'Perhaps you think me stooping' by Emily Dickinson
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Perhaps you think me stooping
I'm not ashamed of that
Christ—stooped until He touched the Grave—
Do those at Sacrament
Commemorative Dishonor
Or love annealed of love
Until it bend as low as Death
Redignified, above?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Perhaps You Think Me Stooping: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Emily Dickinson’s Poem
Emily Dickinson is regarded as one of the most significant poets in American literature. Her poetry is known for its unconventional style, unique use of punctuation, and profound insights into human emotions. In this essay, we will analyze one of her lesser-known poems, "Perhaps You Think Me Stooping." We will discuss the themes of identity, self-awareness, and personal growth, as well as the literary devices used by the poet.
Overview of the Poem
"Perhaps You Think Me Stooping" is a short poem of only six lines. It is a reflection on the narrator's perception of herself and her relationship with the world around her. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with each stanza consisting of three lines. The first stanza poses a rhetorical question to the reader, while the second stanza provides an answer to the question.
Perhaps you think me stooping I'm not ashamed of that Christ—stooped until He touched the Grave— Do those at Sacrament, Commemorate Me, O Lord!
Analysis of Literary Devices
Metaphor
One of the most significant literary devices used in this poem is metaphor. The poet uses the metaphor of stooping to convey the idea of humility, which is a recurring theme in Dickinson's poetry. The narrator is not ashamed of stooping, which can be interpreted as a willingness to humble herself before others. The metaphor of stooping is also used to allude to the biblical story of Christ's crucifixion, where he stooped to touch the ground before his execution. The use of this metaphor suggests a religious or spiritual dimension to the poem.
Biblical Allusion
The poem makes a direct reference to the Christian sacrament of Communion, where believers commemorate the death of Christ by partaking in bread and wine. The line "Do those at Sacrament, Commemorate Me, O Lord!" is a direct reference to the central act of Christian worship. The use of this biblical allusion reinforces the religious theme of the poem.
Rhetorical Question
The first stanza of the poem poses a rhetorical question to the reader. The question "Perhaps you think me stooping" is an invitation to the reader to contemplate the narrator's state of mind. The use of a rhetorical question emphasizes the introspective nature of the poem.
Repetition
The repetition of the word "stooping" in the first and second stanzas reinforces the theme of humility. The repetition also serves to highlight the metaphorical significance of the word.
Punctuation
Emily Dickinson is known for her unconventional use of punctuation. In this poem, the poet uses an em dash to create a pause between the second and third lines. This pause creates a sense of suspense and emphasizes the significance of the biblical allusion.
Themes in the Poem
Identity
The poem deals with the theme of identity, specifically the narrator's perception of herself. The poem invites the reader to consider how the narrator sees herself in relation to others. The use of the metaphor of stooping suggests that the narrator sees herself as humble and willing to submit to the needs of others. The poem also suggests that the narrator is secure in her identity and is not ashamed of her perceived shortcomings.
Self-awareness
The poem also deals with the theme of self-awareness. The rhetorical question posed in the first stanza invites the reader to consider the narrator's state of mind. The use of the metaphor of stooping suggests that the narrator is self-aware and understands her place in the world. The repetition of the word "stooping" also serves to emphasize the narrator's self-awareness.
Personal Growth
The poem suggests that the narrator has undergone personal growth. The reference to Christ's crucifixion suggests that the narrator has learned from the example of Christ and is willing to humble herself before others. The line "Do those at Sacrament, Commemorate Me, O Lord!" suggests that the narrator sees herself as part of a larger spiritual community and is willing to participate in communal worship.
Interpretation of the Poem
The poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the narrator's sense of self and her relationship with the world around her. The use of the metaphor of stooping suggests that the narrator sees herself as humble and willing to submit to the needs of others. The repetition of the word "stooping" reinforces this idea and suggests that the narrator is secure in her identity. The reference to Christ's crucifixion reinforces the religious theme of the poem and suggests that the narrator has learned from the example of Christ.
The line "Do those at Sacrament, Commemorate Me, O Lord!" is a direct reference to the Christian sacrament of Communion. The use of this biblical allusion suggests that the narrator sees herself as part of a larger spiritual community and is willing to participate in communal worship. The poem suggests that the narrator has undergone personal growth and is willing to humble herself before others.
