'"And with what body do they come?"—' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
1492
"And with what body do they come?"—
Then they do come—Rejoice!
What Door—What Hour—Run—run—My Soul!
Illuminate the House!
"Body!" Then real—a Face and Eyes—
To know that it is them!
Paul knew the Man that knew the News—
He passed through Bethlehem—
Edited by Peter Carter
Editor 1 Interpretation
"And with what body do they come?" - A Literary Criticism
Emily Dickinson is known for her unique style of poetry, which is characterized by her use of unconventional syntax and punctuation, and her tendency to explore themes of death, nature, and spirituality. One of her most famous poems is "And with what body do they come?", which has been the subject of much interpretation and analysis. In this literary criticism, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem, and how it reflects Dickinson's views on the afterlife and the nature of existence.
The Poem
"And with what body do they come?" is a short, four-stanza poem, consisting of only 16 lines. Here is the full text of the poem:
And with what body do they come?
With what device do they depart?
Ah, witless woe, begot of thee,
To evil that thou art!
Corporeal heresy, to trust
The doctrinal decree!
Schism, secession, but relate
To conscious agony!
Depart, depart, they mind's made up,
Of this be sure, this be sure;
The pomp and prodigality
Of prophets make no more.
At first glance, the poem appears to be a series of questions about the nature of the afterlife. The first two stanzas ask what kind of body people have when they come to the afterlife, and how they depart from it. The third stanza expresses frustration with the idea that human suffering is caused by evil, and the fourth stanza seems to reject religious doctrine and the idea of prophets.
Interpretation
To fully understand the meaning of "And with what body do they come?", it is helpful to look at it in the context of Dickinson's wider body of work. She was known for her fascination with death and the afterlife, and many of her poems explore these themes. In this poem, she appears to be questioning traditional religious beliefs about the afterlife, and suggesting that there is more to existence than what can be explained by doctrine.
The first two stanzas, which ask about the nature of the body in the afterlife, can be seen as a rejection of the idea that the afterlife is a physical place. Dickinson seems to be suggesting that the body and the soul are separate entities, and that the soul continues on after the body dies. This idea is supported by the third stanza, which criticizes the notion that suffering is caused by evil. Instead, Dickinson seems to be suggesting that suffering is an inherent part of human consciousness, and that it cannot be explained away by religious dogma.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most controversial, as it appears to reject the idea of religious authority altogether. Dickinson seems to be saying that the teachings of prophets are no longer relevant, and that people must rely on their own minds to make sense of the world. This idea is echoed in the repetition of the phrase "this be sure", which suggests that individuals must be confident in their own beliefs, rather than blindly following the teachings of others.
Overall, "And with what body do they come?" can be seen as a meditation on the nature of existence and the afterlife. Dickinson appears to be questioning traditional religious beliefs, and suggesting that individuals must rely on their own experiences and consciousness to understand the world around them.
Literary Techniques
As with many of Dickinson's poems, "And with what body do they come?" is characterized by her use of unconventional literary techniques. One of the most notable is her use of capitalization, which emphasizes certain words and phrases and creates a sense of importance. For example, the words "witless woe" in the second stanza and "The pomp and prodigality / Of prophets" in the final stanza are both capitalized, drawing attention to them and highlighting their significance.
Another technique that Dickinson employs is her use of slant rhyme, which is a type of rhyme where words have similar but not identical sounds. For example, in the first stanza, "come" and "depart" are slant rhymes, as are "thee" and "decree" in the second stanza. This technique creates a sense of musicality and rhythm in the poem, even though it does not adhere to strict rhyme schemes.
Finally, Dickinson's use of paradox and ambiguity is also evident in "And with what body do they come?" For example, in the first stanza, she asks what kind of body people have in the afterlife, even though the idea of a physical body in the afterlife is contradictory to many religious beliefs. Similarly, the phrase "Corporeal heresy" in the second stanza is paradoxical, as it suggests that the concept of a physical body in the afterlife is both heretical and corporeal. These paradoxes and ambiguities add to the complexity and richness of the poem, and encourage readers to think deeply about its meaning.
