Literary Elements

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Literary Elements

• Employed by Emily Dickinson

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To understand Dickinson, it is important to
multi-draft read

• First Reading
• Literal comprehension
• Second Reading
• Look for elliptical phrasing, slant rhyme, exact
  rhyme and paradox
• Third Reading
• Interpret the meaning of the poem

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Elliptical Phrasing

• Leaving out words that are expected to be
  understood
• To UNDERSTAND, reread
• While rereading, mentally fill in omitted words
• Use a graphic organizer to clarify meaning

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Elliptical Phrasing
Original Line Water, is taught by thirst
Original Line For only Gossamer, my Gown
Possible Meaning Water is taught something by
thirst.
Possible Meaning For only of gossamer (thin
cloth) was my gown made
Probable Meaning The concept of water is taught
to us by thirst.
Probable Meaning Her dress is so thin
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Slant Rhyme

• Rhyme in which either the vowels or the
  consonants of stressed syllables are identical,
  as in eyes, light years, yours.
• Dickinson uses slant rhyme to make her poetry
  surprising

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Slant Rhyme

• Ive known her-from an ample nation-
• Choose One-
• Then-close the Valves of her attention-
• Like Stone-

The final sounds are similar but not identical
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Slant Rhyme

• I heard a fly buzz-when I died-
• The Stillness in the Room
• Was like the Stillness in the Air-
• Between the Heavens of storm-

The final sounds are similar but not identical
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Exact Rhyme

• Rhyme in which two or more words have identical
  sounds in their final stressed syllables.
• One/ Begun

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Exact Rhyme

• Ive known her-from an ample nation-
• Choose One-
• Then-close the Valves of her attention-
• Like Stone-

Two words have identical sounds in their final
stressed syllables
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Paradox

• Statement that seems contradictory but actually
  presents a truth

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Paradox

• My life closed twice before its close-

How could her life close (die) two times before
she died??? This appears contradictory Where is
the truth?
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Paradox

• The Brain is deeper than the sea-

How is the brain deeper that the sea??? This
appears contradictory Where is the truth?
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Because I Could Not Stop For Death (408-409)

• 1.Who are the important characters?
• 2. How does the poet represent Death?
• 3. Summarize lines 14-16 in your own words. (Use
  elliptical phrasing.)
• 4.Define surmised.

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Answers

• Death and speaker
• As a kind and polite gentleman- where he states
  drives slowly with no haste
• The dews chilled me and caused shivering, because
  my gown was only gossamer and my tippet was only
  tulle.
• Guessed, concluded

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I Heard a Fly Buzz-When I Died(411)

• 1.What two words form a slant rhyme in the first
  stanza and what is the effect?
• 2.What actions has the speaker taken in
  preparation for death?
• 3. Why is there stillness in the room?

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Answers

• Room and Storm one of surprise
• Wills away keepsakes and worldly goods.
• People are waiting for the speakers final moment
  
• Allusion-from that last onset-when the King/ be
  witnessed in the room

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Theres a Certain Slant of Light(412)

• 1.Define affliction
• 2. What is the image of the late-afternoon winter
  light symbolizing?
• 3. What is the major focus of this poem that a
  lesson can be learned?
• 4. Summarize the poem in one sentence.

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Answers

• Anything causing pain or distress
• A person thinking death
• Nature
• A winter day reminds the speaker of her
  mortality.

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Soul Selects Her Own Society (414)

• Which words create slant rhyme in the second
  stanza and what is the effect?
• Define ample.
• What leaves the soul unmoved?

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Answers

1. Gate and mat surprise and interest
2. Large in size more than enough
3. Chariots and emperors leave the soul unmoved.

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The Brain Is Wider Than The Sky(415)

• What does the speaker compare the brain to?
• 2. What is the paradox in the first stanza?
  (Explain in your own words)
• 3. In the second stanza, which words create an
  exact rhyme?

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Answers

1. To the sky, to the sea, and to God
2. The small human brain can contain, or conceive
   of, the most immense concepts.
3. Blue and do

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Water is Taught by Thirst(417)

1. Using elliptical phrasing, what can you conclude
   is the message of this poem?
2. What might the birds in the last line symbolize?

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Answers

1. Opposites teach about each other.
2. The return of the spring, which represent the
   opposite of winters snow.