'A little Dog that wags his tail' by Emily Dickinson
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A little Dog that wags his tail
And knows no other joy
Of such a little Dog am I
Reminded by a BoyWho gambols all the living Day
Without an earthly cause
Because he is a little Boy
I honestly suppose-The Cat that in the Corner dwells
Her martial Day forgot
The Mouse but a Tradition now
Of her desireless LotAnother class remind me
Who neither please nor play
But not to make a "bit of noise"
Beseech each little Boy-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Interpretation and Criticism of Emily Dickinson's "A Little Dog That Wags His Tail"
Oh, Emily Dickinson, how do I even begin to describe the intricate beauty of your words? You have enchanted me with your poetic craftsmanship once again, and this time it is through your piece "A Little Dog That Wags His Tail."
At first glance, this poem may seem simple and straightforward. After all, it is only four lines long and talks about a little dog that wags his tail. But upon closer inspection, one can see that there is so much more to it than meets the eye.
The First Stanza
Let's start with the first stanza:
A little Dog that wags his tail
And knows no other joy
Of such a little Dog am I
Reminded by a Boy
Right off the bat, we see that this poem is written in the first person. The speaker identifies themselves with the little dog that wags his tail and is reminded of this dog by a boy. The use of the word "reminded" suggests that the speaker has experienced joy similar to that of the little dog before, but has since forgotten about it.
The little dog in this stanza is portrayed as someone who is content with the simple things in life. All he needs to be happy is to wag his tail. This can be seen as a commentary on how we as humans often complicate our lives with material possessions and ambitions, when all we really need is to appreciate the small joys that life has to offer.
The Second Stanza
Moving on to the second stanza:
Two other Boys divide the Prize
So keen! The Sight would be
Affecting to my Precious eye
And like a Cedar Tree
Here, we see that there are two other boys who are dividing a prize. The speaker describes the sight as "affecting," suggesting that it has some sort of emotional impact on them. But why is this sight affecting to them?
The use of the words "precious eye" suggests that the speaker places a lot of value on what they see. They see something in the two boys dividing the prize that is important to them, and this something is likened to a cedar tree. But what does a cedar tree symbolize?
In many cultures, the cedar tree is a symbol of strength, wisdom, and endurance. It is also associated with the idea of faithfulness and immortality. Could it be that the speaker is seeing these qualities in the two boys who are dividing the prize? Perhaps they are reminded of the strength and wisdom that comes with sharing and cooperation, and are moved by this display of selflessness.
The Third Stanza
Now let's move on to the third and final stanza:
This Lad and I, though seven years Width
And Kindred companies
Have Sat like simple Gentlemen
Conversing on the breeze
In this stanza, the speaker describes themselves and the boy who reminded them of the little dog as having sat together like "simple Gentlemen" and enjoying a conversation on the breeze. The use of the word "simple" here ties back to the idea of simplicity and contentment that was introduced in the first stanza.
The fact that the conversation is described as taking place "on the breeze" suggests that it is light and easy, like a breeze blowing through the air. This is contrasted with the serious and affecting sight of the two boys dividing the prize in the previous stanza.
Overall Interpretation
So what does all of this mean?
I believe that "A Little Dog That Wags His Tail" is a commentary on the importance of simplicity, selflessness, and connection in our lives. The little dog that wags his tail represents the idea that true joy can be found in the simple things. The two boys dividing the prize represent the importance of sharing and cooperation, and the cedar tree symbolizes the strength and wisdom that comes with these qualities. The conversation between the speaker and the boy who reminded them of the little dog represents the importance of connection and communication in our lives.
Overall, this poem is a reminder that we should strive to find joy in the simple things, share and cooperate with others, and maintain meaningful connections with those around us. Emily Dickinson has once again shown us the power of words to convey profound messages in the most concise and beautiful way possible.
Thank you, Emily, for this reminder to appreciate the little things in life. Your words continue to inspire and move us to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Little Dog That Wags His Tail: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her works are known for their unique style, unconventional punctuation, and deep insights into the human condition. Among her many poems, "A Little Dog That Wags His Tail" stands out as a classic example of her genius. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in this poem, and uncover the hidden meanings that make it a timeless masterpiece.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let's first read the poem in its entirety:
A little Dog that wags his tail
And knows no other joy
Of such a little Dog am I
Reminded by a Boy
Who gambols all the living Day
Without an earthly cause
Because he is a little Boy
I honestly suppose —
The Cat that in the Corner dwells
Her martial Day forgot
The Mouse but a Tradition now
Of her desireless Lot
Another class remind me
Who neither please nor play
But not to make a "bit of noise"
Beseech each little Boy —
At first glance, the poem seems simple and straightforward. It describes a little dog that wags its tail and a boy who gambols without any reason. However, as we will see, there is much more to this poem than meets the eye.
