Dickinson 高等教育出版社 美国文学选读课件.ppt

Emily Dickinson (1830—1886) Important men in Dickinson’s life: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a poetry critic for The Atlantic Monthly, who later helped gathering her poems for publication. the Reverend Charles Wadsworth, toward whom Dickinson might possess a deep love passion. Benjamin Newton, a law student in her father’s office, who introduced her to Emerson’s works and other prominent literary texts. ? 449 “I died for Beauty—but was scarce” Why does the first speaker say that he was scarcely adjusted? Why does the second speaker ask “Why I failed”? What happens to the two speakers toward the end of the poem?And what does it imply? What is the theme of the poem? What is Dickinson’s principle of poetic composition? Features of Dickinson’s poetry: --telling images, striking, suggestive and connotative sometimes incomprehensible --a severe economy of expression --direct and plain words, simple syntax --faulty grammar --no regular rhyme --unusual capitalization --unusual use of punctuation marks “I’M nobody! Who are you?” I ’M nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there ’s a pair of us—don’t tell! They ’d banish us, you know. ?? How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog!  * * ?????????????????????????????????????? *