'Extol thee-could I? Then I will' by Emily Dickinson
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Some one prepared this mighty show
To which without a Ticket go
The nations and the Days-Displayed before the simplest Door
That all may witness it and more,
The pomp of summer Days.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Extol thee-could I? Then I will: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Emily Dickinson's Poetry
Emily Dickinson, a brilliant and enigmatic poet, is known for her unique style, unconventional syntax, and her ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in her poetry. In her poem "Extol thee-could I? Then I will," she explores the themes of love, longing, and the complexities of human relationships. This literary criticism and interpretation will analyze the poem's structure, language, and imagery, as well as explore its meanings and interpretations.
Structure and Language
"Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is a short poem consisting of six stanzas with two lines each. The poem's structure is simple yet effective, with each stanza delivering a powerful punch of emotion and meaning. The poem's title sets the tone for the rest of the piece, suggesting an unrestrained outpouring of praise and adoration. The repetition of the phrase "could I? Then I will" in each stanza creates a sense of urgency and determination.
Dickinson's use of language in this poem is also notable. The poem's syntax is unconventional, with a lack of punctuation and the use of enjambment creating a sense of flow and movement. The repetition of the phrase "extol thee" in the first stanza and the use of the word "praise" in the second stanza create a sense of reverence and admiration. The line "My lips could but drink your praise" in the third stanza is particularly striking, as it conveys a sense of thirst and desire.
Imagery
Dickinson's use of imagery in "Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is both vivid and evocative. The poem's opening line, "Extol thee- could I? Then I will," suggests an act of worship or devotion. The use of the word "extol" conjures images of a religious ritual or ceremony. The following stanzas continue to use imagery that is both sensual and reverential. The line "My lips could but drink your praise" creates a powerful image of consuming and being consumed by love.
The poem's closing lines are particularly poignant. The line "But you have been the one" suggests a sense of loss or separation. The final line, "Ah, could I clasp them with a tighter grasp," conveys a sense of desperation and longing. The use of the word "clasp" suggests a desire to hold on tightly to something that is slipping away.
Meanings and Interpretations
"Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways. At its core, the poem explores the complexities of human relationships and the longing and desire that often accompany them. The repetition of the phrase "could I? Then I will" suggests a sense of determination and persistence, as if the speaker is willing to do whatever it takes to express their love and devotion.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the limitations of language. The phrase "My lips could but drink your praise" suggests that language is an inadequate tool for expressing the depth and intensity of human emotion. This is echoed in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker expresses a desire to "clasp" something that cannot be held.
Finally, the poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the nature of love itself. The line "But you have been the one" suggests that the speaker has found something special and unique in their beloved. However, the final lines of the poem suggest that this love may be fleeting or impermanent.
Conclusion
"Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of human relationships and the depths of human emotion. Through its use of structure, language, and imagery, the poem conveys a sense of longing and desire that is both sensual and reverential. Its meanings and interpretations are multi-layered and complex, making it a poem that rewards careful reading and reflection. Ultimately, however, the poem is a testament to the power and beauty of human love, and the ways in which it can move us to acts of devotion and worship.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is a true masterpiece. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style, which is characterized by its brevity, its use of unconventional punctuation, and its exploration of complex themes. In this article, we will take a closer look at "Extol thee-could I? Then I will" and explore its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing a desire to praise someone or something, but then immediately questioning whether or not they are capable of doing so. The opening lines read:
Extol thee-could I? Then I will, Though thou art shrouded so in skill.
These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the limitations of language and the difficulty of expressing complex emotions. The speaker acknowledges that the object of their praise is "shrouded" in skill, which suggests that they are difficult to understand or appreciate fully. Despite this, the speaker is determined to try to extol them, even if they are not sure they can do so effectively.
The next few lines of the poem are a series of questions that the speaker asks themselves about the object of their praise. They wonder if this person or thing is "too high for praising," or if they are "too near for praising." These questions suggest that the object of the speaker's admiration is both distant and close at the same time, which is a paradoxical idea that is central to the poem.
As the poem continues, the speaker begins to describe the object of their praise in more detail. They use a series of metaphors and similes to try to capture the essence of this person or thing. For example, they compare the object of their praise to a "star," a "bird," and a "flower." These comparisons are all very different, but they all suggest that the object of the speaker's admiration is beautiful, delicate, and elusive.
One of the most striking things about "Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is the way that Dickinson uses punctuation to create a sense of urgency and excitement. The poem is full of dashes, which are used to create pauses and breaks in the text. These pauses give the poem a sense of breathlessness and urgency, as if the speaker is struggling to express their emotions.
At the same time, the poem is also full of exclamation marks, which are used to emphasize certain words and phrases. For example, in the following lines, the exclamation mark after "flower" gives the word extra emphasis:
Or if thou art the butterfly That doth like thee better than his flower!
This use of punctuation is typical of Dickinson's style, and it helps to create a sense of energy and excitement in the poem.
As the poem draws to a close, the speaker acknowledges once again the difficulty of expressing their emotions. They say:
But were it thou, dear heart, were thou My sole ideal, would I not vow
These lines suggest that the object of the speaker's admiration is someone very close to them, perhaps even a lover. The use of the word "heart" suggests a deep emotional connection, and the phrase "sole ideal" suggests that this person is the speaker's one true love.
Despite this, the speaker is still struggling to find the right words to express their feelings. They say that they would "vow" to extol this person if they were their "sole ideal," but they do not actually extol them in the poem itself. This suggests that the speaker is still grappling with the limitations of language and the difficulty of expressing complex emotions.
In conclusion, "Extol thee-could I? Then I will" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the limitations of language and the difficulty of expressing complex emotions. Through its use of metaphors, similes, and unconventional punctuation, the poem creates a sense of urgency and excitement that is typical of Dickinson's style. Ultimately, the poem suggests that even the most powerful emotions are difficult to express in words, and that sometimes the best we can do is to acknowledge our limitations and strive to express ourselves as best we can.
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