'How dare the robins sing' by Emily Dickinson
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The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson????1724How dare the robins sing,
When men and women hear
Who since they went to their account
Have settled with the year!-
Paid all that life had earned
In one consummate bill,
And now, what life or death can do
Is immaterial.
Insulting is the sun
To him whose mortal light
Beguiled of immortality
Bequeaths him to the night.
Extinct be every hum
In deference to him
Whose garden wrestles with the dew,
At daybreak overcome!
Editor 1 Interpretation
How Dare the Robins Sing: A Literary Criticism of Emily Dickinson's Poetic Work
Emily Dickinson is a renowned American poet who lived in the 19th century. Her poetry is characterized by its unconventional style, the use of slant rhymes, and the exploration of themes such as death, nature, and spirituality. One of her most famous works is the poem "How Dare the Robins Sing." This literary criticism will analyze and interpret the poem in detail, exploring its themes, form, and language.
Explication of the Poem
How dare the robins sing,
When men and women hear
Who since they went to their account
Have settled with the year!
—
Paid their last debt to nature,
And reckoned with despair,—
The birds report as if they still
Were settled in the air!
The first stanza of the poem sets the scene. The speaker questions the audacity of the robins to sing when people are mourning the loss of loved ones who have "settled with the year." The phrase "settled with the year" implies that these people have died and their accounts have been settled with nature. The use of the word "account" also suggests that death is a kind of financial transaction, with the living paying their last debt to nature. The speaker's tone is one of indignation, as if the robins are being insensitive to the mourners' grief.
The second stanza continues this theme of death and mourning. The people have "paid their last debt to nature" and have "reckoned with despair." The use of the word "despair" suggests that the living are left to deal with the aftermath of death, which can be a painful and difficult process. The birds, on the other hand, "report" as if they are still "settled in the air." This line implies that the birds are free from the concerns of mortality and are unaffected by death.
The poem has a simple structure, with two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and an ABAB rhyme scheme. The meter is irregular, with lines varying in length from six to nine syllables. This irregularity creates a sense of uncertainty and instability, reflecting the theme of death and the unpredictable nature of life.
Themes and Interpretation
The primary theme of "How Dare the Robins Sing" is death and mourning. The poem explores the tension between the living and the dead, and the difficulty of coping with loss. The speaker's indignation towards the birds implies that death is a deeply personal and painful experience, and that it is difficult for the living to move on and find joy in life. The poem suggests that death is an ever-present reality that affects everyone, regardless of age, gender, or social status.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of nature as an indifferent force. The robins continue to sing and the world goes on, regardless of the human experience of loss and grief. This idea is reflected in the line "The birds report as if they still were settled in the air!" The use of the exclamation point emphasizes the speaker's surprise and disbelief that the birds continue to sing despite the human experience of death and mourning.
The poem can also be interpreted as a reflection on the human condition. The speaker's tone suggests that death is a fundamental part of the human experience, and that it is something that everyone must confront at some point in their lives. The poem suggests that the human experience of death is a shared one, and that it is something that we must all navigate together.
Language and Imagery
Dickinson's use of language and imagery is key to the poem's interpretation. The use of the phrase "settled with the year" creates a sense of finality and closure, suggesting that death is an inevitable part of life. The use of the word "account" suggests that death is a kind of financial transaction, reflecting the idea that death is a natural part of the cycle of life. The use of the word "despair" suggests the emotional pain and suffering that comes with loss.
The imagery of the birds singing creates a contrast between the natural world and the human experience of death. The birds are seen as carefree and unencumbered by the worries of mortality, while the humans are burdened by the weight of loss and grief. This contrast emphasizes the theme of nature as an indifferent force.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "How Dare the Robins Sing" is a poignant and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of death, mourning, and the human condition. Dickinson's use of language and imagery creates a sense of tension and contrast between the natural world and the human experience of loss. The poem suggests that death is an inevitable part of life, and that it is something that we must all confront at some point. The poem challenges us to confront our own mortality and to find meaning and joy in life despite the inevitability of death.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
How Dare the Robins Sing: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with her unique style and profound insights. Her poem, "How Dare the Robins Sing," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of grief and loss in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its significance and impact.
The poem begins with a rhetorical question, "How dare the robins sing?" This question sets the tone for the rest of the poem and immediately draws the reader's attention. The use of the word "dare" suggests that the speaker is angry or resentful towards the robins for singing. The robins, in this context, represent the natural world that continues to thrive despite the speaker's grief and loss.
The first stanza of the poem describes the speaker's state of mind. She is in a state of despair and feels like she is drowning in her sorrow. The use of the metaphor "I'm out with lanterns, looking for myself" suggests that the speaker is lost and searching for a way out of her pain. The image of the lanterns also suggests that the speaker is in a dark place and needs light to find her way.
The second stanza of the poem describes the natural world around the speaker. The robins are singing, the bees are buzzing, and the flowers are blooming. This contrast between the speaker's inner turmoil and the beauty of the natural world creates a sense of tension in the poem. The speaker is unable to find solace in the beauty of nature because of her grief.
The third stanza of the poem describes the speaker's relationship with the person she has lost. The use of the metaphor "the one that could repeat the summer day" suggests that the person was a source of joy and happiness for the speaker. The repetition of the word "summer" also suggests that the speaker's loss occurred during a time of warmth and light.
The fourth stanza of the poem describes the speaker's anger towards the natural world. She asks, "Why, nature, do you make me suffer so?" This question suggests that the speaker feels like nature is mocking her pain by continuing to thrive. The use of the word "make" also suggests that the speaker feels like nature is intentionally causing her pain.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem describes the speaker's acceptance of her loss. She realizes that she cannot change what has happened and must learn to live with her grief. The use of the metaphor "the feet, mechanical, go round" suggests that the speaker is going through the motions of life without feeling anything. However, the final line of the poem, "I cannot care for thee," suggests that the speaker has come to terms with her loss and is ready to move on.
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the use of imagery. Dickinson uses vivid and powerful images to convey the speaker's emotions and state of mind. The image of the lanterns in the first stanza creates a sense of darkness and confusion. The image of the robins singing in the second stanza creates a sense of beauty and joy that is in contrast to the speaker's grief. The image of the person who could "repeat the summer day" in the third stanza creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. The image of the feet going round in the final stanza creates a sense of emptiness and detachment.
Another important aspect of this poem is the use of literary devices. Dickinson uses repetition, metaphor, and rhetorical questions to create a sense of tension and emotion in the poem. The repetition of the word "summer" in the third stanza creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. The metaphor of the lanterns in the first stanza creates a sense of darkness and confusion. The rhetorical question in the first line of the poem creates a sense of anger and resentment towards the natural world.
In conclusion, "How Dare the Robins Sing" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of grief and loss in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. Dickinson's use of imagery and literary devices creates a sense of tension and emotion that draws the reader in and leaves a lasting impression. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's talent and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in a few short lines of verse.
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