'An altered look about the hills' by Emily Dickinson
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An altered look about the hills-
A Tyrian light the village fills-
A wider sunrise in the morn-
A deeper twilight on the lawn-
A print of a vermillion foot-
A purple finger on the slope-
A flippant fly upon the pane-
A spider at his trade again-
An added strut in Chanticleer-
A flower expected everywhere-
An axe shrill singing in the woods-
Fern odors on untravelled roads-
All this and more I cannot tell-
A furtive look you know as well-
And Nicodemus' Mystery
Receives its annual reply!
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Altered Look About The Hills: A Critical Interpretation
Do the hills sometimes look different to you? As if they have changed their shape or color? Do you ever wonder if it's just your mind playing tricks on you, or if there's something more profound at work? Emily Dickinson's poem "An Altered Look About The Hills" explores this theme of perception and the way our minds interpret the world around us.
Introduction
The poem begins with a simple observation: "There's a certain slant of light." This line sets the mood for the entire poem, as we can almost feel the weight of that slant of light pressing down on us. Dickinson is known for her ability to capture the essence of a moment, to distill it down to its most essential elements. In "An Altered Look About The Hills," she does just that, taking a fleeting moment and turning it into a meditation on life, death, and the human condition.
Analysis
The second line of the poem is one of Dickinson's most famous: "Winter Afternoons – That oppresses, like the Heft." Here, Dickinson is describing the feeling of winter afternoons, when the light is at its lowest and the world seems to be closing in on us. The use of the word "Heft" is particularly effective, as it conveys both the physical weight of the light and the emotional weight of the season. Winter is a time of darkness and death, and Dickinson is setting the stage for a meditation on mortality.
The third line of the poem introduces the hills, which are described as having "a sense of the size of the world." This is an interesting contrast to the previous line, which described the world as oppressive and heavy. Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the hills have a sense of scale that puts our own problems and concerns into perspective. The hills are a reminder of the vastness of the world and the smallness of our own lives.
In the fourth line, Dickinson introduces the idea of "eternity." She writes that the hills "tilt" us toward eternity, as if they are pointing us in the direction of something greater than ourselves. This is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry, as she often uses the natural world to suggest the presence of a higher power or divine force.
The fifth line is perhaps the most mysterious: "When it comes, the landscape listens." Here, Dickinson seems to be suggesting that there is something in the air that the landscape can sense, something that makes it go quiet and still. This may be a reference to the spiritual or supernatural, or it may be a metaphor for the way our own perceptions change when we are confronted with something powerful and profound.
In the sixth line, Dickinson returns to the idea of "heavenly hurt," which she has used in previous poems. This phrase suggests that there is a kind of pain that is both terrible and beautiful at the same time, a pain that is associated with the divine. The use of the word "heavenly" suggests that this pain is related to the spiritual or supernatural, and that it is something we might experience when we are confronted with the power and majesty of the natural world.
The seventh line is one of the most beautiful in the poem: "None may teach it – Any – 'Tis the seal Despair." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that there are some things in life that cannot be taught or learned, but that must be experienced firsthand. The phrase "the seal Despair" is particularly effective, as it suggests that this experience is both profound and difficult. It is as if we must pass through a kind of emotional or spiritual trial in order to reach this state of understanding.
In the eighth and final line, Dickinson returns to the hills, which are now described as having "an altered look." This may be a reference to the way our perceptions change when we are confronted with something powerful and profound, or it may be a suggestion that the hills themselves have changed in some way. Either way, Dickinson is capturing the idea that there is something mysterious and unknowable about the natural world, something that can never be fully understood or explained.
Conclusion
"An Altered Look About The Hills" is a beautiful and mysterious poem that captures the essence of a fleeting moment and turns it into a meditation on life, death, and the human condition. Through her use of language and imagery, Emily Dickinson suggests that there is a kind of pain and beauty in the natural world that is both terrible and profound. She suggests that there are some things in life that cannot be taught or learned, but that must be experienced firsthand. And she reminds us that there is always something mysterious and unknowable about the world around us, something that can never be fully understood or explained.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
An Altered Look About the Hills: A Masterpiece of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poetry. Her poem "An Altered Look About the Hills" is a masterpiece that showcases her talent and creativity. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
The Poem
An altered look about the hills; A Tyrian light the village fills; A wider sunrise in the dawn; A deeper twilight on the lawn; A print of a vermillion foot; A purple finger on the slope; A flippant fly upon the pane; A spider at his trade again; An added strut in chanticleer; A flower expected everywhere; An axe shrill singing in the woods; Fern-odors on untravelled roads,— All this, and more I cannot tell, A furtive look you know as well, And Nicodemus’ mystery Receives its annual reply.
