'It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did' by Emily Dickinson
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It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did—
I run it over—"Dead", Brain, "Dead."
Put it in Latin—left of my school—
Seems it don't shriek so—under rule.
Turn it, a little—full in the face
A Trouble looks bitterest—
Shift it—just—
Say "When Tomorrow comes this way—
I shall have waded down one Day."
I suppose it will interrupt me some
Till I get accustomed—but then the Tomb
Like other new Things—shows largest—then—
And smaller, by Habit—
It's shrewder then
Put the Thought in advance—a Year—
How like "a fit"—then—
Murder—wear!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism
Wow. Just wow. "It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did" by Emily Dickinson is a poem that truly captures the essence of human emotion. It's a short, concise piece, but it packs a punch. In this literary criticism, we will dive deep into the meaning behind this poem and explore the ways in which Dickinson uses language to convey her message.
Background
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to talk about Emily Dickinson. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830 and is considered one of the greatest American poets of all time. Despite living a very private life, she wrote over 1,800 poems, many of which were not published until after her death. Her poems are known for their unique style, unconventional punctuation, and powerful imagery.
"It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did" was written in 1862, during the American Civil War. Dickinson was known for her interest in politics and social issues, and this poem is no exception. It speaks to the idea of perspective and how our thoughts and feelings can change based on our experiences.
Analysis
Let's dive into the poem itself. Here's the text in full:
It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did—
I run it over—"Dead", Brain, "Dead."
Put it in Latin—left of my school—
Seem so—same—Agony
Cannot define—is thrall
"Have been identified"
—Could'nt find my Headphones—
Silver—perished—with Thee—
—Unto Thee—will I assign—
Them—over there—But not to Thee—
Seal thee in Amber
Sleep thou—'twas thy last Visitor—
Angels—Sugar—take the Almonds—
Hide them in thy drawers—
Jesus! Sweetest—when I come to die—
Some—take my hand—
Put out my eyes—
You have been so
Unto—Others—
—I will betray thee—
At first glance, this poem may seem confusing. Dickinson's unconventional punctuation and capitalization can make it difficult to discern where one thought ends and another begins. However, upon closer examination, we can see that there is a clear structure to the poem.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. Dickinson introduces the idea of perspective by saying "It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did." This line is interesting because it's not clear what "it" is referring to. We don't know what has happened or what is being discussed, which creates a sense of mystery and intrigue.
The second stanza provides some context. Dickinson says "I run it over—'Dead', Brain, 'Dead.'" This line suggests that whatever "it" is, it is related to death. Dickinson then puts the phrase "Dead" in Latin, which adds a sense of detachment and intellectualism to the poem. By putting this phrase "left of my school," she is also distancing herself from the emotion of the situation.
The third stanza is where things start to get really interesting. Dickinson says "Seem so—same—Agony/Cannot define—is thrall." Here, she is saying that despite the fact that the situation may not seem as terrible as it did before, the agony is still present and cannot be defined. This line is intriguing because it suggests that our perspective can change, but our feelings may not.
The fourth stanza continues this theme of perspective. Dickinson says "Have been identified/Couldn't find my Headphones/Silver—perished with Thee." Here, she is saying that while she has identified with the situation and understands it, she cannot escape the pain. The line "Silver—perished with Thee" is interesting because it suggests that something valuable has been lost, and that loss is tied to the situation at hand.
The fifth stanza is perhaps the most confusing. Dickinson says "Unto Thee—will I assign/Them—over there—But not to Thee—/Seal thee in Amber/Sleep thou—'twas thy last Visitor." Here, she seems to be addressing someone or something directly, but it's not clear who or what. The phrase "Seal thee in Amber" is interesting because it suggests a desire to preserve something, but it's unclear what that something is.
The sixth stanza contains the only direct reference to religion in the poem. Dickinson says "Angels—Sugar—take the Almonds—/Hide them in thy drawers." This line is interesting because it suggests a desire to offer comfort during a time of grief. The mention of angels and sugar adds a sense of sweetness and light to the poem.