Conclusion
In "And with what body do they come?", Emily Dickinson explores the nature of the afterlife and the human experience. Through her use of unconventional literary techniques and her rejection of traditional religious beliefs, she creates a poem that is both thought-provoking and emotionally powerful. Although its meaning is open to interpretation, the poem encourages readers to think deeply about the nature of existence and to question the assumptions that underlie our understanding of the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson's poem "And with what body do they come?" is a thought-provoking and enigmatic piece of literature that has puzzled readers for generations. The poem is a meditation on the afterlife and the nature of the human soul, and it raises profound questions about the relationship between the body and the spirit. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and motifs of the poem, examine its structure and form, and attempt to unravel its meaning.
The poem begins with a simple question: "And with what body do they come?" This question is a reference to the Christian doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which holds that at the end of time, the dead will rise from their graves and be reunited with their bodies. Dickinson's poem, however, is not a theological treatise but a poetic exploration of the mysteries of life and death.
The first stanza of the poem sets the scene for the meditation that follows. Dickinson describes a scene of "solemn light" and "mournful air," suggesting that the poem is set at a funeral or in a graveyard. The speaker then asks the question that will drive the rest of the poem: "And with what body do they come?" The question is repeated in the second stanza, but this time it is expanded upon: "Then shall I see and hear and know / All that I loved and feared below." Here, the speaker is expressing a desire to be reunited with loved ones who have passed away, but also a fear of what that reunion might entail.
The third stanza of the poem introduces a new element: the idea of the soul. Dickinson writes, "And with what body do they come? / A spirit with its frame of flame." This line suggests that the body and the soul are intimately connected, but also distinct from one another. The soul is described as a "frame of flame," suggesting that it is both ethereal and powerful. The fourth stanza continues this theme, describing the soul as a "spark divine" that is "clothed in flesh." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the body is merely a vessel for the soul, and that the true essence of a person lies in their spirit.
The fifth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic. Dickinson writes, "Then why complain to thee, / That the immortal come?" This line seems to be addressed to God or some other divine being, and it suggests that the speaker is questioning the purpose of the resurrection. If the soul is immortal and eternal, why bother with the resurrection of the body? The sixth and final stanza of the poem offers a possible answer to this question. Dickinson writes, "The soul should always stand ajar, / That if the heaven inquire, / He will not be obliged to wait, / Or shy of troubling her." Here, the speaker is suggesting that the soul should always be open and receptive to the possibility of the afterlife. By keeping the soul "ajar," the speaker is suggesting that we should always be ready to embrace the mysteries of the universe, even if we do not fully understand them.
The structure and form of the poem are also worth examining. The poem consists of six quatrains, each with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which gives it a rhythmic and musical quality. The repetition of the question "And with what body do they come?" throughout the poem creates a sense of urgency and insistence, as if the speaker is demanding an answer to this profound question.
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's poem "And with what body do they come?" is a powerful meditation on the afterlife and the nature of the human soul. The poem raises profound questions about the relationship between the body and the spirit, and it challenges us to embrace the mysteries of the universe with an open heart and mind. Through its enigmatic imagery and rhythmic structure, the poem invites us to contemplate the mysteries of life and death, and to find meaning and purpose in the face of the unknown.
Editor Recommended Sites
NFT Assets: Crypt digital collectible assetsData Governance - Best cloud data governance practices & AWS and GCP Data Governance solutions: Learn cloud data governance and find the best highest rated resources
Crypto API - Tutorials on interfacing with crypto APIs & Code for binance / coinbase API: Tutorials on connecting to Crypto APIs
Learn to Code Videos: Video tutorials and courses on learning to code
Modern CLI: Modern command line tools written rust, zig and go, fresh off the github
Recommended Similar Analysis
Sonnet XII by William Shakespeare analysisLa Figlia Che Piange (The Weeping Girl) by T.S. Eliot analysis
Once by the Pacific by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Futility by Wilfred Owen analysis
About The Nightingale by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Absent-Mindedness in a Parish Choir by Thomas Hardy analysis
Before The World Was Made by William Butler Yeats analysis
The Widow At Windsor by Rudyard Kipling analysis
Forbearance by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
In An Artist's Studio by Christina Rossetti analysis