'Tho' I get home how late-how late' by Emily Dickinson


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Tho' I get home how late-how late-
So I get home - 'twill compensate-
Better will be the Ecstasy
That they have done expecting me-
When Night-descending-dumb-and dark-
They hear my unexpected knock-
Transporting must the moment be-
Brewed from decades of Agony!To think just how the fire will burn-
Just how long-cheated eyes will turn-
To wonder what myself will say,
And what itself, will say to me-
Beguiles the Centuries of way!

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Tho' I get home how late - how late" by Emily Dickinson: A Literary Criticism

Introduction

"Tho' I get home how late - how late" is a poem by the American poet Emily Dickinson. It was first published in 1890 after Dickinson's death, and is one of her most enigmatic and haunting works. The poem is only six lines long, but it contains a wealth of meaning and imagery that has fascinated readers and scholars for over a century.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language of "Tho' I get home how late - how late." I will argue that the poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, and that its imagery evokes a sense of both beauty and terror. I will also examine the language of the poem, and how Dickinson's use of repetition, alliteration, and other devices contributes to its overall effect.

The Poem

Before we begin our analysis, let us first read the poem:

Tho' I get home how late - how late -
So I get home - 'twill compensate -
Better will be the ecstasy
So dull to tell - and duller to behold -
In your dimities and silks -
Ah, but to me my naked feet
Are beautiful - 'til they ache -

At first glance, "Tho' I get home how late - how late" seems like a simple poem about a person coming home late at night. However, as we will see, there is much more going on beneath the surface.

Themes

One of the key themes of "Tho' I get home how late - how late" is the transience of life. The speaker of the poem is aware that their time on earth is limited, and that they must make the most of it. This is reflected in the line "Better will be the ecstasy / So dull to tell - and duller to behold," which suggests that the speaker is more interested in experiencing life than in talking or writing about it.

Another theme of the poem is the inevitability of death. The line "Ah, but to me my naked feet / Are beautiful - 'til they ache" suggests that the speaker is aware of their mortality, and that they are willing to endure pain and suffering in order to fully experience life before it ends.

Imagery

The imagery of "Tho' I get home how late - how late" is both beautiful and haunting. The line "In your dimities and silks" evokes a sense of luxury and comfort, while the line "Ah, but to me my naked feet / Are beautiful - 'til they ache" suggests a willingness to endure pain and discomfort in order to experience something truly meaningful.

The final line of the poem, "Are beautiful - 'til they ache," is particularly poignant. It suggests that beauty and pain are intimately connected, and that one cannot be fully appreciated without the other. This line also implies that the speaker is willing to endure pain and discomfort in order to experience something truly beautiful.

Language

One of the most striking features of "Tho' I get home how late - how late" is its use of repetition. The repeated phrase "how late" creates a sense of urgency and anxiety, while also emphasizing the passage of time.

The poem also makes use of alliteration, as in the line "In your dimities and silks." This device creates a musical quality to the poem, and adds to its overall beauty and elegance.

Finally, the poem's use of enjambment adds to its sense of urgency and movement. The lines run together, creating a sense of flow and momentum that propels the reader forward.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Tho' I get home how late - how late" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the transience of life and the inevitability of death. Its imagery is both beautiful and haunting, and its language is both musical and urgent. Through its use of repetition, alliteration, and enjambment, it creates a sense of urgency and movement that draws the reader in and never lets go. It is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet, and a reminder of the power of poetry to capture the most profound aspects of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Tho' I get home how late-how late: A Poetic Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poems. One of her most famous works, "Tho' I get home how late-how late," is a masterpiece that explores the themes of time, mortality, and the human experience. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.

The Poem

Tho' I get home how late-how late, So I get home - 'twill compensate. Better will be the ecstasy That they have done expecting me, When, night descending, dumb and dark, They hear my unexpected knock. Transported, then, shall I behold Thee in the midst of all thy gold: Treasuring the look, behold the joy! Children's children's voices, gay Like birds, shall sing me to my rest, About the blessings of the past; But I shall hear no more, alas! The voice of my own heart's desire: The voice that made my heart to thrill Will be forever still.

The Meaning

The poem is about a person who is returning home late at night. The speaker acknowledges that they are late, but they believe that the joy of being home will compensate for the lateness. The speaker imagines the joy that their arrival will bring to their loved ones, who have been waiting for them. The speaker imagines the scene of their arrival, with their loved ones gathered around them, and the feeling of being treasured and loved.

However, the poem takes a dark turn in the final stanza. The speaker acknowledges that they will never hear the voice of their heart's desire again. The voice that once made their heart thrill is now forever still. This final stanza adds a layer of complexity to the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is mourning the loss of someone they loved deeply. The poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.

The Structure

The poem is structured in four stanzas, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with each iamb consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality that makes it easy to read and remember.

Literary Devices

The poem makes use of several literary devices to convey its meaning and create a sense of atmosphere. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. The poem is full of vivid images that help to create a sense of place and mood. For example, the image of "night descending, dumb and dark" creates a sense of foreboding and anticipation. The image of "children's children's voices, gay/Like birds" creates a sense of joy and celebration.

Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "how late-how late" is repeated in the first line of the poem, creating a sense of urgency and emphasizing the lateness of the speaker's arrival. The repetition of the word "voice" in the final stanza also creates a sense of emphasis and reinforces the idea that the speaker is mourning the loss of someone they loved deeply.

The poem also makes use of metaphor. The image of the loved one "treasuring the look" of the speaker and "beholding the joy" creates a sense of the speaker being a precious treasure that is valued and cherished. The image of the loved one's voices being "like birds" creates a sense of lightness and freedom, suggesting that the speaker's arrival brings a sense of release and happiness.

Conclusion

"Tho' I get home how late-how late" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of time, mortality, and the human experience. The poem's structure, literary devices, and imagery all work together to create a sense of atmosphere and convey the poem's meaning. The poem is a testament to Emily Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of life in her writing.

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