'Good night! which put the candle out?' by Emily Dickinson
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Good night! which put the candle out?
A jealous zephyr, not a doubt.
Ah! friend, you little knew
How long at that celestial wick
The angels labored diligent;
Extinguished, now, for you!
It might have been the lighthouse spark
Some sailor, rowing in the dark,
Had importuned to see!
It might have been the waning lamp
That lit the drummer from the camp
To purer reveille!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Good night! which put the candle out? by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were in a dream? A poem that seemed to convey a message beyond what the words actually said? Good night! which put the candle out?, by Emily Dickinson, is one such poem. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will take you on a journey through the layers of meaning in this enigmatic poem.
Context and Background
Before we delve into the interpretation of the poem, let us first look at the context and background of the poet. Emily Dickinson was a recluse who spent most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was known as a prolific writer of poetry, but very few of her poems were published during her lifetime. It was only after her death in 1886 that her works began to gain recognition.
Good night! which put the candle out? is one of the many poems that Emily Dickinson wrote about death. Death was a recurring theme in her poetry, and it is believed that the loss of her father and many other loved ones influenced her obsession with death.
The Poem
Good night! which put the candle out? A jealous zephyr, not a doubt. Ah! friend, you little knew How long at that celestial wick The angels labored diligent; Extinguished, now, for lack of breath, Enlightening but the earth it left.
The poem consists of only four lines, but these four lines pack a punch. The poem starts with the line, "Good night! which put the candle out?" The use of the word "Good night" immediately sets the tone for the poem. It suggests a sense of finality, as if something is coming to an end. The use of the word "which" implies that the candle was put out by something or someone, but we do not yet know what or who.
The second line, "A jealous zephyr, not a doubt," adds to the enigmatic nature of the poem. A zephyr is a gentle breeze, but why is it jealous? Jealous of what or whom? The use of the word "not a doubt" suggests that there is no other possibility for what put the candle out.
The third line, "Ah! friend, you little knew," suggests that the speaker is addressing someone, possibly the person who lit the candle. The speaker is telling this person that they did not know how long the "angels labored diligent" at the "celestial wick." This line is a metaphor for life, with the "celestial wick" representing the human soul. The "angels" could represent God or fate, and their "labor" could represent the work they put into the person's life.
The final line, "Extinguished, now, for lack of breath, / Enlightening but the earth it left," is a beautiful metaphor for death. The candle, which represented life, has been extinguished due to a lack of breath. The fact that the candle "enlightened but the earth it left" suggests that the person who died left a mark on the world, even though they are gone.
Interpretation
Now that we have analyzed the poem line by line, let us delve into its deeper meaning. The poem is a meditation on death and the fragility of life. The use of the candle as a metaphor for life is not a new concept, but Emily Dickinson takes it to a new level of beauty and complexity.
The first line, "Good night! which put the candle out?" suggests that death is the one who puts out the candle of life. The use of the word "Good night" implies that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that is inevitable and final.
The second line, "A jealous zephyr, not a doubt," suggests that death is not necessarily a bad thing. The use of the word "jealous" suggests that death is jealous of life, and the beauty and wonder that it contains. This line could be interpreted as a reminder to appreciate life while we have it.
The third line, "Ah! friend, you little knew," suggests that the speaker is addressing someone who is still alive. The use of the word "friend" implies that the person is someone close to the speaker. The fact that the speaker is telling this person that they did not know how much work went into their life suggests that life is not something to be taken for granted.
The final line, "Extinguished, now, for lack of breath, / Enlightening but the earth it left," is a beautiful and haunting metaphor for death. The fact that the candle "enlightened but the earth it left" suggests that the person who died left a mark on the world, even though they are gone. This line could be interpreted as a reminder to live a life that leaves a positive mark on the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Good night! which put the candle out? is a beautiful and haunting meditation on death and the fragility of life. Emily Dickinson's use of metaphors and imagery creates a dreamlike quality to the poem, and its enigmatic nature leaves room for interpretation and reflection. This poem is a reminder to appreciate life while we have it and to live a life that leaves a positive mark on the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Good night! which put the candle out? is a classic poem written by Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned American poets of the 19th century. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style, which is characterized by its brevity, wit, and unconventional use of punctuation. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem, as well as its literary devices and themes.
The poem begins with a simple question: "Good night! which put the candle out?" This question seems innocent enough, but as we delve deeper into the poem, we realize that it is not just a question about the extinguishing of a candle. Rather, it is a metaphor for the end of life. The candle represents life, and the act of putting it out represents death. This metaphor is reinforced by the use of the word "good night," which is often used as a farewell to someone who is going to sleep, but can also be used as a farewell to someone who is dying.
The second line of the poem, "A jealous zephyr, not a doubt," introduces us to the idea that the candle was not extinguished by accident or natural causes, but rather by a jealous zephyr. A zephyr is a gentle breeze, and the use of the word "jealous" suggests that this breeze was envious of the candle's light and warmth. This personification of the zephyr adds a layer of complexity to the poem, as it suggests that there is a force at work that is beyond our control.
The third line of the poem, "Ah! friend, you little knew," is addressed to someone who is presumably mourning the loss of the person who has died. The use of the word "friend" suggests that the speaker is addressing someone who is close to the deceased, and the phrase "you little knew" suggests that the speaker is trying to console this person by reminding them that death is inevitable and that we cannot control when it will come.
The fourth line of the poem, "How long at that celestial wick," is a reference to the idea that life is like a candle that is burning down. The use of the word "celestial" suggests that the candle represents something divine or spiritual, and the phrase "how long" suggests that the speaker is questioning how much time we have left before our own candles are extinguished.
The fifth and final line of the poem, "The angels, -stranded, -went awry," is perhaps the most enigmatic line of the poem. The use of the word "angels" suggests that there is a spiritual dimension to the poem, and the phrase "stranded, -went awry" suggests that something has gone wrong or gone off course. This line is open to interpretation, but it could be read as a commentary on the idea that death is a disruption to the natural order of things.
One of the most striking things about this poem is its use of punctuation. Dickinson was known for her unconventional use of punctuation, and this poem is no exception. The use of dashes throughout the poem creates a sense of fragmentation and interruption, which mirrors the disruption caused by death. The dashes also create a sense of ambiguity, as they allow for multiple interpretations of the poem's meaning.
Another literary device used in this poem is metaphor. The candle is a metaphor for life, and the zephyr is a metaphor for death. These metaphors add depth and complexity to the poem, as they allow the reader to see beyond the literal meaning of the words and to explore the poem's themes on a deeper level.
One of the main themes of this poem is the inevitability of death. The poem suggests that death is a natural part of life, and that we cannot control when it will come. This theme is reinforced by the use of the candle metaphor, which suggests that life is like a flame that will eventually burn out. The poem also suggests that death is a disruption to the natural order of things, as seen in the enigmatic final line.
Another theme of this poem is the idea that there are forces at work in the world that are beyond our control. The jealous zephyr personifies the idea that there are forces at work that can extinguish our candles without warning. This theme is reinforced by the use of the word "celestial," which suggests that there is a spiritual dimension to the poem that is beyond our understanding.
In conclusion, Good night! which put the candle out? is a classic poem that explores the themes of death, inevitability, and the forces beyond our control. Dickinson's use of metaphor, punctuation, and enigmatic language creates a sense of ambiguity and complexity that invites the reader to explore the poem's meaning on a deeper level. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's unique style and her ability to capture the complexities of life and death in just a few lines of poetry.
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