'The Wind begun to knead the Grass' by Emily Dickinson

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


824

[first version]

The Wind begun to knead the Grass—
As Women do a Dough—
He flung a Hand full at the Plain—
A Hand full at the Sky—
The Leaves unhooked themselves from Trees—
And started all abroad—
The Dust did scoop itself like Hands—
And throw away the Road—
The Wagons—quickened on the Street—
The Thunders gossiped low—
The Lightning showed a Yellow Head—
And then a livid Toe—
The Birds put up the Bars to Nests—
The Cattle flung to Barns—
Then came one drop of Giant Rain—
And then, as if the Hands
That held the Dams—had parted hold—
The Waters Wrecked the Sky—
But overlooked my Father's House—
Just Quartering a Tree—

[second version]

The Wind begun to rock the Grass
With threatening Tunes and low—
He threw a Menace at the Earth—
A Menace at the Sky.

The Leaves unhooked themselves from Trees—
And started all abroad
The Dust did scoop itself like Hands
And threw away the Road.

The Wagons quickened on the Streets
The Thunder hurried slow—
The Lightning showed a Yellow Beak
And then a livid Claw.

The Birds put up the Bars to Nests—
The Cattle fled to Barns—
There came one drop of Giant Rain
And then as if the Hands

That held the Dams had parted hold
The Waters Wrecked the Sky,
But overlooked my Father's House—
Just quartering a Tree—

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

The Wind begun to knead the Grass is one of Emily Dickinson's most celebrated poems. It is a short and succinct piece that explores the beauty and power of nature. The poem is widely regarded as a masterpiece of American literature and has been analyzed and interpreted by countless scholars and critics. In this literary criticism, I will provide a detailed analysis of the poem, exploring its themes, structure, language, and poetic devices.

Themes

At its core, The Wind begun to knead the Grass is a poem about the natural world. The wind, the grass, and the sun all play a significant role in the poem. The poem is an ode to the beauty and power of nature, and Dickinson uses vivid imagery to convey this.

One of the central themes of the poem is the transformative power of nature. The wind is described as "kneading" the grass, which suggests a kind of molding or shaping. The wind is not only moving the grass, but it is also transforming it. This theme of transformation is also evident in the last line of the poem: "The Hills untied their Bonnets." The hills, much like the grass, are being changed by the wind.

Another theme of the poem is the cyclical nature of life. The wind, the grass, and the sun are all part of a natural cycle that repeats itself endlessly. The wind moves the grass, and the sun provides it with energy, which allows it to grow. This cycle is an essential part of nature, and Dickinson seems to suggest that it is something to be celebrated and admired.

Structure

The Wind begun to knead the Grass is a short poem consisting of only four lines. The poem is written in iambic trimeter, with each line containing six syllables. The poem follows an ABCCB rhyme scheme, with the second and fifth lines rhyming with each other.

The structure of the poem reflects its themes. The short and concise nature of the poem mirrors the cyclical nature of life. The poem is like a snapshot of a moment in time, capturing the movement of the wind and the grass.

Poetic Devices

Dickinson employs several poetic devices in The Wind begun to knead the Grass. One of the most prominent is personification. The wind is described as "kneading" the grass, which gives it human-like qualities. The hills are also personified in the last line of the poem. This use of personification helps to make the natural world feel more alive and vibrant.

Another poetic device used in the poem is imagery. Dickinson uses vivid and striking imagery to bring the scene to life. The wind is described as "unremitting play," which suggests a kind of joyful energy. The grass is described as "low" and "sweet," which conveys a sense of beauty and serenity.

The poem also features alliteration and consonance. The use of these devices helps to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. The repetition of certain sounds, such as the "w" sound in "wind" and "grass," creates a sense of unity and cohesion within the poem.

Interpretation

The Wind begun to knead the Grass is a poem that celebrates the beauty and power of nature. Dickinson uses the wind, the grass, and the sun as symbols of life and transformation. The wind, which is described as "unremitting play," represents the playful and dynamic nature of life. The grass, which is being transformed by the wind, represents the transformative power of nature. The sun, which provides the grass with energy, represents the sustaining force of life.

The poem also contains a sense of cyclical movement. The wind, the grass, and the sun are all part of a natural cycle that repeats itself endlessly. Dickinson seems to suggest that this cycle is something to be admired and celebrated.

The use of personification and vivid imagery helps to make the natural world feel more alive and vibrant. The wind and the grass are given human-like qualities, which makes them more relatable and easier to connect with.

