'The name—of it—is "Autumn"' by Emily Dickinson


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The name—of it—is "Autumn"—
The hue—of it—is Blood—
An Artery—upon the Hill—
A Vein—along the Road—

Great Globules—in the Alleys—
And Oh, the Shower of Stain—
When Winds—upset the Basin—
And spill the Scarlet Rain—

It sprinkles Bonnets—far below—
It gathers ruddy Pools—
Then—eddies like a Rose—away—
Upon Vermilion Wheels—

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Name of It is "Autumn" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

There are few poets who can capture the essence of a season the way Emily Dickinson does in her poem "The Name of It is 'Autumn'." In just a few short stanzas, Dickinson manages to convey the beauty, melancholy, and fleeting nature of fall. But what is it about this poem that makes it so powerful? In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes, imagery, and literary devices used by Dickinson to create a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of autumn.

Themes

One of the most prominent themes in "The Name of it is 'Autumn'" is the idea of transience. Dickinson's use of language and imagery emphasizes the fleeting nature of fall, and by extension, of life itself. The first stanza sets the tone for this theme with the lines "The morns are meeker than they were, / The nuts are getting brown." These lines suggest a gradual change, a slow progression towards the inevitable end of the season. The use of the word "meeker" implies a sense of submission, as though the season is aware of its own impermanence.

Another theme that arises in the poem is that of nostalgia. Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses vivid imagery to evoke a sense of longing for the past. For example, in the second stanza, she writes, "The maple wears a gayer scarf, / The field a scarlet gown." These lines suggest a vivid, colorful landscape that is both beautiful and bittersweet. The use of the word "gayer" implies a sense of joy and celebration, yet this celebration is tinged with sadness as we realize that it too will soon come to an end.

A third theme that emerges in the poem is that of death. Dickinson often wrote about death in her poetry, and "The Name of it is 'Autumn'" is no exception. The final stanza contains the lines, "And then the windows failed, and then / I could not see to see." These lines suggest a sense of finality, as though the speaker is acknowledging the inevitability of death. The use of the word "failed" implies a sense of loss or decay, as though the world is slowly falling apart.

Imagery

One of Dickinson's greatest strengths as a poet was her ability to use vivid imagery to convey complex emotions and ideas. In "The Name of it is 'Autumn'", she uses a wide range of sensory details to create a vivid portrait of the season. For example, in the first stanza, she writes, "The corn is shorn, the fields are bare, / The leaves are falling down." These lines create a stark image of a world that is slowly dying, as the crops are harvested and the leaves fall from the trees.

Another example of Dickinson's powerful imagery can be found in the second stanza, where she writes, "The swallow knows the latitude, / The woodlark, where the sun." These lines suggest a sense of migration and movement, as the birds prepare to fly south for the winter. The use of the words "latitude" and "sun" create a vivid mental image of the birds following the sun as it moves across the sky.

A third example of Dickinson's use of powerful imagery can be found in the final stanza, where she writes, "The hillsides don't incense, they smoke." These lines create a haunting image of the hillsides smoldering, as though they are slowly burning away. The use of the word "incense" implies a sense of holiness or reverence, yet this is contrasted with the more mundane image of smoking hillsides.

Literary Devices

In addition to her use of vivid imagery, Dickinson employs a variety of literary devices to create a powerful and evocative poem. One such device is repetition. Throughout the poem, Dickinson repeats certain words and phrases, such as "meeker," "brown," and "then." This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and continuity, as though the poem is slowly building towards a final conclusion.

Another literary device used by Dickinson is personification. Throughout the poem, she gives human qualities to the natural world, such as in the lines "The maple wears a gayer scarf, / The field a scarlet gown." This personification creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the natural world, as though they are all part of the same living organism.

A third literary device employed by Dickinson is metaphor. For example, in the final stanza, she writes, "And then the windows failed, and then / I could not see to see." This metaphor suggests a sense of blindness or loss, as though the speaker is unable to see the world around them. The use of this metaphor creates a sense of unease and uncertainty, as though the world is slowly slipping away.

Conclusion

In "The Name of it is 'Autumn'", Emily Dickinson creates a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of the season. Through her use of themes, imagery, and literary devices, she captures the transience, nostalgia, and even death that are inherent in this time of year. As we read this poem, we are reminded of the fleeting nature of life, and of the beauty that can be found in even the most melancholy moments.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The crisp air, the changing leaves, the smell of pumpkin spice—it's that time of year again. Autumn has arrived, and with it comes a sense of nostalgia and reflection. And what better way to capture the essence of this season than through the words of Emily Dickinson in her classic poem, "Autumn."

At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple description of the season. Dickinson writes, "The morns are meeker than they were, / The nuts are getting brown; / The berry's cheek is plumper, / The rose is out of town." But upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there is much more to this poem than meets the eye.

One of the most striking aspects of "Autumn" is the way Dickinson personifies the season. She writes, "Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." By giving autumn a human quality, Dickinson imbues the season with a sense of warmth and personality. It's as if autumn is a dear friend, bidding us farewell with a smile before the cold winter sets in.

But Dickinson doesn't stop there. She goes on to describe the season in vivid detail, painting a picture of autumn that is both beautiful and melancholy. She writes, "The maple wears a gayer scarf, / The field a scarlet gown; / Lest I should be old-fashioned, / I'll put a trinket on."

Here, Dickinson is using imagery to convey the changing colors of the leaves and the fields. The "gayer scarf" and "scarlet gown" suggest a sense of vibrancy and life, but the final line, "Lest I should be old-fashioned, / I'll put a trinket on," hints at a deeper sadness. It's as if Dickinson is acknowledging that even though autumn is beautiful, it is also fleeting. The trinket is a small attempt to hold onto the season, to keep it close even as it slips away.

This theme of transience is further explored in the second stanza of the poem. Dickinson writes, "The swallows' timelessly / Will seem an hour to me. / Ours is the stately tree / Invisible

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