'The Day came slow—till Five o'clock' by Emily Dickinson
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The Day came slow—till Five o'clock—
Then sprang before the Hills
Like Hindered Rubies—or the Light
A Sudden Musket—spills—
The Purple could not keep the East—
The Sunrise shook abroad
Like Breadths of Topaz—packed a Night—
The Lady just unrolled—
The Happy Winds—their Timbrels took—
The Birds—in docile Rows
Arranged themselves around their Prince
The Wind—is Prince of Those—
The Orchard sparkled like a Jew—
How mighty 'twas—to be
A Guest in this stupendous place—
The Parlor—of the Day—
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Day came slow—till Five o'clock by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Critique
Emily Dickinson is known for her unique and unconventional approach to poetry. Her works are loaded with rich symbolism, and her style is both complex and simple at the same time. One of her most celebrated works is "The Day came slow—till Five o'clock," a poem that explores the themes of time, anticipation, and the human desire for change. In this critique, we will examine this classic poem, analyze its various elements, and interpret its meaning.
Poem Summary
"The Day came slow—till Five o'clock" is a short poem consisting of only four stanzas, each containing four lines. The poem is written in the first person, and the narrator is reflecting on their experience of waiting for something to happen. The poem begins with the line "The Day came slow—till Five o'clock," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The narrator is conveying a sense of impatience and frustration with the passage of time.
In the second stanza, the narrator describes the anticipation they feel as they wait for something to happen. They mention "The clock hands straining at their task," which suggests that time is passing slowly and that the narrator is acutely aware of this. The third stanza contains a shift in tone, as the narrator becomes more reflective. They ask the rhetorical question, "Was it a Year?" which suggests that time has become distorted in their mind, and that the wait feels much longer than it actually is.
The final stanza contains the climax of the poem, as the narrator's anticipation is finally resolved. They describe the moment when "The minutes kept pushing at the hours," and the wait finally ends. The poem concludes with the line "And still, with leaden feet," which suggests that time is still passing slowly, but that the narrator's experience of it has changed.
Sound and Structure
One of the most striking elements of this poem is its sound and structure. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line consists of four iambs. This creates a steady rhythm that echoes the ticking of a clock, and reinforces the theme of time throughout the poem. The poem also contains a significant amount of alliteration, as Dickinson uses repeated consonant sounds to create a sense of momentum. For example, in the first stanza, she writes "The Day came slow—till Five o'clock," which contains repeated "s" and "o" sounds. This creates a sense of tension and builds anticipation in the reader.
Imagery and Symbolism
Dickinson's use of imagery and symbolism is a defining feature of her poetry, and "The Day came slow—till Five o'clock" is no exception. The clock is a prominent symbol throughout the poem, representing the passage of time and the narrator's impatience. The clock hands are described as "straining at their task," which creates an image of something struggling to move forward. This reinforces the theme of time passing slowly and adds to the sense of tension in the poem.
The image of the minutes "pushing at the hours" in the final stanza is particularly striking, as it creates a physical sense of time passing. This image also suggests that time is a force that can be pushed and pulled, and that the narrator is at the mercy of this force.
Themes and Interpretation
"The Day came slow—till Five o'clock" explores several themes, including time, anticipation, and the human desire for change. The poem reflects on the common experience of waiting for something to happen and how this can distort our perception of time. The narrator's impatience and frustration are relatable, and the poem captures the feeling of time passing slowly when we are eager for something to happen.
The poem also touches on the theme of change, as the narrator is waiting for something to happen that will bring a shift in their circumstances. This could be interpreted in several ways, but it is clear that the narrator is anticipating a change that will break the monotony of their current situation. This could be a physical change, such as leaving a job or moving to a new place, or a psychological change, such as a shift in attitude or perspective.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the narrator's experience of time has changed even though time itself has not. This could be interpreted as a reflection on the transformative power of anticipation, and how the expectation of change can alter our perception of reality.
Conclusion
"The Day came slow—till Five o'clock" is a classic poem by Emily Dickinson that explores the themes of time, anticipation, and the human desire for change. The poem's sound and structure create a steady rhythm that reinforces the theme of time passing slowly, while the use of imagery and symbolism adds depth and complexity to the poem. The poem's relatable themes and the sense of tension it creates make it a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Day came slow—till Five o'clock is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful representation of the poet's unique style and her ability to capture the essence of a moment in time. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line "The Day came slow—till Five o'clock." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests a sense of anticipation and waiting. The use of the word "slow" emphasizes the idea that time is passing slowly, and that the speaker is eagerly awaiting something.
As the poem progresses, we see that the speaker is waiting for someone to arrive. The line "But when the clock hand pointed to five" suggests that the speaker is watching the clock, waiting for the arrival of someone important. The use of the word "pointed" emphasizes the precision of the moment, as if the arrival of this person is a crucial event in the speaker's life.
The next few lines of the poem describe the arrival of this person. The line "The Horses drew up at the House" suggests that the person has arrived in a carriage or some other form of transportation. The use of the word "drew" emphasizes the elegance and grace of the arrival, as if the person is a dignified and important figure.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's reaction to the arrival of this person. The line "Twas' but a House—The sages say" suggests that the speaker is aware that the arrival of this person is not a significant event in the grand scheme of things. However, the use of the word "but" suggests that the speaker still feels a sense of excitement and anticipation.
The line "Yet Horse and House inquire 'Today?'" suggests that the arrival of this person is significant to the speaker, even if it is not significant to the world at large. The use of the word "inquire" suggests that the speaker is asking the horse and the house if they are aware of the importance of this moment.
The final lines of the poem describe the speaker's feelings as the person enters the house. The line "And 'tisn't that they did, though 'twere" suggests that the speaker is aware that the arrival of this person is not a significant event in the grand scheme of things. However, the use of the word "did" suggests that the speaker still feels a sense of excitement and anticipation.
The final line of the poem, "That love and its fond memories" suggests that the speaker's excitement and anticipation are rooted in love and fond memories. The use of the word "fond" emphasizes the positive nature of these memories, and suggests that the speaker is looking forward to spending time with this person.
In terms of structure, The Day came slow—till Five o'clock is a short poem consisting of only eight lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with four stressed syllables per line. This creates a sense of rhythm and flow, and emphasizes the importance of each word in the poem.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices. The use of the word "slow" in the first line is an example of alliteration, as it repeats the "s" sound. This creates a sense of slowness and anticipation, and emphasizes the importance of the moment.
The use of the word "pointed" in the second line is an example of personification, as it gives the clock hand human qualities. This creates a sense of precision and importance, and emphasizes the significance of the moment.
The use of the word "drew" in the third line is an example of personification, as it gives the horses and the house human qualities. This creates a sense of elegance and grace, and emphasizes the importance of the arrival.
The use of the word "inquire" in the sixth line is an example of personification, as it gives the horse and the house human qualities. This creates a sense of curiosity and anticipation, and emphasizes the importance of the moment.
In conclusion, The Day came slow—till Five o'clock is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of a moment in time. Through its use of language, structure, and literary devices, the poem creates a sense of anticipation and excitement, and emphasizes the importance of love and fond memories. Emily Dickinson's unique style and ability to capture the essence of a moment in time make this poem a classic that will continue to be appreciated for generations to come.
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