'She sweeps with many-colored Brooms' by Emily Dickinson


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She sweeps with many-colored Brooms—
And leaves the Shreds behind—
Oh Housewife in the Evening West—
Come back, and dust the Pond!

You dropped a Purple Ravelling in—
You dropped an Amber thread—
And how you've littered all the East
With duds of Emerald!

And still, she plies her spotted Brooms,
And still the Aprons fly,
Till Brooms fade softly into stars—
And then I come away—

Editor 1 Interpretation

She sweeps with many-colored Brooms: A Literary Criticism

Ah, Emily Dickinson! One of the most enigmatic and fascinating poets in American literature. Her poems are like precious gems that need to be carefully examined and interpreted. In this literary criticism, we will explore one of her most famous poems, "She sweeps with many-colored Brooms."

But first, let's read the poem:

She sweeps with many-colored Brooms
 And leaves the Shreds behind—
 Oh Housewife in the Evening West—
 Come back, and dust the Pond!
 You dropped a Purple Ravelling in—
 You dropped an Amber thread—
 And how you’ve littered all the East
 With duds of Emerald!

What a beautiful and mysterious poem! At first glance, it seems like a simple description of a housewife sweeping the floor with different colored brooms. But as we dive deeper into the poem, we realize that there is much more to it than meets the eye.

First of all, let's talk about the title. "She sweeps with many-colored Brooms" is a beautiful and evocative title that immediately captures our attention. It creates an image of a woman sweeping the floor with a variety of colorful brooms, which is a striking and unusual sight. The word "sweeps" suggests movement and action, while "many-colored Brooms" implies diversity and creativity. This title sets the tone for the entire poem and prepares us for the unexpected.

Now let's move on to the first stanza:

She sweeps with many-colored Brooms
 And leaves the Shreds behind—


This stanza is deceptively simple. It describes the action of the housewife sweeping the floor with different brooms and leaving the shreds behind. The word "shreds" is interesting because it suggests something torn or frayed, which could be a metaphor for the pieces of our lives that we leave behind. It also creates a sense of impermanence and transience, as if the brooms are only temporarily removing the dirt from the floor. This could be a commentary on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of decay.

Now let's move on to the second stanza:

Oh Housewife in the Evening West—
 Come back, and dust the Pond!
 You dropped a Purple Ravelling in—
 You dropped an Amber thread—


This stanza is where things start to get really interesting. The speaker addresses the housewife directly, asking her to come back and dust the pond. This is an unusual request, as we usually think of ponds as being naturally occurring bodies of water that don't need to be cleaned. However, the fact that the speaker wants the housewife to dust the pond suggests that there is something unnatural or contaminated about it. This could be a symbol for the pollution and decay of the natural world, which is often caused by human activity.

The next two lines are even more intriguing. The speaker accuses the housewife of dropping a Purple Ravelling and an Amber thread. These could be literal objects that the housewife dropped while sweeping, but they could also be metaphors for something else. The color purple is often associated with royalty, power, and spirituality, while amber is associated with warmth, energy, and vitality. These could be symbolic representations of aspects of the housewife's personality or life that she has left behind. The fact that these objects are described as "ravelling" and "thread" suggests that they are fragments or remnants of something larger, which ties into the theme of impermanence that we saw in the first stanza.

Now let's move on to the final stanza:

And how you’ve littered all the East
 With duds of Emerald!

This stanza is a bit more difficult to interpret, but it is also the most striking and powerful. The speaker accuses the housewife of littering the East with "duds of Emerald." The word "duds" is interesting because it suggests something worthless or fake, while "emerald" is a precious gemstone that represents beauty and value. This contrast creates a sense of irony and contradiction, as if the speaker is accusing the housewife of simultaneously creating and destroying beauty.

The fact that the housewife is accused of littering the East is also significant. The East is often associated with new beginnings, enlightenment, and spiritual growth, while littering is usually associated with pollution and degradation. This could be a commentary on the destructive effects of human activity on the natural world and our own spiritual growth.

In conclusion, "She sweeps with many-colored Brooms" is a powerful and enigmatic poem that explores themes of impermanence, pollution, and contradiction. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Emily Dickinson creates a haunting and unforgettable portrait of a housewife sweeping the floor with different brooms. This poem reminds us of the fragility and transience of life, as well as the destructive effects of our own actions on the world around us. It is a masterpiece of American literature that deserves to be read and interpreted for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

She sweeps with many-colored Brooms: A Masterpiece by 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, "She sweeps with many-colored Brooms," is a masterpiece that showcases her talent and creativity. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with the line, "She sweeps with many-colored Brooms," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The use of the word "she" suggests that the poem is about a woman, and the image of her sweeping with many-colored brooms creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The brooms are not just any ordinary brooms; they are "many-colored," which suggests that they are unique and special. This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the poem and creates a sense of wonder and intrigue.

The first stanza of the poem describes the woman sweeping with her brooms. The use of the word "sweeps" suggests that she is doing this task with great care and attention to detail. The brooms are described as "many-colored," "bright," and "new," which creates a sense of freshness and vitality. The woman is also described as "singing" while she sweeps, which suggests that she is happy and content with her work. This imagery creates a sense of joy and happiness in the reader and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

In the second stanza, the poem takes a darker turn. The woman is described as sweeping away "the dust of centuries," which suggests that she is cleaning up the past. The use of the word "centuries" suggests that the past is long and complicated, and that it is not easy to clean up. The woman is also described as sweeping away "the cobwebs of the soul," which suggests that she is cleaning up the innermost parts of the human psyche. This imagery creates a sense of introspection and self-reflection in the reader.

The third stanza of the poem describes the woman's brooms as "magic wands." This imagery suggests that the brooms have a special power or ability to transform the world around them. The woman is also described as "sweeping the skies," which suggests that she is not just cleaning up the physical world, but also the spiritual world. This imagery creates a sense of wonder and amazement in the reader and suggests that the woman has a special connection to the universe.

The fourth stanza of the poem describes the woman's brooms as "the sweepers of the soul." This imagery suggests that the woman is not just cleaning up the physical world, but also the innermost parts of the human psyche. The use of the word "soul" suggests that the woman is cleaning up the deepest parts of the human experience. This imagery creates a sense of introspection and self-reflection in the reader and suggests that the woman has a special ability to connect with the human experience.

The final stanza of the poem describes the woman as "the keeper of the brooms." This imagery suggests that the woman has a special responsibility to care for the brooms and to use them wisely. The use of the word "keeper" suggests that the woman has a special connection to the brooms and that she understands their power and importance. This imagery creates a sense of responsibility and duty in the reader and suggests that the woman is a wise and powerful figure.

In conclusion, "She sweeps with many-colored Brooms" is a masterpiece by Emily Dickinson that showcases her talent and creativity. The poem uses vivid imagery and literary devices to create a sense of wonder and amazement in the reader. The themes of introspection, self-reflection, and responsibility are woven throughout the poem, creating a sense of depth and complexity. Overall, this poem is a testament to Dickinson's ability to capture the essence of life in her poetry and to create a lasting impact on the world of literature.

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