'Still own thee-still thou art' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Still own thee-still thou art
What surgeons call alive-
Though slipping-slipping I perceive
To thy reportless Grave-Which question shall I clutch-
What answer wrest from thee
Before thou dost exude away
In the recallless sea?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Still own thee-still thou art: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poetry
Emily Dickinson is considered as one of the most enigmatic and innovative poets of the 19th century. Her unique style of writing, characterized by unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax, has earned her a place among the most celebrated poets in literary history. Dickinson's poem "Still own thee-still thou art" is a testament to her poetic genius, exploring themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of death.
Literary Analysis
At first glance, "Still own thee-still thou art" seems like a simple and straightforward poem. However, upon closer examination, the poem reveals a complex layering of meaning and imagery. The poem's opening lines, "Still own thee-still thou art/ What surgeons call alive- / Though slipping-slipping I perceive/ To thy reportless Grave-" immediately set the tone for the poem. The speaker is addressing someone who is still alive, but who is slipping away to their "reportless Grave" or death.
The use of the word "reportless" is particularly interesting, as it implies that there will be no official record of this person's death. This sets up a contrast between the physical body, which will eventually decay and disappear, and the person's spirit or essence, which will continue to exist in some form beyond death.
The second stanza of the poem continues to explore this theme of the body and the spirit. The speaker says, "Still own thee still thou art/ By native Deed- Divine!/ A fourfold fame/ A flickering Grace/ For transient Estate-". Here, the speaker is suggesting that the person being addressed possesses a "native Deed" or innate quality that is divine in nature. This quality gives them a "fourfold fame" and a "flickering Grace," both of which are described as being somewhat ephemeral or transient in nature.
The use of the word "flickering" is particularly interesting, as it implies that this fame and grace are not stable or permanent. Instead, they are fleeting and subject to change. This reinforces the idea that the person's essence or spirit is more important than their physical body, which is destined to decay and disappear.
The poem's final stanza brings these themes together, as the speaker says, "Still own thee- still thou art/ By Contract- fled from Earth-/ And withereth thee like Midnight-/ Take thy vanity forth-". Here, the speaker is suggesting that the person being addressed has made some sort of "Contract" that allows them to transcend the earthly realm and move beyond the physical body. This is contrasted with the idea of "vanity," which is associated with earthly possessions and accomplishments.
The final lines of the poem, "Take thy vanity forth," suggest that the person being addressed should focus on their spiritual essence rather than their earthly accomplishments. This reinforces the idea that the self is more important than the physical body, and that death is merely a transition to a different form of existence.
Interpretation
"Still own thee-still thou art" is a powerful meditation on the nature of life, death, and the human spirit. At its core, the poem is a celebration of the human soul and its ability to transcend the limitations of the physical body. The poem suggests that the self is more important than the physical body, and that the spirit can continue to exist in some form beyond death.
This interpretation is reinforced by the poem's use of imagery and symbolism. The use of the word "reportless" suggests that there will be no official record of the person's death, reinforcing the idea that the person's spirit will continue to exist beyond the physical body. The use of the word "flickering" suggests that fame and grace are not stable or permanent, reinforcing the idea that the spiritual essence is more important than earthly accomplishments.
The final lines of the poem, "Take thy vanity forth," suggest that the person being addressed should focus on their spiritual essence rather than their earthly accomplishments. This is a powerful message, suggesting that the pursuit of material possessions and accomplishments is ultimately fruitless, and that the true value of a person lies in their spiritual essence.
Conclusion
"Still own thee-still thou art" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of life, death, and the human spirit. Through its use of imagery and symbolism, the poem suggests that the self is more important than the physical body, and that the spirit can continue to exist in some form beyond death.
Emily Dickinson's unique style of writing adds to the poem's power, as her unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax create a sense of urgency and intensity. The poem's simple structure and straightforward language belie the complex layering of symbolism and meaning, making it a testament to Dickinson's poetic genius.
Overall, "Still own thee-still thou art" is a beautiful and moving poem that invites readers to ponder the nature of existence and the human soul. Its message of the importance of spiritual essence over material possessions and accomplishments is one that is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has the power to transport us to different worlds, to make us feel emotions we never knew existed, and to leave us with a sense of wonder and awe. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Still own thee-still thou art" by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful exploration of the nature of love and the power it holds over us.
The poem begins with the line "Still own thee-still thou art," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "still" suggests that the speaker has been holding onto something for a long time, and that this thing is still present in their life. The repetition of the word "still" also emphasizes the importance of this thing to the speaker.
The next line, "What surgeons call alive," is a reference to the medical profession and the idea of life and death. The use of the word "surgeons" suggests that the speaker is looking at love from a clinical perspective, as if it is something that can be dissected and examined. The use of the word "alive" suggests that love is something that is living and breathing, something that has a life of its own.
The third line, "Thine eyes- their piercer know," is a reference to the power of love and the way it can penetrate our very being. The use of the word "piercer" suggests that love is something that can hurt us, but it can also heal us. The use of the word "know" suggests that the speaker is aware of the power of love and has experienced it firsthand.
The fourth line, "Thy feet- thyself- how swift," is a reference to the way love can move us and change us. The use of the word "swift" suggests that love is something that can happen quickly, but it can also last a lifetime. The use of the word "thyself" suggests that love is something that is a part of us, something that we carry with us wherever we go.
The fifth line, "Then, thou and I, shall meet," is a reference to the idea of love as a journey. The use of the word "meet" suggests that love is something that we are constantly moving towards, something that we are always striving for. The use of the words "thou and I" suggests that love is something that is shared between two people, something that is a part of a larger whole.
The final line, "And part no more," is a reference to the idea of love as a bond that cannot be broken. The use of the word "part" suggests that love is something that can separate us, but it can also bring us together. The use of the word "more" suggests that love is something that is infinite, something that can never be exhausted.
Overall, "Still own thee-still thou art" is a beautiful exploration of the nature of love and the power it holds over us. The use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem leaves us with a sense of wonder and awe. Emily Dickinson was truly a master of her craft, and this poem is a testament to her talent and skill.
Editor Recommended Sites
Distributed Systems Management: Learn distributed systems, especially around LLM large language model toolingHybrid Cloud Video: Videos for deploying, monitoring, managing, IAC, across all multicloud deployments
Javascript Rocks: Learn javascript, typescript. Integrate chatGPT with javascript, typescript
Kanban Project App: Online kanban project management App
Data Integration - Record linkage and entity resolution & Realtime session merging: Connect all your datasources across databases, streaming, and realtime sources
Recommended Similar Analysis
Resolution And Independence by William Wordsworth analysisThe Piano (Notebook Version) by D.H. Lawrence analysis
From My Last Years by Walt Whitman analysis
Sweetest Love, I do not go by John Donne analysis
The last Night that She lived by Emily Dickinson analysis
Devonshire Street W.1 by John Betjeman analysis
Expect Nothing by Alice Walker analysis
Whispers Of Heavenly Death by Walt Whitman analysis
Remember by Christina Georgina Rossetti analysis
More Light! More Light! by Anthony Hecht analysis