'He was my host-he was my guest' by Emily Dickinson
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The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson????1721He was my host-he was my guest,
I never to this day
If I invited him could tell,
Or he invited me.So infinite our intercourse
So intimate, indeed,
Analysis as capsule seemed
To keeper of the seed.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"He was my host-he was my guest" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Few poets have captured the essence of love and longing quite like Emily Dickinson, and her poem "He was my host - he was my guest" is a prime example. In just six short stanzas, Dickinson manages to convey a depth of emotion that is both riveting and captivating. Here, we will delve into the intricacies of this poem, examining its structure, themes, and literary devices, to gain a deeper understanding of Dickinson's brilliance.
Background
Before we dive into the poem, it is worth taking a moment to understand Dickinson's life and work. Emily Dickinson lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, in the mid-1800s, during a time when women were not encouraged to pursue careers in writing. Despite this, Dickinson wrote prolifically, producing nearly 1,800 poems in her lifetime, many of which were published posthumously.
Dickinson's poetry often dealt with themes of love, death, and nature, and is known for its striking imagery and unconventional style. Rather than adhering to traditional poetic forms, Dickinson often used slant rhyme and irregular meter, making her work both difficult to categorize and uniquely her own.
Structure
"He was my host - he was my guest" is a concise poem, consisting of just six stanzas, each two lines long. The poem follows a strict AABB rhyme scheme, with each stanza ending in a perfect rhyme. The tight structure of the poem creates a sense of intimacy, as if the speaker is confiding in the reader.
Interpretation
At first glance, "He was my host - he was my guest" may seem like a straightforward love poem, describing the speaker's affection for a man. However, as with much of Dickinson's work, there is much more beneath the surface.
The poem begins with the lines, "He was my host - he was my guest / I never to this day / Have dared to tell me of myself / So foreign he presumed to be." Here, the speaker is describing the man as both a host and a guest, implying that their relationship is a reciprocal one. However, the last line of the stanza suggests that the man is "foreign" to the speaker, and that she does not fully understand herself in relation to him.
The second stanza further explores the speaker's relationship with the man, describing how "Myself was scarce concealed / When I was door and door with him / Who such an accent held." The use of the word "accent" suggests that the man is from a different place than the speaker, perhaps hinting at a cultural or linguistic divide between them.
In the third stanza, the speaker describes how "He - if he knew / The 'guest' I entertained / Himself, himself inform - / Could of his opposite / Parade without a fear -." Here, the speaker is suggesting that if the man truly understood her, he would not be afraid to be himself around her. However, the fact that he is not able to do so suggests that their relationship is not as close as the speaker would like.
The fourth stanza brings in the concept of time, with the lines "The best of life is life unbought / Apples of Hesperides / The worst of life is waiting room / To-morrow, and its promises." Here, the speaker is suggesting that the best things in life cannot be bought, and that the worst thing is waiting for something that may never come.
In the fifth stanza, the speaker describes how "The attent eager hours / But few, and lightly worn, / So small am I, of fitful powers / Yet lived I think forlorn." Here, the speaker is lamenting the brevity of life and how few of her hours are truly fulfilling. The use of the word "forlorn" suggests that the speaker feels alone and disconnected from the world around her.
Finally, in the last stanza, the speaker declares that "The time scarce signifies / 'Twas here, and then it was / Not any more expresses / That which forever is." Here, the speaker is suggesting that time is fleeting and insignificant, and that what truly matters is the eternal love that she feels for the man.
Literary Devices
As with much of Dickinson's work, "He was my host - he was my guest" is full of literary devices that add depth and meaning to the poem.
One of the most notable devices is Dickinson's use of metaphor, as she describes the man as both a host and a guest. This metaphor creates a sense of intimacy and reciprocity, while also suggesting that their relationship is not one-sided.
Dickinson also employs slant rhyme throughout the poem, using words that almost rhyme with each other, such as "day" and "be," or "expresses" and "is." This creates a sense of tension and instability, reflecting the uncertainty of the speaker's relationship with the man.
The poem also uses repetition, with the phrase "He was my host - he was my guest" appearing twice in the first stanza. This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the duality of the man's role in the speaker's life.
Finally, Dickinson uses alliteration in the phrase "Apples of Hesperides," creating a musicality to the poem and emphasizing the importance of the idea of unattainable perfection.
Conclusion
In "He was my host - he was my guest," Emily Dickinson has created a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of love and longing. Through her use of metaphor, repetition, and literary devices, Dickinson creates a sense of intimacy and tension, revealing the speaker's deep emotions and inner turmoil. Ultimately, the poem suggests that what truly matters in life is not the passage of time, but the eternal bonds of love that connect us to one another.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "He was my host-he was my guest" is a perfect example of her unique style and ability to convey complex emotions through simple language. In this poem, Dickinson explores the relationship between a host and a guest, and how it can be both intimate and distant at the same time.
The poem begins with the line "He was my host-he was my guest," which immediately sets up the central theme of the poem. The speaker is describing someone who has played both roles in their relationship, which suggests a certain level of intimacy and familiarity between the two. However, the use of the past tense ("was") also implies that this relationship is no longer active, which adds a sense of distance and separation to the poem.
The next line, "I ne'er forgot the way he took," is a bit more cryptic, but it seems to suggest that the speaker remembers how the other person acted in both roles. This could mean that the speaker is reflecting on a specific event or experience they shared, or it could be a more general observation about the nature of their relationship.
The third line, "And left the place upon my look," is where the poem really starts to get interesting. The use of the word "look" suggests that the speaker's gaze had some kind of power over the other person, and that they were able to influence their behavior simply by looking at them. This could be interpreted in a number of ways - perhaps the speaker had a commanding presence, or maybe the other person was in love with them and would do anything to please them.
The fourth line, "Like divinity turned lukewarm," is a particularly striking image. The idea of divinity (i.e. a god or goddess) being "lukewarm" suggests that even the most powerful and awe-inspiring beings can become mundane and ordinary when they are in the presence of someone they care about. This could be seen as a commentary on the nature of love and relationships - even the most extraordinary things can become commonplace when we are used to them.
The fifth line, "Or single noon, that took the sky," is a bit more difficult to interpret. It could be a metaphor for the other person's presence, suggesting that they were like a bright and shining sun that dominated the speaker's world. Alternatively, it could be a reference to a specific event or time of day that was significant to the speaker and the other person.
The sixth line, "But he, and I, and noon, apart," is where the poem takes a darker turn. The use of the word "apart" suggests that the speaker and the other person are no longer together, and that they are now separated by some kind of distance or barrier. This could be a physical distance, such as if the other person moved away, or it could be an emotional distance, such as if they fell out of love.
The seventh line, "Yet passed us by as strangers do," reinforces this sense of separation. The speaker and the other person are now strangers to each other, and they pass each other by without acknowledging the past they shared. This could be seen as a commentary on the fleeting nature of relationships - even the most intimate and meaningful connections can be forgotten or ignored over time.
The final two lines of the poem, "With board and lodgings for reward," bring the poem full circle. The idea of "board and lodgings" suggests that the speaker and the other person were once living together, either as roommates or as a couple. The fact that this was done "for reward" suggests that there was some kind of transactional nature to their relationship - perhaps the other person was providing financial support, or maybe they were simply using each other for companionship.
Overall, "He was my host-he was my guest" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of relationships and the ways in which they can change over time. Dickinson's use of simple language and vivid imagery creates a powerful and evocative portrait of two people who were once intimately connected, but who are now strangers to each other. Whether you're a fan of poetry or simply interested in exploring the complexities of human relationships, this poem is definitely worth a read.
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