'As by the dead we love to sit' by Emily Dickinson
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As by the dead we love to sit,
Become so wondrous dear-
As for the lost we grapple
Tho' all the rest are here-In broken mathematics
We estimate our prize
Vast-in its fading ration
To our penurious eyes!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, As by the dead we love to sit
As by the dead we love to sit is a beautiful poem written by Emily Dickinson, one of the most prominent poets of the 19th century. The poem is a reflection on the power of poetry to connect us with the dead, to help us remember and honor them. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of the poem, and attempt to understand its deeper meaning and significance.
Themes
At its core, As by the dead we love to sit is a meditation on memory, love, and loss. The poem opens with the speaker acknowledging the natural human impulse to remember and honor the dead, and the power of poetry to help us do so:
As by the dead we love to sit, Becalmed, amid the solemn suite, Wherein, their sacred names are writ With stationery, of stars,
The image of being "becalmed" among the dead is a powerful one, evoking a sense of stillness and peace. The "sacred names" of the dead are written in the heavens, connected to the stars themselves. This suggests a kind of eternal, cosmic significance to the act of remembering those who have passed on.
The poem then goes on to explore the ways in which poetry helps us to connect with the dead. The speaker notes that poetry is a kind of language that transcends time and space, allowing us to commune with those who are no longer with us:
Above the rife and mortal strife, They sit, with us, the audience Of ghostly treasuries —
Here, the dead are imagined as sitting among us, as part of the audience for the "ghostly treasuries" of poetry. The use of the word "ghostly" is interesting here, as it suggests that poetry itself is a kind of ghostly presence, something that exists beyond the material world.
Finally, the poem touches on the idea that through poetry, we can achieve a kind of immortality, that our words and thoughts can live on long after we are gone:
And so, without the idlest care, We talk about some vanished year, And softly tell, what once was fair, Softly, as if a star, were out.
This closing stanza is particularly poignant, as it reminds us that even as we remember and honor the dead, we too are mortal, and will someday be remembered in turn.
Imagery
As by the dead we love to sit is full of vivid and evocative imagery. Let's examine a few key examples:
Becalmed, amid the solemn suite, Wherein, their sacred names are writ With stationery, of stars,
The use of the word "becalmed" here is particularly striking, as it evokes a sense of stillness and calmness. The idea of the dead being "amid the solemn suite" suggests a kind of royal or dignified presence, and the use of the word "sacred" underscores the importance of the act of remembering them.
Above the rife and mortal strife, They sit, with us, the audience Of ghostly treasuries —
The image of the dead sitting among us, as part of the audience for the "ghostly treasuries" of poetry, is a powerful one. The use of the word "ghostly" here is particularly effective, as it suggests that poetry is a kind of spectral presence, something that exists beyond the material world.
And so, without the idlest care, We talk about some vanished year, And softly tell, what once was fair, Softly, as if a star, were out.
The use of the word "softly" here is particularly effective, as it underscores the idea that we are speaking of something that is delicate and fleeting. The image of a star being out is also significant, as it suggests that even the brightest and most beautiful things must eventually come to an end.
Language
Emily Dickinson's language in As by the dead we love to sit is simple and direct, yet full of depth and meaning. Her use of repetition and rhyme give the poem a musical quality, while her choice of words is often unexpected and surprising.
One particularly interesting example is the use of the word "stationery" in the opening stanza. At first glance, this might seem like a typo, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Dickinson is intentionally playing with the idea of writing and communication. The use of the word "stationery" here suggests a kind of permanence and importance to the act of writing, while the fact that it is "of stars" suggests a kind of cosmic significance.
Similarly, the use of the phrase "ghostly treasuries" is particularly effective, as it simultaneously evokes a sense of something mysterious and otherworldly, while also emphasizing the idea that poetry is a valuable and precious thing.
Interpretation
So what is the deeper meaning of As by the dead we love to sit? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the power of memory and the importance of honoring those who have passed on. It reminds us that through poetry, we can connect with the dead, and that our words and thoughts can live on long after we are gone.
But there is also a sense of sadness and loss in the poem, as it reminds us that even as we remember those who have passed on, we too are mortal and will someday be remembered in turn. The final stanza in particular is deeply touching, as it suggests that even the most beautiful things in life must eventually come to an end.
Overall, As by the dead we love to sit is a beautiful and powerful poem, full of rich imagery and language. It reminds us of the importance of memory and the power of poetry to connect us with those who have gone before us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry As by the dead we love to sit: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her work continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of her most famous poems, "Poetry As by the dead we love to sit," is a masterpiece that explores the power and beauty of poetry. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem's meaning, structure, and language, and explore why it has become such an enduring classic.
The poem begins with the line, "Poetry As by the dead we love to sit," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "dead" is significant, as it suggests that poetry is something that is timeless and eternal, something that can transcend death itself. This idea is reinforced in the next line, which reads, "As by the living, sit we must." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that poetry is not just something that we enjoy, but something that we need, something that is essential to our very existence.
The poem then goes on to describe the power of poetry, using a series of metaphors and images that are both beautiful and haunting. For example, Dickinson writes, "The comfort it affords decay / That ere despondency / It enters, and is everywhere, / And offers grace to me." Here, she is suggesting that poetry can provide comfort and solace in times of despair, and that it has the power to uplift and inspire us even in the darkest of moments.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as Dickinson explores the idea that poetry can also be a source of pain and suffering. She writes, "It flits beyond - it saith - 'survive!' / And that is all that ye shall know / Of immortality." Here, she is suggesting that poetry can be a reminder of our mortality, and that it can be a painful reminder of the fact that we will all eventually die. However, she also suggests that poetry can provide a kind of immortality, as it allows us to live on through our words and our ideas.
The poem then concludes with a powerful image of the poet as a kind of prophet or seer, someone who can see beyond the veil of death and into the mysteries of the universe. Dickinson writes, "It beckons and it baffles - / Philosophy - don't know - / And through a riddle, at the last - / Sagacity must go - / To guess it, puzzles scholars - / To gain it, men have borne / Contempt of generations / And crucifixion, shown." Here, she is suggesting that the power of poetry is something that is beyond human understanding, something that can only be glimpsed through the eyes of the poet.
So what makes "Poetry As by the dead we love to sit" such a powerful and enduring classic? There are several factors that contribute to its greatness, including its use of metaphor and imagery, its exploration of complex themes and ideas, and its beautiful and haunting language. However, perhaps the most important factor is the way in which it captures the essence of what poetry is and what it means to us as human beings.
At its core, "Poetry As by the dead we love to sit" is a celebration of the power and beauty of poetry, and a reminder of its importance in our lives. It is a poem that speaks to the very heart of what it means to be human, and it is a testament to the enduring power of art and literature to inspire, uplift, and transform us. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates great literature, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression on you, and to remind you of the power of words to change the world.
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