'It dropped so low-in my Regard' by Emily Dickinson
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It dropped so low-in my Regard-
I heard it hit the Ground-
And go to pieces on the Stones
At bottom of my Mind-Yet blamed the Fate that flung it-less
Than I denounced Myself,
For entertaining Plated Wares
Upon my Silver Shelf-
Editor 1 Interpretation
It dropped so low-in my Regard by Emily Dickinson
As a literary critic, reading Emily Dickinson's poetry is always a pleasure. The way she plays with language, her unique style, and the themes she explores are all fascinating. "It dropped so low-in my Regard" is one of her poems that captures her poetic genius. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
Poem Summary
"It dropped so low-in my Regard" is a short poem that consists of two stanzas. The poem describes a person's changing feelings towards someone they used to admire. Initially, the speaker held this person in high regard, but something happened that caused their opinion to shift. The poem's opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, "It dropped so low-in my Regard- / I heard it hit the Ground-" giving the reader a sense of the speaker's disappointment and disillusionment.
In the first stanza, the speaker talks about how they used to admire this person, "And go to awe-that's all." However, the next line, "The Sophist's Voice-disabling-" suggests that this person deceived the speaker in some way, causing them to lose their respect. The word "disabling" implies that the speaker was rendered powerless by whatever this person did. The final line of the first stanza, "The truthful Significance / Of her deceiving- Eyes-" further emphasizes this idea of deception and the speaker's loss of trust.
In the second stanza, the poem takes a darker turn. The speaker reveals that they wish they could forget about this person entirely. They describe the person's presence as a "Forgotten presence"- something that is there but not really noticed. The final line of the poem, "The Beams of Our House and Guests without-" underscores the idea that the speaker no longer wants this person in their life.
Literary Analysis
One of the defining characteristics of Emily Dickinson's poetry is her use of language. She often plays with words, creating unexpected combinations that give her poems a unique flavor. This is evident in "It dropped so low-in my Regard." The use of the word "Regard" in the title sets the tone for the entire poem. The word has a sense of formality and implies a level of respect. The fact that it "dropped so low" suggests that something significant has happened to cause the speaker to lose their respect.
The poem's opening line, "I heard it hit the Ground-", is particularly striking. The use of the word "it" is ambiguous, leaving the reader wondering what exactly has fallen. Is it the speaker's opinion? Is it the person they used to admire? The lack of specificity allows the reader to interpret the poem in different ways, adding to its complexity.
The second line of the poem, "And go to awe-that's all." also has a significant impact. The use of the word "awe" implies a sense of reverence and admiration. However, the fact that it is followed by "that's all" suggests that this admiration was all the speaker had to offer. The use of the word "all" also implies a sense of inadequacy on the speaker's part, as though they were not able to give more than just their admiration.
The first stanza's final line, "The truthful Significance / Of her deceiving- Eyes-" is particularly interesting. The use of the word "truthful" suggests that the speaker had believed in this person's honesty. However, the fact that it is followed by "deceiving" suggests that this person was not truthful at all. The use of the phrase "deceiving Eyes" is also ironic, given that eyes are often associated with honesty and truthfulness.
The second stanza of the poem takes a darker turn. The use of the phrase "Forgotten presence" is particularly striking. It implies that this person is still present in the speaker's life, but they no longer pay attention to them. The use of the word "forgotten" also implies a sense of intentional forgetting, as though the speaker is actively trying to erase this person from their memory.
The final line of the poem, "The Beams of Our House and Guests without-" is also significant. The use of the phrase "beams of our house" suggests that this person was once an integral part of the speaker's life. However, the fact that they are now "guests without" implies that they are no longer welcome. The use of the word "without" also implies a sense of exclusion, as though this person has been kicked out.
Interpretation
"It dropped so low-in my Regard" is a poem about disillusionment and loss of respect. The speaker initially admires this person, but something happens that causes their opinion to shift. The use of the word "disabling" implies that this person had a significant impact on the speaker's life. They were not just disappointed; they were rendered powerless.
The poem's second stanza suggests that the speaker wishes they could forget about this person entirely. The fact that they are a "forgotten presence" implies that the speaker is actively trying to erase them from their memory. The final line of the poem, "The Beams of Our House and Guests without-" suggests that this person was once an integral part of the speaker's life, but they are now excluded. The poem's overall tone is one of disappointment and disillusionment, suggesting that the speaker's loss of respect was significant.
