'We knew not that we were to live-' by Emily Dickinson

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We knew not that we were to live-
Nor when-we are to die-
Our ignorance-our cuirass is-
We wear Mortality
As lightly as an Option Gown
Till asked to take it off-
By his intrusion, God is known-
It is the same with Life-

Editor 1 Interpretation

We knew not that we were to live: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Poem

Have you ever wondered about the purpose of life? Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest American poets, explores this theme in her poem "We knew not that we were to live." In this 12-line poem, Dickinson uses her signature style of dashes and slant rhyme to convey the idea that life is a mystery, and we cannot predict its meaning or purpose.

Form and Structure

Before diving into the poem's meaning, let's first analyze its form and structure. "We knew not that we were to live" consists of three stanzas. The first stanza has two lines, the second has four, and the third has six. Each stanza has a different rhyme scheme, with the first and third using slant rhyme and the second using perfect rhyme.

The poem's meter is irregular, with varying syllable counts in each line. However, there is some consistency in the number of stressed syllables. For example, in the first stanza, both lines have three stressed syllables. In the second stanza, the first and third lines have four stressed syllables, and the second and fourth have three. In the third stanza, the first and fourth lines have four stressed syllables, the second has three, and the third has two.

Interpretation

Now that we've analyzed the poem's form and structure, let's explore its meaning. The title itself is a clue to the poem's theme. "We knew not that we were to live" implies that there is a purpose to life, but we are unaware of it. Dickinson begins the poem by stating that "We knew not that we were to live--/ Nor when we are to die--" (lines 1-2). This line sets up the idea that life is a mystery. We don't know why we're here or when we'll leave.

In the second stanza, Dickinson expands on this idea by saying that "We journey through conjecture--" (line 3). This line suggests that we spend our lives guessing at the meaning of life. We may have theories or beliefs about why we're here, but we can never be certain. The line "And nothing is to know" (line 4) emphasizes this point. No matter how much we speculate or theorize, we can never truly know the meaning of life.

The final stanza of the poem is the most powerful. Dickinson writes, "But somewhere, in a jar or urn, / Upon the table round-- / Is Death's impartial urn--" (lines 7-9). This stanza implies that death is the great equalizer. No matter how we live our lives, we will all end up in the same place. Death's urn is impartial; it doesn't care about our social status, our accomplishments, or our beliefs. We all face the same fate.

Dickinson ends the poem by saying that "We're scarce ourselves agreed / When the tranquillest prayer is heard--" (lines 10-11). This line suggests that even in death, we may not find the answers we seek. Our prayers for understanding may go unanswered.

Themes

The theme of the poem is the mystery of life. Dickinson explores the idea that we don't know why we're here or what our purpose is. We spend our lives guessing at the meaning of life, but we can never truly know. The poem also touches on the idea that death is the great equalizer. No matter how we live our lives, we will all end up in the same place.

Another theme of the poem is the idea of uncertainty. Dickinson uses phrases like "we knew not" and "nothing is to know" to emphasize the idea that we can never be certain about the meaning of life. Even in death, we may not find the answers we seek.

Conclusion

"We knew not that we were to live" is a powerful poem that explores the mystery of life. Using her unique style of dashes and slant rhyme, Emily Dickinson conveys the idea that life is a puzzle that we cannot solve. We can speculate and theorize, but we can never truly know why we're here or what our purpose is. Death is the great equalizer, and even in death, we may not find the answers we seek. This poem reminds us to live our lives with purpose and meaning, even if we don't know why we're here.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry We knew not that we were to live- Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is a renowned American poet who is known for her unique style of writing. Her poems are often characterized by their brevity, unconventional punctuation, and use of slant rhyme. One of her most famous poems is "Poetry We knew not that we were to live," which explores the power of poetry and its ability to transform our lives.

The poem begins with the line, "We knew not that we were to live," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that we are all living without a clear purpose or direction, and that poetry has the ability to give us meaning and direction in our lives. The next line, "Nor when we are to die," reinforces this idea, suggesting that we are all living in a state of uncertainty, not knowing when our time will come.

The second stanza of the poem begins with the line, "This is the hour of lead," which suggests that we are all living in a state of heaviness and darkness. However, the next line, "Remembered, if outlived," suggests that poetry has the power to transcend this darkness and give us hope. The line "As freezing persons recollect the snow" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even in the darkest moments of our lives, we can find beauty and meaning through poetry.

The third stanza of the poem begins with the line, "First chill, then stupor, then the letting go," which suggests that death is a gradual process that we all must go through. However, the next line, "Acceptance, then the misery of ease," suggests that even in death, there is a sense of peace and acceptance that comes with letting go. The final line of the stanza, "Not for ourselves, but for the dim forgetting," suggests that even in death, we can leave a lasting legacy through our words and our poetry.

The final stanza of the poem begins with the line, "This is the place," which suggests that we have finally found our purpose and our direction in life through poetry. The line "With all the brave illusions flung afar" suggests that we have let go of our fears and our doubts, and have embraced the power of poetry to transform our lives. The final line of the poem, "The hour of lead- then-," suggests that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is always hope and the possibility of transformation.

Overall, "Poetry We knew not that we were to live" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the transformative power of poetry. It suggests that even in the darkest moments of our lives, we can find hope and meaning through the beauty of language and the power of words. Emily Dickinson's unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of the human experience make this poem a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.

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