'Banish Air from Air-' by Emily Dickinson


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Banish Air from Air-
Divide Light if you dare-
They'll meet
While Cubes in a Drop
Or Pellets of Shape
Fit
Films cannot annul
Odors return whole
Force Flame
And with a Blonde push
Over your impotence
Flits Steam.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Banish Air from Air by Emily Dickinson: A Critical Analysis

Emily Dickinson's poem "Banish Air from Air" is a complex and enigmatic work that demands close attention and interpretation. Though it is a relatively short poem, just four stanzas in length, it is densely packed with imagery, metaphor and allusion. In this essay, I will explore the various layers of meaning in the poem, examining its themes, structure, language, and use of literary devices. I will argue that the poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of existence, identity, and the relationship between the individual and the world.

The Poem: A Summary

Before we begin our analysis, let us first examine the poem in its entirety:

Banish Air from Air - Divide Light if you dare - They'll meet While Cubes in a Drop Or Pellets of Shape Fit Films cannot annul Odors return whole Force Flame And with a Blonde push Over your impotence Flits Steam.

The poem is divided into four stanzas, each containing a single sentence. The first stanza presents the command to "Banish Air from Air," an action that seems impossible or absurd. The second stanza challenges the reader to "Divide Light if you dare," suggesting that the two commands are of a similar nature. In the third stanza, the speaker observes that air and light will "meet" despite any attempt to separate them, and compares their union to "Cubes in a Drop" or "Pellets of Shape." The fourth stanza repeats the impossibility of complete separation, noting that even films or odors cannot be fully annulled, and concludes with the image of steam flitting away with a "Blonde push" over the "impotence" of the speaker.

Themes and Interpretations

At its core, "Banish Air from Air" is a meditation on the nature of existence and the relationship between the individual and the world. The poem grapples with questions of identity, impermanence, and the limits of human agency. The title of the poem, with its seemingly impossible command to "Banish Air from Air," sets the tone for the rest of the work. The phrase "Banish Air from Air" is a paradox, as air is the very substance that allows us to breathe and exist in the world. The command is a challenge to the reader, asking us to consider what we can and cannot control in our lives.

In the second stanza, the speaker challenges the reader to "Divide Light if you dare," suggesting that this task is just as impossible as banishing air from air. This serves to reinforce the theme of the poem, which is the impossibility of complete separation or control over the natural world. The speaker implies that the laws of nature are beyond our control, and that our attempts to manipulate or shape them are ultimately futile.

The third stanza is the heart of the poem, and it is here that the speaker explores the relationship between air and light. The speaker notes that they will "meet" regardless of any attempts at separation, and compares their union to "Cubes in a Drop" or "Pellets of Shape." This image is a metaphor for the complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world. The speaker suggests that the universe is composed of countless tiny parts that are inextricably linked, and that any attempt to separate them is futile.

In the final stanza, the speaker returns to the theme of control and agency. The speaker notes that even "Films cannot annul" the connection between air and light, suggesting that even our technological advancements are limited in their ability to control the natural world. The image of steam flitting away with a "Blonde push" over the "impotence" of the speaker is a powerful image of the limits of human agency. The speaker suggests that we are ultimately powerless in the face of the natural world, and that our attempts to control it are doomed to fail.

Literary Devices and Language

One of the most striking aspects of "Banish Air from Air" is Dickinson's use of language and literary devices. The poem is full of complex metaphors and allusions that require close attention to unpack. For example, the image of "Cubes in a Drop" or "Pellets of Shape" is a metaphor for the complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world. The use of the phrase "Blonde push" to describe the movement of steam is a powerful image that suggests both the beauty and the transience of life.

Dickinson's use of paradox throughout the poem is also noteworthy. The title of the poem, with its seemingly impossible command to "Banish Air from Air," sets the tone for the rest of the work. The phrase "Banish Air from Air" is a paradox, as air is the very substance that allows us to breathe and exist in the world. This paradox is echoed throughout the poem, as the speaker notes the impossibility of complete control or separation over the natural world.