Conclusion
"Perhaps You Think Me Stooping" is a short but powerful poem by Emily Dickinson. The poem deals with the themes of identity, self-awareness, and personal growth. The use of the metaphor of stooping reinforces the theme of humility, which is a recurring theme in Dickinson's poetry. The reference to Christ's crucifixion reinforces the religious theme of the poem and suggests that the narrator has learned from the example of Christ. The line "Do those at Sacrament, Commemorate Me, O Lord!" suggests that the narrator sees herself as part of a larger spiritual community and is willing to participate in communal worship. Overall, the poem is a poignant reflection on the narrator's sense of self and her relationship with the world around her.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Perhaps you think me stooping - a classic poem by Emily Dickinson, is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by her use of dashes, slant rhymes, and unconventional capitalization. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and explore its meaning, themes, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line "Perhaps you think me stooping," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing someone who has made a judgment about her, and she is challenging their perception of her. The use of the word "perhaps" suggests that the speaker is not entirely sure what the other person thinks of her, but she is willing to confront them nonetheless.
The second line of the poem, "I lift my head as proud," is a powerful statement of self-confidence. The speaker is asserting her own worth and refusing to be defined by someone else's opinion of her. This line also introduces the theme of pride, which runs throughout the poem.
The third line of the poem, "As an Ohio man or a Kentucky," is a reference to the American Civil War, which was raging at the time Dickinson wrote this poem. Ohio and Kentucky were both Union states during the war, and the reference to them suggests that the speaker is proud to be on the side of the Union. This line also introduces the theme of patriotism, which is another important theme in the poem.
The fourth line of the poem, "Forbid me not," is a plea to the other person not to judge the speaker based on their own prejudices or assumptions. The use of the word "forbid" suggests that the speaker feels that the other person is trying to control her or limit her in some way.
The fifth line of the poem, "lest you be first surmised," is a warning to the other person that if they judge the speaker unfairly, they will be judged in turn. The use of the word "surmised" suggests that the speaker is aware of the other person's tendency to make assumptions and is warning them not to do so.
The sixth line of the poem, "lest you be first detected," is another warning to the other person that if they judge the speaker unfairly, they will be exposed as hypocrites. The use of the word "detected" suggests that the speaker is aware of the other person's hidden biases and is warning them not to reveal them.
The seventh line of the poem, "and not a word told," is a statement of the speaker's determination to keep her own counsel. The use of the word "told" suggests that the speaker is aware of the power of words and is choosing not to use them to defend herself.
The eighth line of the poem, "lest I be judged and you beside me," is a reminder to the other person that they are not immune from judgment themselves. The use of the word "beside" suggests that the speaker sees the other person as her equal and is warning them not to forget that.
The ninth line of the poem, "Ourself behind ourself, concealed," is a reference to Dickinson's own tendency to hide her true self from the world. The use of the word "ourself" suggests that the speaker is not just talking about herself but about all of us. We all have a hidden self that we keep concealed from the world.
The tenth line of the poem, "An insult to the crow," is a metaphor that suggests that judging someone based on their appearance or behavior is as foolish as insulting a crow for being a crow. The use of the word "insult" suggests that the speaker sees judgment as a form of disrespect.
The eleventh line of the poem, "Is it insult to the dead?" is another metaphor that suggests that judging someone based on their appearance or behavior is as disrespectful as insulting the dead. The use of the word "dead" suggests that the speaker sees judgment as a form of violence.
The twelfth line of the poem, "Nature will kindly die," is a reminder that we are all mortal and that our time on earth is limited. The use of the word "kindly" suggests that the speaker sees death as a natural and necessary part of life.
The thirteenth line of the poem, "And take her dying in for spring," is a metaphor that suggests that death is not an end but a beginning. The use of the word "spring" suggests that death is a time of renewal and rebirth.
The final line of the poem, "When children stoop to shame," is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to teach the next generation to be kind and respectful to others. The use of the word "children" suggests that the speaker sees judgment as a form of immaturity and that we all have a responsibility to grow beyond it.
In conclusion, Perhaps you think me stooping is a powerful poem that explores the themes of pride, patriotism, judgment, and mortality. Through her use of metaphors, Dickinson reminds us that we are all mortal and that our time on earth is limited. She also reminds us that we have a responsibility to teach the next generation to be kind and respectful to others. This poem is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
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