'We shun it ere it comes' by Emily Dickinson
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We shun it ere it comes,
Afraid of Joy,
Then sue it to delay
And lest it fly,
Beguile it more and more-
May not this be
Old Suitor Heaven,
Like our dismay at thee?
Editor 1 Interpretation
We Shun It Ere It Comes by Emily Dickinson: A Deep Dive into the Intricacies of Poetry
Emily Dickinson, one of the most famous poets of all time, is renowned for her enigmatic and often cryptic poetic style. Her poem, "We shun it ere it comes," is a prime example of her unique and unconventional approach to poetry. In this literary criticism, we delve deep into the intricacies of this poem, exploring its themes, stylistic devices, and hidden meanings.
Context and Background
Before we delve into the poem itself, let us first explore the context and background of the poem. Emily Dickinson was born in 1830 and lived most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a recluse and rarely left her home, but she devoted most of her time to writing poetry. Her poems were not widely published during her lifetime, but after her death, her sister discovered thousands of poems that Dickinson had written.
"We shun it ere it comes" is one of Dickinson's many poems that deal with the theme of death. This poem was written in 1862, during a period in Dickinson's life when she was dealing with the death of her close friend, Benjamin Franklin Newton. The poem explores the idea that we often try to avoid thinking about death, even though it is an inevitable part of life.
Structure and Form
The structure and form of a poem are crucial in understanding its meaning and message. "We shun it ere it comes" is a short poem consisting of only three stanzas. Each stanza has two lines, and the poem has a total of six lines. This brevity of the poem is characteristic of Dickinson's style, which typically features short, concise, and often fragmented sentences.
The poem follows a consistent rhyming scheme of ABAB, which adds to its musicality and overall aesthetic appeal. Dickinson's use of internal rhyme also contributes to the poem's musical quality. For example, in the first stanza, the words "shun" and "none" rhyme, as do the words "gown" and "frown" in the second stanza.
Themes and Interpretation
"We shun it ere it comes" is a poem that deals with the theme of death and the human tendency to avoid thinking about it. The poem's title itself suggests that we try to avoid death before it even arrives, indicating the inherent fear and anxiety that we associate with the concept of dying.
The first stanza of the poem highlights this theme of avoidance. The speaker states, "We shun it ere it comes / Lavender, none / And while we dread / The least report / Faint-heartedly / Gesture afloat." Here, the speaker suggests that we try to avoid thinking about death by not mentioning it at all. Instead, we distract ourselves with other things, represented by the image of lavender. The use of the word "none" emphasizes the absence of death, suggesting that we prefer to live in a world where death does not exist.
The second stanza of the poem builds on this theme of avoidance. The speaker states, "We sigh for Belief / A panting friend / Too late for our degree / To note the come / Of other such / We trust not them." Here, the speaker suggests that we often seek comfort in religion or belief systems to avoid thinking about death. However, this comfort is short-lived, as it is a "panting friend" that cannot ultimately save us from death. The phrase "too late for our degree" suggests that we only seek comfort in religion or belief systems when it is too late, further emphasizing the theme of avoidance.
The final stanza of the poem takes a more ominous tone, with the speaker warning that death will come for us eventually, whether we like it or not. The speaker states, "Unarmed if any meet / Take it with a bow / Pardon that spasm / Granted be thou / A meek receding host / Nor pestilence embow." Here, the speaker suggests that death is inevitable, and we must accept it and face it with humility. The phrase "Unarmed if any meet" suggests that we are defenseless against death, emphasizing its finality and our inability to escape it.
Stylistic Devices
Dickinson's unique and unconventional stylistic devices are a hallmark of her poetry. "We shun it ere it comes" is no exception, featuring several stylistic devices that contribute to its overall meaning and message.
One of these devices is Dickinson's use of imagery. The poem features several images, including lavender, a panting friend, and a bow. Each of these images contributes to the poem's meaning, highlighting our tendency to avoid thinking about death and the inevitability of our own mortality.
Another stylistic device is Dickinson's use of punctuation. The poem features several dashes, which add to its fragmented and disjointed style. The dashes also emphasize certain words and phrases, drawing attention to them and highlighting their significance.
Finally, Dickinson's use of language is also unique and unconventional. The use of the word "shun" in the first stanza, for example, is a powerful word that conveys the speaker's fear and avoidance of death. Similarly, the use of the phrase "faint-heartedly / Gesture afloat" in the first stanza is a striking image that emphasizes our reluctance to face death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "We shun it ere it comes" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that deals with the theme of death and our human tendency to avoid thinking about it. The poem's structure, form, and stylistic devices contribute to its overall meaning and message, highlighting the inevitability of death and our inability to escape it. Dickinson's use of imagery, punctuation, and language adds to the poem's depth and complexity, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
We shun it ere it comes: A deep dive into Emily Dickinson's classic poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, known for her unique style and ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her works. Among her many poems, "We shun it ere it comes" stands out as a masterpiece that speaks to the fear and uncertainty that often accompanies change. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "We shun it ere it comes." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, conveying a sense of apprehension and avoidance. The "it" in this line refers to change, which is a central theme of the poem. The speaker suggests that we often try to avoid change, even before it arrives, because we fear the unknown and the potential consequences that may come with it.
The second line of the poem, "lest it should be dismay," reinforces this idea of fear and uncertainty. The word "dismay" suggests a sense of distress or unease, further emphasizing the negative connotations associated with change. The speaker seems to be suggesting that we avoid change in order to protect ourselves from potential harm or discomfort.
The third line of the poem, "We sigh for it, with microscopes," introduces a new element to the poem. The word "sigh" suggests a sense of longing or desire, which seems to contradict the fear and avoidance expressed in the first two lines. However, the phrase "with microscopes" adds a layer of complexity to this line. Microscopes are instruments used to magnify and examine small objects, suggesting that the speaker is suggesting that we long for change, but only in a very specific and controlled way. We want to examine it closely and understand it before we fully embrace it.
The fourth line of the poem, "Had we the date of its decease," further emphasizes this desire for control and understanding. The phrase "date of its decease" suggests that the speaker is referring to the end of change, rather than its beginning. This line suggests that we want to know when change will end, so that we can prepare for its aftermath and return to a sense of stability and normalcy.
The fifth and final line of the poem, "We should be safe to fear," brings the poem full circle. The word "safe" suggests that the speaker believes that avoiding change is a form of protection, even if it means living in a state of fear and uncertainty. This line suggests that the speaker understands the human impulse to avoid change, but also recognizes the potential benefits that can come from embracing it.
The structure of the poem is simple, consisting of five lines with a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCCB). This structure reinforces the sense of control and order that the speaker seems to be seeking. The consistent rhyme scheme creates a sense of stability and predictability, even as the poem explores the unpredictable and often chaotic nature of change.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices to convey its themes and ideas. The repetition of the word "it" throughout the poem emphasizes the central role that change plays in the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The use of the word "microscopes" adds a layer of complexity to the poem, suggesting that the desire for change is not a simple or straightforward emotion. The use of the word "decease" in the fourth line of the poem adds a sense of finality and inevitability to the idea of change, reinforcing the idea that it is something that we must all face at some point in our lives.
In conclusion, "We shun it ere it comes" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complex emotions that accompany change. Through its simple structure and use of literary devices, the poem conveys a sense of fear, uncertainty, and longing, while also suggesting that there may be benefits to embracing change. Emily Dickinson's ability to capture the essence of human emotions in her works is on full display in this classic poem, making it a must-read for anyone interested in poetry or the human experience.
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