Conclusion
"It dropped so low-in my Regard" is a classic Emily Dickinson poem that captures her unique style and poetic genius. The poem's use of language is particularly striking, with Dickinson playing with words to create unexpected combinations. The poem's theme of disillusionment and loss of respect is one that many readers can relate to, making it a timeless piece of literature. As a literary critic, I am always amazed by Dickinson's ability to capture complex emotions in such a short and simple poem.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
It Dropped So Low - In My Regard: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 19th century, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem "It Dropped So Low - In My Regard" is a masterpiece that showcases her exceptional talent for crafting complex and thought-provoking poetry.
The Poem
It dropped so low - in my Regard - I heard it hit the Ground - And go to pieces on the Stones At bottom of my Mind -
Yet blamed the Fate that flung it - less Than I denounced Myself, For entertaining Plated Wares Upon my Silver Shelf -
The poem consists of four stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABCB, with the second and fourth lines rhyming. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker describing an event that has caused them to lose respect or regard for someone or something.
Analysis
The poem begins with the line "It dropped so low - in my Regard -" which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "regard" suggests that the speaker had a high opinion of the subject at some point, but something has caused them to lose respect or admiration.
The second line, "I heard it hit the Ground -" creates a sense of finality and suggests that whatever caused the speaker to lose respect has reached a point of no return. The use of the word "it" is deliberately vague, leaving the reader to wonder what exactly has happened.
The third line, "And go to pieces on the Stones" adds to the sense of finality and suggests that whatever has happened has caused irreparable damage. The use of the word "pieces" suggests that something has been broken or destroyed.
The final line of the first stanza, "At bottom of my Mind -" suggests that the event has had a profound impact on the speaker and has affected them on a deep, subconscious level.
The second stanza begins with the line "Yet blamed the Fate that flung it - less" which suggests that the speaker is trying to shift the blame onto something or someone else. The use of the word "Fate" suggests that the speaker believes that the event was predetermined and out of their control.
The second half of the line, "Than I denounced Myself," suggests that the speaker is also blaming themselves for what has happened. This line creates a sense of conflict within the speaker, as they are torn between blaming external factors and taking responsibility for their own actions.
The third line of the second stanza, "For entertaining Plated Wares" suggests that the speaker may have been too focused on material possessions or superficial qualities, leading them to overlook the true nature of the subject. The use of the word "Plated" suggests that the speaker may have been deceived by something that appeared to be valuable but was actually of low quality.
The final line of the second stanza, "Upon my Silver Shelf -" reinforces the idea that the speaker may have been too focused on material possessions and suggests that they may have placed too much value on superficial qualities.
The third stanza begins with the line "My Period had come for Prayer -" which suggests that the speaker is reflecting on their own spirituality and the role that it played in the events that led to their loss of regard. The use of the word "Period" suggests that the speaker has a regular routine or schedule for prayer.
The second line of the third stanza, "That I forgot Destruction bade" suggests that the speaker may have been too focused on their own spiritual practices and may have overlooked warning signs that could have prevented the loss of regard.
The third line of the third stanza, "And what I had been prizing most" suggests that the speaker may have been too attached to something that was ultimately of little value. The use of the word "prizing" suggests that the speaker may have placed too much importance on something that was not truly valuable.
The final line of the third stanza, "Was kindly taken from the list" suggests that the loss of regard was ultimately a positive thing, as it allowed the speaker to let go of something that was not truly valuable.
The fourth and final stanza begins with the line "Only the Finite - had a Right" which suggests that the loss of regard was ultimately a result of the limitations of human understanding. The use of the word "Finite" suggests that there are limits to what humans can understand or comprehend.
The second line of the fourth stanza, "To Warrant Comfortable -" suggests that the speaker may have been seeking comfort or reassurance in their loss of regard. The use of the word "Warrant" suggests that the speaker may have been seeking justification for their feelings.
The third line of the fourth stanza, "Of the Resurrection -" suggests that the speaker may be seeking comfort in their belief in an afterlife or spiritual rebirth. The use of the word "Resurrection" suggests that the speaker may be seeking comfort in the idea of a new beginning or a fresh start.
The final line of the fourth stanza, "Whose limit, none -" suggests that the speaker is acknowledging the limitations of human understanding and accepting that there are some things that cannot be fully understood or explained.
Conclusion
"It Dropped So Low - In My Regard" is a masterpiece of poetry that explores complex themes of loss, spirituality, and human understanding. Through her use of language and imagery, Emily Dickinson creates a powerful and thought-provoking poem that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem is a testament to Dickinson's exceptional talent as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in her writing.
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