The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful. Dickinson says "Jesus! Sweetest—when I come to die—/Some—take my hand—/Put out my eyes—/You have been so/Unto—Others—/I will betray thee." Here, she is addressing Jesus directly and saying that he has been kind to others but she will betray him. This line is intriguing because it suggests a sense of guilt or remorse, but it's not clear what she is referring to.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? At its core, "It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did" is a poem about how our perspective can change based on our experiences. Dickinson is saying that even though the situation may not seem as terrible as it did before, the pain is still present and cannot be defined. She is also exploring the idea of loss and how we try to preserve the things we value.
One interesting interpretation of this poem is that it is a commentary on the Civil War. Dickinson was writing during a time of great turmoil, and this poem may be her way of expressing her feelings about the conflict. The line "Silver—perished with Thee" could be a reference to the loss of life in the war, and the desire to preserve something valuable could be a commentary on the need to preserve the Union.
Another possible interpretation is that the poem is about death and grief. The line "Jesus! Sweetest—when I come to die" suggests a fear of death, and the desire to preserve something valuable could be a way of coping with grief.
Ultimately, the beauty of this poem is that it can be interpreted in many different ways. Dickinson's use of language is so powerful that it can evoke different emotions and ideas depending on the reader's perspective.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did" by Emily Dickinson is a fascinating poem that explores the idea of perspective and loss. Dickinson's use of unconventional punctuation and capitalization adds an element of mystery to the poem, and her powerful imagery evokes a range of emotions. Whether it is a commentary on the Civil War, a reflection on death and grief, or something entirely different, this poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of human emotion.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
It Don't Sound So Terrible—Quite—as It Did: 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, "It Don't Sound So Terrible—Quite—as It Did," is a masterpiece that reflects her ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple yet powerful way.
The poem is a reflection on the nature of fear and how it can distort our perception of reality. It is a reminder that sometimes, things are not as bad as they seem, and that we should not let our fears control us.
The poem begins with the line, "It don't sound so terrible—quite—as it did," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is suggesting that something that was once feared or dreaded is not as bad as it was initially thought to be.
The second line, "I run it over—'Dead', Brain, 'Dead'," is a reflection of the speaker's thought process. The speaker is trying to rationalize their fear and come to terms with the fact that the thing they were afraid of is not as bad as they thought it was.
The third line, "Put it in Latin—left of my school," is a reference to the speaker's education and their attempt to intellectualize their fear. By putting it in Latin, the speaker is trying to distance themselves from their fear and view it objectively.
The fourth line, "Seems it don't shriek so—under my rule," is a reflection of the speaker's newfound sense of control over their fear. By rationalizing it and intellectualizing it, the speaker has taken control of their fear and is no longer at its mercy.
The fifth line, "Turn it, a little—full in the face," is a reference to the speaker's bravery. They are no longer running away from their fear but are facing it head-on.
The sixth line, "A Trouble looks mighty, till you've met it," is the crux of the poem. It is a reminder that our fears can seem insurmountable until we confront them. Once we face our fears, we realize that they are not as bad as we thought they were.
The seventh line, "We brush them, and laugh, and then, Pausing, Blink," is a reflection of the speaker's newfound sense of freedom. They are no longer held captive by their fear but are free to brush it off and move on with their lives.
The eighth line, "Obsequious, eye, that feared the quite," is a reference to the speaker's former self. They were once afraid of something that they now realize was not as bad as they thought it was.
The ninth line, "In its' superior, cadaverous, face," is a reflection of the speaker's newfound sense of superiority over their fear. They are no longer at its mercy but are in control of their own lives.
The final line, "The stature of the grave is less," is a reminder that death, the ultimate fear, is not as bad as it seems. Once we confront our fears, even death loses its power over us.
In conclusion, "It Don't Sound So Terrible—Quite—as It Did" is a masterpiece of Emily Dickinson's ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple yet powerful way. It is a reminder that our fears can distort our perception of reality and that we should not let them control us. Once we confront our fears, we realize that they are not as bad as we thought they were, and we are free to live our lives without fear.
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