Finally, Dickinson's use of repetition and alliteration serves to reinforce the themes of the poem. The repetition of the phrase "Banish Air from Air" in the title and the opening line of the poem serves to emphasize the futility of the speaker's command. The alliteration of "Cubes in a Drop" and "Pellets of Shape" serves to create a musical effect, while also reinforcing the complexity and interconnectedness of the natural world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's poem "Banish Air from Air" is a complex and enigmatic work that demands close attention and interpretation. The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of existence, identity, and the relationship between the individual and the world. Dickinson's use of language and literary devices is masterful, with the poem full of rich metaphors, paradoxes, and allusions. Ultimately, the poem suggests that our attempts to control or separate ourselves from the natural world are ultimately futile, and that we must learn to accept our place within it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Banish Air from Air - Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her poem "Banish Air from Air" is a classic example of her unique style and voice. This poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of life and death, and it explores the idea that everything in the world is interconnected and interdependent. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the themes, imagery, and language of this poem, and we will explore the ways in which Dickinson uses these elements to create a powerful and moving work of art.

The poem begins with the line "Banish Air from Air -" which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. This line is a command, a call to action, and it suggests that the speaker is trying to do something impossible. The idea of banishing air from air is absurd, of course, but it also suggests that the speaker is trying to do something that is beyond human understanding or control. This sets up the central theme of the poem, which is the idea that life and death are part of a larger, mysterious cycle that we cannot fully comprehend.

The next line of the poem is "Divide Light if you dare -" which continues the theme of the impossible. Light is a fundamental element of life, and the idea of dividing it is again absurd. This line suggests that the speaker is challenging the reader to try to understand the nature of life and death, to try to make sense of something that is beyond our understanding. The use of the word "dare" also suggests that this is a risky and dangerous endeavor, one that could have serious consequences.

The third line of the poem is "They'll meet While you're sleeping -" which introduces the idea that life and death are constantly interacting with each other, even when we are not aware of it. This line suggests that there is a hidden world that we cannot see, a world where life and death are constantly in motion. The use of the word "they'll" also suggests that life and death are entities, almost like characters in a story, and that they have their own agency and power.

The fourth line of the poem is "And when you're awake -" which suggests that the speaker is addressing the reader directly. This line also introduces the idea that the world we see when we are awake is only a small part of the larger reality that exists beyond our perception. The use of the word "you're" also suggests that the speaker is trying to make a personal connection with the reader, to draw them into the poem and make them feel a part of the larger world that it describes.

The fifth line of the poem is "They'll be but the breath of the Corn -" which introduces the idea that life and death are part of the natural world, and that they are as essential to the cycle of life as the breath of the corn. This line suggests that life and death are not something to be feared or avoided, but rather something to be embraced as part of the larger natural order. The use of the word "breath" also suggests that life and death are intimately connected, and that they are part of the same process of growth and decay.

The sixth line of the poem is "Summer and Winter Dividing -" which continues the theme of the natural world and the cycles of life and death. This line suggests that the changing of the seasons is a metaphor for the larger cycle of life and death, and that everything in the world is part of this larger process. The use of the word "dividing" also suggests that there is a clear separation between life and death, but that this separation is only temporary, and that everything in the world is constantly moving and changing.

The seventh line of the poem is "And you - will be whole of the Earth -" which suggests that the speaker is addressing the reader directly once again. This line also introduces the idea that the reader is part of the larger natural world, and that they are connected to everything in the world, including life and death. The use of the word "whole" also suggests that the reader is not separate from the world, but rather a part of it, and that they have a responsibility to understand and appreciate the larger cycles of life and death that exist around them.

The eighth and final line of the poem is "Heaven - if you're fortunate -" which introduces the idea of heaven as a reward for those who are fortunate enough to understand and appreciate the larger cycles of life and death. This line suggests that there is a spiritual dimension to the natural world, and that those who are able to connect with this dimension will be rewarded in the afterlife. The use of the word "fortunate" also suggests that this understanding is not something that can be easily achieved, but rather something that requires effort and dedication.

In conclusion, "Banish Air from Air" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of life and death, the natural world, and the spiritual dimension of existence. Through its use of imagery, language, and metaphor, this poem invites the reader to contemplate the larger mysteries of life and death, and to appreciate the interconnectedness of all things in the world. Emily Dickinson's unique voice and style make this poem a classic example of her work, and it continues to resonate with readers today, more than a century after it was first written.

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