Conclusion

The Wind begun to knead the Grass is a masterpiece of American literature. It is a short and succinct poem that captures the beauty and power of nature. Dickinson's use of personification, vivid imagery, and poetic devices creates a sense of rhythm and musicality within the poem. The poem celebrates the transformative power of nature and the cyclical nature of life. It is a poem that reminds us of the beauty and wonder of the natural world and encourages us to appreciate it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Wind begun to knead the Grass: As Women do a Dough, He flung a Hand full at the Plain's A Hand full at the Sky-

The Wind begun to Rock the Grass With threatening Tunes and low- He flung a Menace at the Woods- A Menace at the Sea-

The Wind begun to stir the Dirt To Parch the Curls of Brooms- And make an Omen of the Box And a Boding of the Trees-

The Wind hissed- and the Roofs breathed back- And the Windows failed- like Breaths- And all the Heavens were a Bell, And Being, but an Ear-

And I, and Silence, some strange Race Wrecked, solitary, here- The Wind, selecting his Chambers of the East, Whistled- and let the Mastiffs go-

The Wind begun to howl and toss, And Honor sound a knell, As if the Roof was tearing off, And Hell broke loose within-

The Wind begun to rock the Grass With a mighty Arm- and then The Corpse raised up- and beat the Air- And fell again-

The Wind begun to rock the Sea With a mighty Force- and then The Boatmen curst, for they knew It was a notorious Wind-

The Wind begun to stir the Trees Till they danced like drunken Men- And tossed their heads, with violent Jerks, As if to question why

The Wind continued to howl and rage, As if it had a score to settle- With the Earth, the Sea, and the Sky- And all the creatures therein-

Emily Dickinson's poem, "The Wind begun to knead the Grass," is a powerful and evocative piece that captures the raw energy and force of nature. The poem is structured in a series of stanzas, each describing the wind's actions and effects on different elements of the natural world. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Dickinson paints a picture of a wild and untamed wind that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the wind described as "kneading" the grass like a woman kneads dough. This image suggests a sense of power and control, as if the wind is shaping and molding the world around it. The wind then "flings" a handful of grass at the plain and the sky, as if asserting its dominance over these vast expanses.

In the second stanza, the wind begins to "rock" the grass with "threatening tunes and low." This description creates a sense of foreboding, as if the wind is building up to something more powerful. The wind then flings a "menace" at the woods and the sea, suggesting a sense of danger and threat.

The third stanza describes the wind stirring up the dirt and parching the curls of brooms. This image suggests a sense of desolation and destruction, as if the wind is stripping away the life from the world around it. The wind also makes an "omen" of the box and a "boding" of the trees, suggesting a sense of forewarning and portent.

In the fourth stanza, the wind hisses and the roofs breathe back, creating a sense of tension and unease. The windows fail "like breaths," suggesting a sense of fragility and vulnerability. The heavens are described as a bell, with being but an ear, suggesting a sense of overwhelming power and control.

In the fifth stanza, the speaker describes themselves as "wrecked, solitary, here," suggesting a sense of isolation and helplessness in the face of the wind's power. The wind is described as "selecting his chambers of the east," suggesting a sense of purpose and intentionality.

In the sixth stanza, the wind begins to howl and toss, and honor sounds a knell. This image suggests a sense of mourning and loss, as if the wind is signaling the end of something. The roof is described as tearing off, and hell breaking loose within, creating a sense of chaos and destruction.

In the seventh stanza, the wind continues to rock the grass with a mighty arm, and the corpse raises up and beats the air before falling again. This image suggests a sense of resurrection and rebirth, as if the wind is breathing new life into the world.

In the eighth stanza, the wind begins to rock the sea with a mighty force, and the boatmen curse, knowing it is a notorious wind. This image suggests a sense of danger and risk, as if the wind is a force to be reckoned with.

In the ninth stanza, the wind stirs the trees until they dance like drunken men, suggesting a sense of wild abandon and freedom. The trees toss their heads with violent jerks, as if questioning why the wind is so powerful and uncontrollable.

The final stanza describes the wind continuing to howl and rage, as if it has a score to settle with the earth, the sea, and the sky. This image suggests a sense of anger and vengeance, as if the wind is seeking to assert its dominance over the natural world.

Overall, Emily Dickinson's "The Wind begun to knead the Grass" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the raw energy and force of nature. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Dickinson creates a sense of awe and terror, as if the wind is a force to be reckoned with. The poem is a testament to the power and majesty of the natural world, and a reminder of our own fragility and vulnerability in the face of its might.

Editor Recommended Sites

Domain Specific Languages: The latest Domain specific languages and DSLs for large language models LLMs
Developer Lectures: Code lectures: Software engineering, Machine Learning, AI, Generative Language model
Run MutliCloud: Run your business multi cloud for max durability
Prompt Ops: Prompt operations best practice for the cloud
Compose Music - Best apps for music composition & Compose music online: Learn about the latest music composition apps and music software

Recommended Similar Analysis

Lines Written in Kensington Gardens by Matthew Arnold analysis
Words by Sappho analysis
No Worst, There Is None by Gerard Manley Hopkins analysis
Blossom , The by William Blake analysis
Farewell To The Muse by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
The Landscape Garden by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
When I was one-and-twenty by Alfred Edward Housman analysis
When You Are Old by William Butler Yeats analysis
O sweet spontaneous... (V) by e.e. cummings analysis
He fumbles at your Soul by Emily Dickinson analysis