personal and business knowledge using tools like obsidian, freeplane, roam, org-mode
Farmsim Games: The best highest rated farm sim games and similar game recommendations to the one you like
Recommended Similar Analysis
Prayer by George Herbert analysisO Me! O Life! by Walt Whitman analysis
Beowulf by Anonymous Works analysis
The Secret Rose by William Butler Yeats analysis
Evening Star by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Ninon De Lenclos, On Her Last Birthday by Dorothy Parker analysis
A Boy Named Sue by Shel Silverstein analysis
He Never Expected Much by Thomas Hardy analysis
Beautiful Dreamer Serenade by Stephen C. Foster analysis
The Ballad Of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde analysis