'How News must feel when travelling' by Emily Dickinson


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How News must feel when travelling
If News have any Heart
Alighting at the Dwelling
'Twill enter like a Dart!What News must think when pondering
If News have any Thought
Concerning the stupendousness
Of its perceiveless freight!What News will do when every Man
Shall comprehend as one
And not in all the Universe
A thing to tell remain?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Emily Dickinson's "How News must feel when travelling": A Journey into the Unknown

When it comes to poetry, few writers can match the depth, complexity, and mystery of Emily Dickinson. Her works are like enigmatic puzzles that challenge readers to uncover their hidden meanings and nuances. In this regard, "How News must feel when travelling" is no exception. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's unique voice, style, and vision, which continue to inspire and captivate readers more than a century after her death. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes, symbols, and literary devices in "How News must feel when travelling," and try to unravel its many mysteries and secrets.

The Poem's Structure and Rhythm

At the first glance, "How News must feel when travelling" seems like a simple, short poem. It consists of only two stanzas, each comprising four lines. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we realize that it is anything but simple. Dickinson's use of language, imagery, and rhythm is masterful, and each line and word is carefully chosen to convey a specific meaning and feeling.

The poem's structure is symmetrical and balanced, with each stanza having the same number of lines and a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB). The first stanza sets the scene and describes how news must feel when traveling. The second stanza provides a contrasting perspective and compares news to a bird that sings in the morning.

The poem's rhythm is also worth noting. Dickinson uses a combination of iambs, anapests, and trochees to create a musical and flowing cadence. The first line of each stanza is an iambic tetrameter (four iambs), which gives it a strong and steady beat. The second line is an anapestic trimeter (two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable), which creates a sense of urgency and momentum. The third line is a trochaic tetrameter (a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable), which adds a playful and whimsical touch. The fourth line is another anapestic trimeter, which brings the stanza to a close with a sense of resolution and completeness.

The Poem's Themes and Symbols

One of the most intriguing aspects of "How News must feel when travelling" is its use of symbolism and metaphor. The poem is full of enigmatic images and ideas, which can be interpreted in a variety of ways. One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of movement and change. The news, described as a traveler, is constantly on the move, going from place to place, spreading its message. This movement is also reflected in the poem's rhythm and structure, which create a sense of forward momentum and energy.

Another theme in the poem is the idea of transformation and metamorphosis. The news, like a chrysalis, transforms itself as it travels, taking on different shapes and forms. This transformation is reflected in the poem's imagery, which includes images of birds, butterflies, and other creatures that undergo metamorphosis.

The poem also contains several symbols that add depth and meaning to its message. One of the most prominent symbols is the bird, which appears in the second stanza. The bird is a symbol of freedom, beauty, and joy. It is also a symbol of rebirth and renewal, as it sings a new song every morning. The contrast between the bird and the news highlights the transitory nature of the news, which is fleeting and ephemeral, while the bird represents something eternal and enduring.

Another symbol in the poem is the chrysalis, which represents the transformative power of the news. The chrysalis is a symbol of growth, change, and renewal, as it transforms into a beautiful butterfly. The news, like the chrysalis, has the power to transform people's lives and perspectives, bringing about change and growth.

The Poem's Literary Devices

In addition to its themes and symbols, "How News must feel when travelling" is also full of literary devices that enhance its beauty and complexity. One of the most prominent devices is personification, which is used to give human qualities to the news. The news is described as a traveler, with feet that tire, and a heart that beats. This personification creates a sense of empathy and connection between the reader and the news, making it easier to relate to and understand.

Another literary device in the poem is metaphor, which is used to compare the news to different creatures and objects. The news is compared to a traveler, a chrysalis, a bird, and a song, among other things. These metaphors help to create vivid and memorable images in the reader's mind, and add depth and complexity to the poem's meaning.

The poem also makes use of alliteration, which is used to create a musical and rhythmic effect. The repetition of sounds, such as "feet that tire" and "heart that beats," creates a sense of unity and coherence in the poem, and helps to reinforce its message.

