'I got so I could take his name' by Emily Dickinson

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

I got so I could take his name-
Without-Tremendous gain-
That Stop-sensation-on my Soul-
And Thunder-in the Room-I got so I could walk across
That Angle in the floor,
Where he turned so, and I turned-how-
And all our Sinew tore-I got so I could stir the Box-
In which his letters grew
Without that forcing, in my breath-
As Staples-driven through-Could dimly recollect a Grace-
I think, they call it "God"-
Renowned to ease Extremity-
When Formula, had failed-And shape my Hands-
Petition's way,
Tho' ignorant of a word
That Ordination-utters-My Business, with the Cloud,
If any Power behind it, be,
Not subject to Despair-
It care, in some remoter way,
For so minute affair
As Misery-
Itself, too vast, for interrupting-more-

Editor 1 Interpretation

"I got so I could take his name" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Emily Dickinson, one of the most renowned poets of the 19th century, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to express complex emotions through simple language. In "I got so I could take his name," Dickinson explores the themes of love, loss, and memory. Through her use of vivid imagery and metaphors, she creates a powerful depiction of a woman's journey through grief and healing.

Overview of the Poem

"I got so I could take his name" is a brief, six-line poem that was first published in 1896, after Dickinson's death. The poem is written in free verse, with no particular rhyme or meter. The title itself is intriguing; it suggests that the speaker has gone through a transformative experience, one that has allowed her to acknowledge the name of someone she has lost.

The poem opens with the line, "I got so I could take his name," indicating that the speaker has come to terms with her grief and is able to speak the name of the person she has lost. However, the following lines reveal that this process was not easy. The speaker describes her journey through grief and the pain she experienced in coming to terms with her loss.

Analysis of the Poem

The poem begins with a simple statement: "I got so I could take his name." This line is significant because it implies that the speaker has achieved something difficult. The use of the phrase "got so I could" suggests that this was a gradual process, one that required effort and time. It also suggests that the speaker has been hesitant or unable to say the person's name in the past.

The second line, "Without / Trembling," is equally significant. The use of the word "trembling" suggests that the speaker has experienced fear or anxiety in speaking the person's name. This fear is understandable, given the context of the poem. The speaker is likely referring to someone who has died, and speaking their name may bring up painful memories and emotions.

The third line introduces the idea of memory: "If I should see a / Flock of pigeons, / Or if I should see / The lilacs in the sun." Here, the speaker uses two vivid images to evoke the idea of memory. The pigeons and lilacs are specific, tangible objects that can be visualized and remembered. The use of the word "should" suggests that these memories are unexpected; they come to the speaker without warning.

The fourth line, "It comes / Back to me," reinforces the idea of memory. The use of the word "back" suggests that the memories are connected to the past, and that they have been forgotten or repressed. The use of the word "me" is also significant; it suggests that the memories are personal and specific to the speaker.

The fifth line, "The refrain of 'Dixie,' / And no one knows it but me," adds a new layer of complexity to the poem. The use of the word "refrain" suggests that the speaker is thinking of a specific part of a song. The reference to "Dixie" is interesting because it is a song that is associated with the American South and with the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The fact that "no one knows it but me" suggests that this memory is private and personal to the speaker.

The final line, "And him," brings the poem full circle. The use of the word "him" suggests that the speaker is thinking of a specific person, likely the person who has died. The fact that the speaker is now able to speak this person's name without trembling suggests that she has come to terms with her grief and has found a way to remember the person without being overwhelmed by emotion.

Themes and Interpretation

The poem explores several themes that are common in Dickinson's work, including love, loss, memory, and grief. The theme of memory is particularly strong in this poem. The use of vivid imagery and specific objects to evoke memories suggests that memories are a powerful force in the speaker's life. The fact that memories can come unexpectedly, and that they can be triggered by specific objects or sounds, reinforces this idea.

The theme of love is also present in the poem. The fact that the speaker is able to speak the person's name without trembling suggests that she has come to terms with her love for this person. The memory of the person is connected to the memory of specific objects and sounds, suggesting that the speaker has a deep emotional connection to the person.

The theme of loss is perhaps the most prominent in the poem. The fact that the speaker is hesitant to speak the person's name suggests that she is still processing her grief. The fact that memories can be overwhelming and painful reinforces this idea. However, the fact that the speaker is able to speak the person's name without trembling suggests that she has found a way to move through her grief and find some level of acceptance.

Conclusion

"I got so I could take his name" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, loss, memory, and grief. Through her use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Emily Dickinson creates a poignant depiction of a woman's journey through grief and healing. The poem is a testament to the power of memory and the human capacity to come to terms with loss.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "I got so I could take his name" is a classic example of her unique style and perspective. This poem is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and identity, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of the greatest poets of all time.

At its core, "I got so I could take his name" is a poem about the transformative power of love. The speaker of the poem begins by describing how she used to be afraid to say her lover's name, but over time, she has grown more comfortable with it. She writes, "I got so I could take his name-- / Without--Tremendous gain-- / That Stop-sensation--on my Soul-- / And Thunder--in the Room--"

These lines are incredibly powerful, as they capture the intense emotions that come with falling in love. The speaker is so overwhelmed by her feelings that she can barely even say her lover's name without feeling a physical sensation in her body. This is a common experience for many people who have fallen in love, and Dickinson captures it perfectly in these lines.

As the poem continues, the speaker goes on to describe how her love has changed her identity. She writes, "I got so I could drop his name-- / No different from an Ought-- / The First time--in the Forest-- / It is the Nightingale--"

These lines are particularly interesting because they suggest that the speaker's identity is now intimately tied to her lover's. She no longer sees herself as an individual, but rather as part of a larger whole. This is a common experience for many people in relationships, as they often feel that their identity is intertwined with their partner's.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker writes, "With just my fingers--in my eyes-- / And Thee--so--far away-- / An easy--Teasing--size-- / For Humming--Bees--to--say--"

These lines are incredibly poignant, as they suggest that the speaker's love is so strong that it transcends physical distance. Even though her lover is far away, she can still feel his presence and his love. This is a powerful reminder that love is not just a physical experience, but a spiritual one as well.

Overall, "I got so I could take his name" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the complexities of love and identity. Emily Dickinson was a master of capturing the nuances of human emotion, and this poem is a perfect example of her unique style and perspective. Whether you are in a relationship or not, this poem is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the transformative power of love.

Editor Recommended Sites

ML Ethics: Machine learning ethics: Guides on managing ML model bias, explanability for medical and insurance use cases, dangers of ML model bias in gender, orientation and dismorphia terms
Developer Key Takeaways: Key takeaways from the best books, lectures, youtube videos and deep dives
Low Code Place: Low code and no code best practice, tooling and recommendations
DFW Education: Dallas fort worth education
Kubernetes Recipes: Recipes for your kubernetes configuration, itsio policies, distributed cluster management, multicloud solutions

Recommended Similar Analysis

Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen by William Shakespeare analysis
A Musical Instrument by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
A Broken Appointment by Thomas Hardy analysis
An Ancient Gesture by Edna St. Vincent Millay analysis
Epilogue to Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll analysis
To Autumn by John Keats analysis
Crow's Fall by Ted Hughes analysis
The Lost Leader by Robert Browning analysis
Mazeppa by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson analysis