'Noon-is the Hinge of Day' by Emily Dickinson


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

Noon-is the Hinge of Day-
Evening-the Tissue Door-
Morning-the East compelling the sill
Till all the World is ajar-

Editor 1 Interpretation

Noon is the Hinge of Day: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Wow. Just wow. That's all I can say after reading "Noon is the Hinge of Day" by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a masterpiece of imagery, metaphor, and emotion. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poetry.

Background

Before we delve into the poem itself, it's important to understand a bit about Dickinson's life and literary style. Emily Dickinson was born in Massachusetts in 1830 and spent most of her life living in seclusion. She wrote nearly 1800 poems, most of which were not published until after her death in 1886. Dickinson's poetry is known for its unique style, which includes the use of slant rhyme, unconventional punctuation, and fragmented syntax.

Analysis

Now, let's take a closer look at "Noon is the Hinge of Day." The poem begins:

Noon is the Hinge of Day,
Evening the Tissue Door;
Morning the East compelling the Sill,
Till all the World is ajar.

Right away, Dickinson sets the tone for the poem with the use of metaphor. Noon is compared to a hinge, which suggests that it is a turning point in the day. Evening is then compared to a "tissue door," which implies that it is fragile and delicate. Morning is described as "compelling the sill," which suggests that it is forcing its way in, perhaps even overpowering the night.

The next stanza reads:

Till Noon bounces on her breast,
As the Forehead of a Bust—
And then the Bowing, further down,
Is invested with a trust.

Here, Dickinson uses metaphor again to describe noon as a woman with a bouncing breast. This image is both sensual and powerful, suggesting that noon is a time of vitality and strength. The "bowing" that follows is described as being "invested with a trust," which implies that it is important and significant.

The third stanza reads:

And Evening stoops to play
And Noon exacts a gaze—
Which from its ponderous fashion,
Granitic, dwarfs the Days.

This stanza is perhaps the most complex in the poem. The use of personification – "Evening stoops to play" – is a subtle reminder that time is personified in this poem, with each part of the day having a personality and a purpose. The line "Noon exacts a gaze" is interesting because it suggests that noon is demanding, perhaps even oppressive. The use of the word "ponderous" to describe noon's gaze reinforces this idea, suggesting that it is heavy and burdensome. The final line of the stanza, "Granitic, dwarfs the Days," is a powerful image that suggests that noon is so dominant that it makes the other parts of the day seem small and insignificant.

The final stanza reads:

When it has just occurred that One
The livelong June Day,
Surprised by a hundred cavilers—
Imitated—stuttering—gay—

This stanza is the most enigmatic of the poem, and its meaning is open to interpretation. The word "cavilers" suggests that the speaker is being criticized or challenged, and the use of the word "imitated" implies that they are being copied or mimicked. The use of the word "stuttering" suggests that the speaker is struggling to find their words, perhaps because they are overwhelmed or intimidated. The final word, "gay," is interesting because it could be interpreted in a number of different ways. In the context of the poem, it could suggest happiness or joy, or it could be used ironically to suggest that the speaker is putting on a façade of happiness in order to conceal their true feelings.

Interpretation

So, what does all of this mean? What is Dickinson trying to say with this poem? The most obvious interpretation is that Dickinson is using the various parts of the day – morning, noon, and evening – to represent different stages of life. Morning represents birth and youth, noon represents adulthood and maturity, and evening represents old age and death. In this interpretation, the poem is a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of aging and death.

Another interpretation is that Dickinson is using the poem to explore the theme of power and dominance. Noon, with its heavy gaze and dominating presence, is the most powerful part of the day. Dickinson seems to be suggesting that power can be oppressive and burdensome, and that it can make the other parts of life seem small and insignificant.

A third interpretation is that Dickinson is using the poem to explore the theme of identity and selfhood. The final stanza suggests that the speaker is struggling to find their voice in the face of criticism and imitation. Dickinson seems to be suggesting that identity is a fragile thing, and that it can be easily undermined by the opinions and expectations of others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Noon is the Hinge of Day" is a poem that is rich in imagery, metaphor, and meaning. Dickinson's use of personification and metaphor creates a vivid and powerful portrait of the different parts of the day, and the poem's themes of time, power, and identity make it a timeless meditation on the human condition. This poem is a masterpiece of American literature, and it continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Noon-is the Hinge of Day: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. Her unique style and use of language have captivated readers for generations. One of her most famous poems, "Poetry Noon-is the Hinge of Day," is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the power of poetry and its ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary.

At its core, "Poetry Noon-is the Hinge of Day" is a meditation on the transformative power of poetry. Dickinson argues that poetry has the ability to elevate the ordinary and mundane into something extraordinary. She writes, "The brain is wider than the sky, / For, put them side by side, / The one the other will include / With ease, and you beside."

This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Dickinson is suggesting that the human mind has the capacity to encompass and understand the vastness of the world around us. She is also suggesting that poetry is a tool that can help us to do this. By using language to describe the world around us, we can transform our understanding of it and elevate it to something greater.

The second stanza of the poem continues this theme, as Dickinson writes, "The dawn is scarlet in the east, / The sunset orange in the west, / The noon is amber in the south, / And midnight is forget."

Here, Dickinson is using the natural world as a metaphor for the transformative power of poetry. Just as the colors of the sky change throughout the day, so too can our understanding of the world change through the use of language. Dickinson is suggesting that poetry has the ability to transform our understanding of the world around us, just as the colors of the sky transform throughout the day.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as Dickinson writes, "But when a soul, by choice and clef, / Shall teach itself a pleasure new, / A world above the world to view, / The roof shall be the sky."

Here, Dickinson is suggesting that poetry has the ability to transport us to a new world, a world that is above and beyond the mundane world we inhabit. She is suggesting that by using language to describe the world around us, we can transform our understanding of it and elevate it to something greater.

The final stanza of the poem is a call to action, as Dickinson writes, "The brain is just the weight of God, / For, lift them, pound for pound, / And they will differ, if they do, / As syllable from sound."

Here, Dickinson is suggesting that poetry has the ability to connect us to something greater than ourselves. She is suggesting that by using language to describe the world around us, we can connect with the divine and elevate our understanding of the world to something greater.

In conclusion, "Poetry Noon-is the Hinge of Day" is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the transformative power of poetry. Dickinson argues that poetry has the ability to elevate the ordinary and mundane into something extraordinary. She suggests that by using language to describe the world around us, we can transform our understanding of it and elevate it to something greater. Ultimately, Dickinson is suggesting that poetry has the ability to connect us to something greater than ourselves, and that by engaging with poetry, we can connect with the divine and elevate our understanding of the world to something greater.

Editor Recommended Sites

You could have invented ...: Learn the most popular tools but from first principles
Privacy Ads: Ads with a privacy focus. Limited customer tracking and resolution. GDPR and CCPA compliant
Flutter Training: Flutter consulting in DFW
Flutter Book: Learn flutter from the best learn flutter dev book
Tech Debt: Learn about technical debt and best practice to avoid it

Recommended Similar Analysis

She rose to his requirement, dropped by Emily Dickinson analysis
Ye Old Mule by Sir Thomas Wyatt analysis
You Begin by Margaret Atwood analysis
How I Built Myself a House by Thomas Hardy analysis
Sonet LIV by William Shakespeare analysis
A Forgetful Number by Vasko Popa analysis
Five Ways To Kill A Man by Edwin Brock analysis
Sonnet XXXIX by William Shakespeare analysis
The Legacy by John Donne analysis
HOLY SONNETS: Since she whom I lov'd hath paid her last debt by John Donne analysis