The Poem's Interpretation

Interpreting "How News must feel when travelling" is not an easy task. The poem is full of ambiguity and uncertainty, and its meaning is elusive and hard to pin down. However, one possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the nature of news and information in our modern world. The news, like a traveler, is constantly on the move, going from place to place, spreading its message. However, this message is often transitory and fleeting, and quickly forgotten.

The poem may also be interpreted as a reflection on the transformative power of information. The news, like a chrysalis, has the power to transform people's lives and perspectives, bringing about change and growth. However, this transformation is not always easy or comfortable, and may require people to undergo a difficult and painful process of metamorphosis.

Overall, "How News must feel when travelling" is a remarkable poem that showcases Dickinson's unique voice and style. Through its use of symbolism, metaphor, and literary devices, the poem creates a vivid and memorable portrait of the transitory and transformative nature of news and information. Its meaning may be elusive and open to interpretation, but that only adds to its beauty and depth. As readers, we are invited to embark on a journey into the unknown, and to discover for ourselves the many secrets and mysteries hidden within this enigmatic and remarkable poem.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Emily Dickinson’s poem, “How News must feel when travelling,” is a classic piece of poetry that explores the concept of news and its journey from one place to another. The poem is a beautiful representation of how news travels and the emotions it evokes in people. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem’s meaning, structure, and literary devices used by the poet.

The poem is a short one, consisting of only four stanzas, each with two lines. The brevity of the poem is a reflection of the fleeting nature of news. The poem begins with the line, “How News must feel when travelling,” which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word “must” implies that the poet is imagining how news feels, as if it were a living entity.

The first stanza of the poem reads, “How News must feel when travelling / At Night, ’tis borne abroad.” The use of the word “borne” suggests that news is carried, as if it were a physical object. The fact that it is “borne abroad” implies that news is not confined to one place but travels far and wide. The use of the word “Night” suggests that news travels in darkness, which could be a metaphor for the unknown or the unseen.

The second stanza reads, “How News must feel when conveyed / By its high couriers of Snow.” The use of the word “conveyed” suggests that news is being transported, and the use of the phrase “high couriers of Snow” implies that news is being carried by something majestic and powerful. The use of the word “Snow” could be a metaphor for purity or clarity, suggesting that news is being carried by something that is pure and clear.

The third stanza reads, “How News must feel when it steps off / Its silver Heel at Morn.” The use of the phrase “silver Heel” suggests that news is being carried by something elegant and graceful. The use of the word “Morn” suggests that news arrives in the morning, which could be a metaphor for new beginnings or fresh starts.

The final stanza reads, “How dizzying it is to be told / That from an age ago / The news that was news to Yesterday / Is old to-day to know!” The use of the word “dizzying” suggests that news can be overwhelming or disorienting. The fact that news from an age ago is old news today suggests that time moves quickly and that news is constantly changing. The use of the word “know” suggests that news is something that people seek out, as if it were a source of knowledge.

The poem’s structure is simple, with each stanza consisting of two lines. The use of short lines and simple language makes the poem easy to read and understand. The repetition of the phrase “How News must feel” at the beginning of each stanza creates a sense of continuity and reinforces the poem’s theme.

The poem’s literary devices are also worth noting. The use of personification, where news is given human qualities, is a prominent literary device in the poem. The use of metaphors, where snow is used to represent the high couriers of news, and morning is used to represent new beginnings, is also evident in the poem. The use of alliteration, where the “s” sound is repeated in the phrase “silver Heel,” adds to the poem’s musicality.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson’s poem, “How News must feel when travelling,” is a beautiful representation of how news travels and the emotions it evokes in people. The poem’s brevity, structure, and literary devices make it a memorable piece of poetry. The poem’s theme of the fleeting nature of news is a reminder that time moves quickly and that news is constantly changing. Overall, the poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson’s skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of a concept in just a few lines of verse.

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