'Our journey had advanced' by Emily Dickinson
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Our journey had advanced-
Our feet were almost come
To that odd Fork in Being's Road-
Eternity-by Term-Our pace took sudden awe-
Our feet-reluctant-led-
Before-were Cities-but Between-
The Forest of the Dead-Retreat-was out of Hope-
Behind-a Sealed Route-
Eternity's White Flag-Before-
And God-at every Gate-
Editor 1 Interpretation
Our Journey Had Advanced: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Emily Dickinson is one of the most famous and enigmatic poets in American literature. Despite living a reclusive life and publishing very few of her poems during her lifetime, she has become a beloved figure in the literary canon. One of her most celebrated poems is "Our Journey Had Advanced," a short but powerful piece. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem, analyzing its themes, structure, and language.
The Text
Our Journey had advanced—
Our feet were almost come
To that odd Fork in Being's Road—
Eternity—by Term—
Our pace took sudden awe—
Our feet—reluctant—led—
Before—were Cities—but Between—
The Forest of the Dead—
Retreat was out of Hope—
Behind—a Sealed Route—
Eternity's White Flag—Before—
And God—at every Gate—
Themes
The first theme that comes to mind in "Our Journey Had Advanced" is the idea of mortality. Dickinson uses the metaphor of a journey, with the travelers approaching a "Fork in Being's Road" that leads to Eternity. This suggests that the poem is about the end of life and the unknown that lies beyond it. The travelers feel a sudden "awe," as if they are realizing for the first time the gravity of the situation. Their feet are "reluctant," implying that they would prefer to stay on the familiar path they have been traveling until now.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of the afterlife. Dickinson's reference to the "Forest of the Dead" suggests that she believes in some kind of existence beyond this life. The travelers are not turning back, however, as "Retreat was out of Hope" and they are confronted with "Eternity's White Flag" and "God at every Gate." This implies that they are on a journey that has a final destination, and that they must face whatever lies ahead.
Structure
The structure of "Our Journey Had Advanced" is simple but effective. The poem consists of four quatrains, each with an ABCB rhyme scheme. There is a regular rhythm to the lines, with three beats per line (trimeter). This creates a sense of momentum, as if the travelers are moving steadily toward their destination. The use of enjambment, where the lines run into each other, also adds to the feeling of progression.
Another interesting structural feature of the poem is the use of dashes. Dickinson was known for her unconventional use of punctuation, and this poem is no exception. The dashes create a sense of interruption, as if the travelers are abruptly forced to pause and consider their situation. The dashes also link together seemingly disparate ideas, such as "Before—were Cities—but Between— / The Forest of the Dead." This creates a sense of contrast and tension that adds to the overall effect of the poem.
Language
One of the most striking aspects of "Our Journey Had Advanced" is Dickinson's use of language. Her vocabulary is simple, but she uses it in a way that is both precise and evocative. For example, the phrase "odd Fork in Being's Road" is both precise in its description of the travelers' location and evocative in its suggestion of an uncertain and potentially dangerous path. Similarly, the phrase "Eternity's White Flag" is both a precise description of what the travelers see and a suggestive image that implies surrender or acceptance.
Another interesting aspect of the language in the poem is the way Dickinson uses personification. For example, she writes that "Our pace took sudden awe" and that "Eternity's White Flag" is "Before" the travelers. These personifications lend a sense of agency to abstract concepts, such as fear and death, and create the impression that the travelers are not just facing a physical journey but a spiritual one as well.
Interpretation
So what does "Our Journey Had Advanced" actually mean? As with much of Dickinson's poetry, there is no one definitive interpretation. However, one possible reading is that the poem is about the inevitability of death and the human struggle to come to terms with it. The travelers on the path represent all of us, facing a moment when we must confront the unknown and relinquish control.
The reference to the "Forest of the Dead" suggests that there is some kind of afterlife, but the poem does not offer any specifics. Instead, it focuses on the experience of the journey itself, the sense of awe and trepidation that comes with facing the unknown. The idea of God being "at every Gate" implies that there is some kind of judgment or reckoning at the end of the journey, but again, the poem does not offer any details.
Overall, "Our Journey Had Advanced" is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of the human experience. Dickinson's use of language and structure create a sense of tension and momentum that draws the reader in and makes them feel as if they too are on the journey. The themes of mortality, afterlife, and the struggle to come to terms with the unknown make this a poem that resonates across generations and cultures.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has been used to express emotions, thoughts, and ideas for centuries. One of the most renowned poets of all time is Emily Dickinson, who wrote over 1,800 poems during her lifetime. Among her most famous works is "Our journey had advanced," a poem that explores the theme of death and the afterlife. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
"Our journey had advanced" is a short poem consisting of only four stanzas, each with two lines. The poem begins with the line "Our journey had advanced," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "journey" implies that the speaker is on a path or a voyage, and the word "advanced" suggests that they have made progress or moved forward in some way. However, the context of the poem suggests that this journey is not a physical one, but rather a metaphorical one towards death.
The second stanza of the poem reads, "Our feet were almost come / To that odd Fork in Being's Road." The use of the word "odd" suggests that the speaker is aware of the strangeness of their situation. The "Fork in Being's Road" refers to the point in life where one must choose between two paths, one leading to life and the other to death. The use of the word "almost" suggests that the speaker is not quite there yet, but they are close.
In the third stanza, the speaker says, "Eternity to choose / And we've been led astray." This line suggests that the speaker has been given a choice between life and death, and they have been led astray or misled in some way. The use of the word "eternity" suggests that this choice is a permanent one, and once it is made, there is no going back.
The final stanza of the poem reads, "Oh, if we now propose / To take the other way." This line suggests that the speaker is considering taking the other path, the one that leads to life. The use of the word "propose" suggests that this decision is not yet final, and the speaker is still considering their options. However, the use of the word "now" suggests that time is running out, and a decision must be made soon.
The overall theme of "Our journey had advanced" is the inevitability of death and the afterlife. The poem suggests that we are all on a journey towards death, and we will eventually come to a point where we must choose between life and death. The use of the word "journey" suggests that this is a natural and inevitable process, and the use of the word "advanced" suggests that we are all moving towards this point, whether we realize it or not.
The use of metaphor in the poem is also significant. The "Fork in Being's Road" is a metaphor for the point in life where we must choose between life and death. The use of the word "odd" suggests that this is a strange and unusual situation, and the use of the word "almost" suggests that we are not quite there yet, but we are getting close.
The use of the word "eternity" is also significant. It suggests that the choice between life and death is a permanent one, and once it is made, there is no going back. This reinforces the idea that death is inevitable and that we must all face it at some point.
The use of the word "led astray" is also significant. It suggests that the speaker feels as though they have been misled or deceived in some way. This could be interpreted as a criticism of society or religion, which may have given the speaker false ideas about the afterlife.
The use of the word "propose" in the final stanza is also significant. It suggests that the decision between life and death is not yet final, and the speaker is still considering their options. However, the use of the word "now" suggests that time is running out, and a decision must be made soon. This reinforces the idea that death is inevitable and that we must all face it at some point.
In conclusion, "Our journey had advanced" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of death and the afterlife. The use of metaphor and symbolism is significant, and the poem suggests that we are all on a journey towards death, and we will eventually come to a point where we must choose between life and death. The use of the word "eternity" reinforces the idea that this choice is a permanent one, and once it is made, there is no going back. Overall, this classic poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to explore complex themes in a concise and powerful way.
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