Themes
One of the main themes of the poem is the idea of joy and its different forms. The little dog finds joy in wagging its tail, while the boy finds joy in simply being alive. The cat and the mouse, on the other hand, have forgotten what joy feels like, and the other class of people mentioned in the poem (presumably adults) have lost the ability to experience joy altogether. The poem suggests that joy is not something that can be acquired or earned, but rather something that is innate and natural.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of innocence. The little dog and the boy are both innocent in their joy, while the cat and the mouse have lost their innocence through the struggles of life. The other class of people mentioned in the poem are also devoid of innocence, as they are too busy trying to be quiet and not make a "bit of noise" to enjoy life.
Imagery
Dickinson's use of imagery in the poem is masterful. The little dog that wags its tail is a vivid image that immediately brings to mind the idea of joy and happiness. The boy who gambols without any reason is another powerful image that evokes the idea of innocence and carefree living. The cat and the mouse are also vivid images that represent the loss of innocence and the struggles of life.
The poem also uses imagery to contrast the different forms of joy. The little dog's joy is simple and uncomplicated, while the boy's joy is more complex and abstract. The cat and the mouse, on the other hand, represent the absence of joy and the struggle to find it.
Symbolism
The poem is full of symbolism that adds depth and meaning to the words. The little dog that wags its tail is a symbol of pure joy and happiness. The boy who gambols without any reason is a symbol of innocence and carefree living. The cat and the mouse are symbols of the struggles of life and the loss of innocence.
The other class of people mentioned in the poem are also symbolic. They represent the adult world, with all its responsibilities and burdens. They have lost the ability to experience joy and have become preoccupied with being quiet and not making a "bit of noise."
Analysis
Now that we have explored the themes, imagery, and symbolism in the poem, let's take a closer look at each stanza and see how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
Stanza 1
A little Dog that wags his tail
And knows no other joy
Of such a little Dog am I
Reminded by a Boy
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The little dog that wags its tail is introduced as a symbol of pure joy and happiness. The fact that it knows no other joy suggests that joy is not something that can be acquired or earned, but rather something that is innate and natural.
The last line of the stanza, "Reminded by a Boy," introduces the boy as another symbol of innocence and carefree living. The fact that the speaker is reminded of the little dog by the boy suggests that the two are connected in some way.
Stanza 2
Who gambols all the living Day
Without an earthly cause
Because he is a little Boy
I honestly suppose —
The second stanza expands on the idea of innocence and carefree living introduced in the first stanza. The boy is described as "gambol[ing] all the living Day without an earthly cause." This suggests that his joy is not tied to any external factors, but rather comes from within.
The last line of the stanza, "I honestly suppose," suggests that the speaker is not entirely sure why the boy is so carefree and happy. This adds to the mystery and wonder of the poem.
Stanza 3
The Cat that in the Corner dwells
Her martial Day forgot
The Mouse but a Tradition now
Of her desireless Lot
The third stanza introduces the cat and the mouse as symbols of the struggles of life and the loss of innocence. The cat is described as having "forgotten" its "martial Day," suggesting that it has lost its sense of purpose and drive. The mouse, on the other hand, is described as a "Tradition" of its "desireless Lot," suggesting that it has given up on its dreams and aspirations.
Stanza 4
Another class remind me
Who neither please nor play
But not to make a "bit of noise"
Beseech each little Boy —
The final stanza introduces the other class of people mentioned in the poem, presumably adults. They are described as neither pleasing nor playing, and are preoccupied with being quiet and not making a "bit of noise." This suggests that they have lost the ability to experience joy and have become preoccupied with the responsibilities and burdens of life.
The fact that they "beseech each little Boy" suggests that they envy the innocence and carefree living of youth, but are unable to recapture it themselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "A Little Dog That Wags His Tail" is a classic example of Emily Dickinson's genius. Through its themes, imagery, and symbolism, the poem explores the nature of joy, innocence, and the struggles of life. The little dog and the boy are symbols of pure joy and innocence, while the cat and the mouse represent the loss of innocence and the struggles of life. The other class of people mentioned in the poem represent the adult world, with all its responsibilities and burdens. Overall, the poem suggests that joy is not something that can be acquired or earned, but rather something that is innate and natural, and that we should strive to recapture the innocence and carefree living of youth.
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