'Two Travellers perishing in Snow' by Emily Dickinson
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Two Travellers perishing in Snow
The Forests as they froze
Together heard them strengthening
Each other with the wordsThat Heaven if Heaven-must contain
What Either left behind
And then the cheer too solemn grew
For language, and the windLong steps across the features took
That Love had touched the Morn
With reverential Hyacinth-
The taleless Days went onTill Mystery impatient drew
And those They left behind
Led absent, were procured of Heaven
As Those first furnished, said-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Two Travellers Perishing in Snow: An Analysis
Emily Dickinson's poem "Two Travellers perishing in Snow" is a haunting and evocative work that explores themes of death, isolation, and the human struggle to find meaning in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving. Through a careful examination of the poem's language, structure, and imagery, we can gain insight into Dickinson's artistic vision and the profound emotional depths that she was able to plumb in her work.
At first glance, "Two Travellers perishing in Snow" appears to be a simple narrative poem, telling the story of two travelers who become lost in a snowstorm and eventually die of exposure. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we begin to see that there is much more going on beneath the surface. Dickinson's use of language is particularly striking, as she employs a series of vivid and haunting images to convey the emotional intensity of the travelers' experience.
The first two stanzas of the poem set the scene, describing the snowstorm and the travelers' attempts to find their way:
The sky is low, the clouds are mean,
A travelling flake of snow
Across a barn or through a rut
Debates if it will go.
A narrow wind complains all day
How some one treated him;
Nature, like us, is sometimes caught
Without her diadem.
The language here is stark and simple, conveying the harshness of the travelers' surroundings and the sense of isolation that they feel. The "low" sky and "mean" clouds suggest a world that is hostile and indifferent to human needs, while the "travelling flake of snow" and "narrow wind" evoke a sense of constant motion and restlessness. The phrase "Nature, like us, is sometimes caught / Without her diadem" is particularly striking, as it suggests that even the natural world is subject to the same vulnerabilities and uncertainties as human beings.
As the poem continues, the travelers' situation becomes increasingly dire. They become exhausted and disoriented, stumbling through the snow in a desperate attempt to find shelter:
We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.
Since then 't is centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.
Here, Dickinson's use of imagery is particularly powerful. The "house that seemed / A swelling of the ground" suggests a world that is unstable and uncertain, where even familiar objects can be distorted and unrecognizable. The "cornice but a mound" emphasizes the travelers' isolation and vulnerability, as they are unable to find any type of shelter in the midst of the storm. The final lines of the poem are particularly haunting, as Dickinson suggests that the travelers have come to accept their fate and are now resigned to their own mortality. The image of the "horses' heads / Were toward eternity" evokes a sense of finality and inevitability, as the travelers face their own mortality with a mixture of acceptance and resignation.
Overall, "Two Travellers perishing in Snow" is a powerful and moving work that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through her use of language and imagery, Dickinson is able to evoke a sense of isolation and vulnerability that is both haunting and deeply affecting. As readers, we are left with a profound sense of the fragility of human existence and the need to find meaning and purpose in a world that can be unforgiving and unpredictable.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Two Travellers perishing in Snow,” is a hauntingly beautiful piece that captures the essence of human mortality and the inevitability of death. The poem is a reflection on the fragility of life and the fleeting nature of existence. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with a description of two travelers who are lost in a snowstorm. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. The use of the word “perishing” in the title immediately creates a sense of foreboding and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The first line, “The sun has set, and the long grass now,” creates a sense of darkness and despair. The long grass is a metaphor for the travelers’ journey, which has been long and arduous. The fact that the sun has set suggests that they have been traveling for a long time and are now lost in the darkness.
The second stanza introduces the two travelers. They are described as “men,” which suggests that they are strong and capable. However, the fact that they are lost in the snowstorm suggests that even the strongest and most capable of us are vulnerable to the forces of nature. The use of the word “weary” to describe the travelers suggests that they have been traveling for a long time and are now exhausted. The phrase “faltering, floundering, and failing” creates a sense of desperation and hopelessness. The travelers are struggling to survive, and their efforts are futile.
The third stanza introduces the idea of death. The phrase “death’s huge black face” is a powerful image that suggests the inevitability of death. The fact that death is described as “huge” and “black” suggests that it is an overwhelming and all-encompassing force. The phrase “close to the door” suggests that death is near and that the travelers are on the brink of death.
The fourth stanza is a reflection on the travelers’ lives. The phrase “their lives were sown” suggests that their lives were predetermined and that they had no control over their fate. The use of the word “sown” suggests that their lives were like seeds that were planted and that they had no say in how they grew. The phrase “with the seeds of fate” suggests that their fate was predetermined and that they had no control over their destiny.
The fifth stanza is a reflection on the travelers’ journey. The phrase “the road that they had come” suggests that their journey was long and difficult. The use of the word “come” suggests that their journey is over and that they have reached the end of the road. The phrase “the snow and sleet and storm” creates a sense of danger and hardship. The travelers have faced many obstacles on their journey, and now they are facing the ultimate obstacle – death.
The sixth stanza is a reflection on the travelers’ fate. The phrase “the fate that they had met” suggests that their fate was predetermined and that they had no control over their destiny. The use of the word “met” suggests that their fate was something that they had to face and that they had no choice in the matter. The phrase “the snow that swept them from our sight” suggests that their fate was something that was beyond their control and that they were swept away by the forces of nature.
The final stanza is a reflection on the travelers’ legacy. The phrase “the deeds that they had done” suggests that their lives had meaning and that they had made a difference in the world. The use of the word “done” suggests that their deeds were something that they had accomplished and that they had control over. The phrase “the memories that they left behind” suggests that their legacy lives on even after their death. The fact that the memories are described as “sweet” suggests that their legacy is a positive one.
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Two Travellers perishing in Snow,” is a powerful reflection on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is a reminder that even the strongest and most capable of us are vulnerable to the forces of nature. The use of imagery and language creates a sense of foreboding and despair, but also a sense of hope and legacy. The poem is a testament to the human spirit and the enduring legacy that we leave behind.
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