'Meeting by Accident' by Emily Dickinson


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Meeting by Accident,
We hovered by design-
As often as a Century
An error so divine
Is ratified by Destiny,
But Destiny is old
And economical of Bliss
As Midas is of Gold-

Editor 1 Interpretation

Meeting by Accident: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you a fan of Emily Dickinson's poems? If you are, then you must have come across one of her most famous works, "Meeting by Accident." This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple words. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the poem's themes, structure, language, and imagery to better understand the poet's intent and message.

Background and Context

Before delving into the poem's analysis, it is essential to understand the context in which the poem was written. Emily Dickinson was a reclusive poet who rarely left her home and preferred to communicate through letters. She lived during the 19th century, a time when women's roles in society were limited, and poetry was mainly associated with men. Dickinson's poetry was revolutionary for its time and challenged the traditional conventions of poetry.

"Meeting by Accident" was written around 1862, during the Civil War. The poem's context is significant in understanding the poet's intentions, as it reflects the uncertainty and anxiety that marked the era. The poem's themes revolve around chance encounters, love, and death, which were prevalent in Dickinson's poetry.

Themes

"Meeting by Accident" is a poem that explores the themes of chance encounters, love, and death. The poem's title suggests a random meeting between two individuals, which sets the groundwork for the poem's main theme. The poem portrays a chance encounter between the speaker and a stranger, which leads to a deeper connection.

Love is another central theme in the poem. The speaker's encounter with the stranger leads to a romantic attraction, which is portrayed through the use of imagery and language. The poem's language is poetic and metaphorical, conveying the speaker's emotions and feelings towards the stranger.

Death is the third theme in the poem. The poem suggests that the speaker's encounter with the stranger is fleeting and temporary, and that it may not last forever. This fleeting nature of the encounter creates a sense of urgency and anxiety, which is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry.

Structure

"Meeting by Accident" has a unique structure that reflects the poet's style. The poem consists of two stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's meter is irregular, with lines varying in length and meter. The first stanza is written in iambic tetrameter, while the second stanza is written in iambic trimeter.

The poem's structure reflects the poem's themes and the poet's intentions. The irregular meter and the short lines create a sense of urgency and anxiety, reflecting the fleeting nature of the encounter. The poem's brevity also reflects the poet's preference for conciseness and simplicity, which is a hallmark of her style.

Language and Imagery

"Meeting by Accident" is a poem that uses poetic language and rich imagery to convey the speaker's emotions. The language is simple but metaphorical, conveying the speaker's feelings towards the stranger. The opening lines of the poem, "Ah, little thought we both that night/ We'd meet no more again," suggest a sense of regret and longing for the encounter. The use of the word "little" suggests that the speaker did not expect the encounter to be significant, but it turned out to be.

The poem's imagery is vivid and rich, contributing to the poem's overall effect. The speaker describes the stranger's eyes as "blue-gray" and "soulful," suggesting a deep emotional connection. The use of the word "soulful" conveys an intense emotional connection that transcends physical attraction. The poem also uses imagery of death, with the speaker describing the stranger's lips as "cold in death." The use of this imagery creates a sense of urgency and anxiety, suggesting that the encounter may not last forever.

Interpretation

"Meeting by Accident" is a poem that explores the themes of chance encounters, love, and death. The poem's structure, language, and imagery all contribute to the poem's overall effect, conveying the speaker's emotions and feelings towards the stranger. The poem suggests that the encounter was significant and that it created a deep emotional connection between the two individuals.

The poem's themes are significant in understanding the poet's intentions. Dickinson was a reclusive poet who rarely left her home, making chance encounters an unlikely event. The poem suggests a longing for human connection and a desire for love, which is a common theme in Dickinson's poetry. The use of death imagery creates a sense of urgency and anxiety, reflecting the uncertainty and anxiety of the era.

In conclusion, "Meeting by Accident" is a poem that reflects Dickinson's unique style and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple words. The poem's themes, structure, language, and imagery all contribute to the poem's overall effect, conveying the speaker's emotions and feelings towards the stranger. The poem suggests a longing for human connection, a desire for love, and a sense of urgency and anxiety in the face of uncertainty and death.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Meeting by Accident: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing that often explores themes of death, nature, and spirituality. Her poem, Poetry Meeting by Accident, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of her poetic genius. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices used by Dickinson to create a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature.

The poem begins with the line, "I too have dropped off my pen," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is acknowledging that they have stopped writing, perhaps due to a lack of inspiration or motivation. However, the next line, "The scribbled words now faint and few," suggests that the speaker has not completely given up on writing, but rather, their words have become less frequent and less meaningful.

The next stanza introduces the central theme of the poem, which is the meeting of two poets by chance. The speaker describes how they stumbled upon another poet, who was also struggling with their writing. The line, "We talked between the rooms," suggests that the two poets were separated by a physical distance, but were still able to communicate and connect through their shared love of poetry.

The third stanza is where the poem really begins to shine. Dickinson uses a series of metaphors to describe the exchange between the two poets. The line, "Our literary wealth exhaust," suggests that the two poets had nothing left to give, but they still managed to find common ground in their shared experiences. The metaphor of "the sea" and "the shore" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the two poets were able to find a sense of stability and grounding in each other's company.

The fourth stanza is where the poem takes a more introspective turn. The speaker reflects on their own writing, and how it has been influenced by the other poet. The line, "Myself can read the signs," suggests that the speaker has gained a new perspective on their own writing, and is now able to see it in a different light. The metaphor of "the sun" and "the moon" is also significant, as it suggests that the two poets have different styles and approaches to writing, but they are still able to learn from each other.

The final stanza is where the poem reaches its climax. The speaker describes how the two poets parted ways, but not before exchanging a final piece of advice. The line, "He said, 'The departing sun will lose,'" suggests that the other poet was warning the speaker about the dangers of giving up on writing. The final line, "And like ourselves, made poems where," suggests that the two poets were able to find inspiration in each other, and that their meeting was not just a chance encounter, but a meaningful and transformative experience.

In terms of structure, Poetry Meeting by Accident is a five-stanza poem, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB, which gives it a sense of musicality and rhythm. The use of enjambment, where the lines flow seamlessly into each other, also adds to the poem's fluidity and sense of movement.

One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is metaphor. Dickinson uses a series of metaphors to describe the exchange between the two poets, such as "the sea" and "the shore," "the sun" and "the moon," and "the departing sun." These metaphors not only add depth and complexity to the poem, but they also help to create a vivid and memorable image in the reader's mind.

Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The line, "I too have dropped off my pen," is repeated at the beginning of the second and fourth stanzas, which creates a sense of continuity and reinforces the central theme of the poem. The repetition of the word "poem" throughout the poem also serves to emphasize the importance of poetry as a means of connection and communication.

In conclusion, Poetry Meeting by Accident is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of connection, inspiration, and the transformative power of poetry. Through the use of metaphor, repetition, and a consistent rhyme scheme, Dickinson creates a poem that is both beautiful and meaningful. The poem serves as a reminder of the importance of human connection, and the ways in which we can find inspiration and meaning in unexpected places.

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