Analysis
The poem "An Altered Look About the Hills" is a beautiful piece of poetry that captures the essence of nature and its changing moods. The poem is divided into two stanzas, each consisting of eight lines. The first stanza describes the changes that have taken place in the village and the surrounding hills. The second stanza talks about the mysterious Nicodemus and his annual reply.
The first line of the poem, "An altered look about the hills," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "altered" suggests that something has changed, and the hills are no longer the same as they used to be. The second line, "A Tyrian light the village fills," describes the light that fills the village. The word "Tyrian" refers to the color purple, which suggests that the light is a deep shade of purple.
The third line, "A wider sunrise in the dawn," suggests that the sunrise is wider than usual. This could mean that the sun is rising earlier than usual, or that the sunrise is more intense than usual. The fourth line, "A deeper twilight on the lawn," suggests that the twilight is deeper than usual. This could mean that the evening is darker than usual, or that the twilight is more intense than usual.
The fifth line, "A print of a vermillion foot," suggests that someone has left a footprint in the vermillion soil. The word "vermillion" refers to a bright red color, which suggests that the soil is rich and fertile. The sixth line, "A purple finger on the slope," suggests that someone has left a mark on the slope. The word "purple" refers to a deep shade of purple, which suggests that the mark is significant.
The seventh line, "A flippant fly upon the pane," suggests that a fly is buzzing around on a windowpane. The word "flippant" suggests that the fly is carefree and not bothered by anything. The eighth line, "A spider at his trade again," suggests that a spider is spinning its web. The word "trade" suggests that the spider is skilled at what it does.
The ninth line, "An added strut in chanticleer," suggests that a rooster is strutting around with more confidence than usual. The word "chanticleer" refers to a rooster, which suggests that the rooster is proud and confident. The tenth line, "A flower expected everywhere," suggests that flowers are blooming everywhere. The word "expected" suggests that the flowers are a common sight.
The eleventh line, "An axe shrill singing in the woods," suggests that someone is chopping wood in the woods. The word "shrill" suggests that the sound is high-pitched and piercing. The twelfth line, "Fern-odors on untravelled roads," suggests that the roads are lined with ferns, and the air is filled with their fragrance. The word "untravelled" suggests that the roads are not well-traveled, which adds to the sense of mystery and intrigue.
The thirteenth line, "All this, and more I cannot tell," suggests that there are many other things happening that the speaker cannot describe. The fourteenth line, "A furtive look you know as well," suggests that the reader is familiar with the furtive look that the speaker is referring to. The fifteenth line, "And Nicodemus’ mystery," refers to the mysterious Nicodemus, who is mentioned in the second stanza.
The sixteenth line, "Receives its annual reply," suggests that Nicodemus receives an annual reply to his mystery. The word "annual" suggests that this is a recurring event, and the word "reply" suggests that there is an answer to Nicodemus' mystery.
Explanation
The poem "An Altered Look About the Hills" is a beautiful piece of poetry that captures the essence of nature and its changing moods. The poem is full of vivid imagery and sensory details that bring the scene to life. Emily Dickinson uses a variety of literary devices, such as alliteration, personification, and metaphor, to create a rich and complex poem.
The poem is divided into two stanzas, each consisting of eight lines. The first stanza describes the changes that have taken place in the village and the surrounding hills. The second stanza talks about the mysterious Nicodemus and his annual reply. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This gives the poem a natural and organic feel, which is appropriate for a poem about nature.
The poem is full of sensory details that bring the scene to life. The use of color, such as "Tyrian" and "vermillion," creates a vivid and colorful image in the reader's mind. The use of sound, such as "shrill singing" and "fern-odors," creates a rich and complex soundscape that adds to the sense of mystery and intrigue.
Emily Dickinson uses a variety of literary devices to create a rich and complex poem. Alliteration, such as "purple finger on the slope," creates a musical quality to the poem. Personification, such as "A flippant fly upon the pane," gives human qualities to non-human objects. Metaphor, such as "A wider sunrise in the dawn," creates a comparison between two unlike things.
The poem is full of mystery and intrigue, which is appropriate for a poem about nature. The mysterious Nicodemus and his annual reply add to the sense of mystery and intrigue. The use of sensory details and literary devices creates a rich and complex poem that captures the essence of nature and its changing moods.
Conclusion
"An Altered Look About the Hills" is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Emily Dickinson's talent and creativity. The poem is full of vivid imagery and sensory details that bring the scene to life. Emily Dickinson uses a variety of literary devices to create a rich and complex poem that captures the essence of nature and its changing moods. The mysterious Nicodemus and his annual reply add to the sense of mystery and intrigue. Overall, "An Altered Look About the Hills" is a beautiful and timeless poem that continues to inspire and captivate readers today.
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