'You left me-Sire-two Legacies' by Emily Dickinson

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You left me-Sire-two Legacies-
A Legacy of Love
A Heavenly Father would suffice
Had He the offer of-You left me Boundaries of Pain-
Capacious as the Sea-
Between Eternity and Time-
Your Consciousness-and Me-

Editor 1 Interpretation

You left me-Sire-two Legacies by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest American poets, wrote many poems that are still celebrated today. Her poem "You left me-Sire-two Legacies" is one of her most famous and touching pieces of poetry. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in the poem and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the work.

Background

Emily Dickinson was known for her unique style of writing, which was characterized by her unconventional use of syntax and punctuation, and her exploration of themes such as death, nature, and love. Despite being a prolific writer, she only published a handful of poems during her lifetime. Most of her works were discovered and published posthumously, making her a celebrated and enigmatic figure in American literature.

"You left me-Sire-two Legacies" was written in 1862, during a period of personal turmoil for Dickinson. At the time, her father was ill, and she was also dealing with the loss of a close friend. The poem reflects on the idea of inheritance and legacy, both in terms of material possessions and intangible qualities like love and memory.

Summary

The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza states that the speaker's father has left them two legacies: "A Legacy of Love/A Heavenly Father would content." The second stanza goes on to describe the second legacy, "A Legacy of Death," which the speaker feels is far less desirable than the first. The final stanza concludes with the speaker's realization that the two legacies are intertwined, and that the love left by the father will ultimately help the speaker to cope with the pain of death.

Themes

The poem explores several themes, including love, death, inheritance, and memory. The theme of inheritance is particularly prominent, as the speaker reflects on what they have inherited from their father in both a physical and emotional sense. The poem also touches on the idea of memory, as the speaker reflects on the legacy of love left by the father and how it will continue to live on even after his death.

Symbols

The poem makes use of several symbols, including the father, love, and death. The father represents both the tangible and intangible legacies left behind, while love symbolizes the emotional inheritance that transcends death. Death itself is also a symbol, representing the finality and loss that the speaker experiences.

Literary Devices

Dickinson's unique style of writing is evident in "You left me-Sire-two Legacies." She makes use of unconventional syntax and punctuation, often breaking traditional grammar rules. For example, in the first line of the poem, she writes "You left me," which is a sentence fragment. This technique draws attention to the speaker's emotional state and emphasizes the importance of what has been left behind. The repetition of the word "Legacy" throughout the poem also emphasizes its significance.

The poem also makes use of imagery to convey its themes. The image of a "Heavenly Father" in the first stanza emphasizes the idea of love and suggests a spiritual element to the legacy being left behind. The image of death in the second stanza, particularly the line "And I, a smiling Corse," is particularly striking and emphasizes the finality of death.

Interpretation

The poem is deeply personal and reflective, and its themes are universal. At its core, the poem is about the passing of a loved one and the legacy they leave behind. The speaker's initial reaction to the two legacies is one of contrast, but ultimately, they realize that the two are intertwined. Love is what makes the legacy of death bearable, and memories and emotions continue to live on even after someone has passed away.

In many ways, "You left me-Sire-two Legacies" is a celebration of the enduring power of love and memory. Despite the pain and loss of death, the father has left behind something that the speaker can hold onto and cherish. The poem is both a meditation on death and a celebration of life, and its themes continue to resonate with readers today.

Conclusion

Emily Dickinson's "You left me-Sire-two Legacies" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of love, death, inheritance, and memory. The use of unconventional syntax and imagery make the poem particularly striking, drawing attention to the emotional impact of what has been left behind. The poem is a celebration of the enduring power of love and memory, and its themes continue to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry You left me-Sire-two Legacies: An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and her works continue to inspire and captivate readers even today. Among her many famous poems, "Poetry You left me-Sire-two Legacies" stands out as a masterpiece of poetic expression and emotional depth. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing "Sire," which is a term of respect and reverence for a father or other male authority figure. The speaker then goes on to describe two legacies that Sire has left behind: "One, a poem, and one, a stone." These two legacies represent two different ways of leaving a lasting impact on the world: through art and through physical monuments.

The poem legacy is described as "fairer than the fairest," suggesting that it is a work of great beauty and value. The speaker then goes on to describe the poem as "a thing divine," indicating that it is not just a work of art, but something that has a spiritual or transcendent quality. This suggests that the poem is not just a product of human creativity, but something that has been inspired or guided by a higher power.

The stone legacy, on the other hand, is described as "cold" and "dumb," suggesting that it lacks the warmth and vitality of the poem. The stone is also described as "mute," indicating that it cannot speak or communicate in the same way that the poem can. This contrast between the two legacies highlights the power of art to convey meaning and emotion in a way that physical objects cannot.

The speaker then goes on to describe how the two legacies have affected her. She says that the poem has "taught her how to live," suggesting that it has provided her with guidance and inspiration for her own life. The stone, on the other hand, has "taught her how to die," indicating that it has reminded her of the inevitability of death and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy.

The poem then takes a more personal turn, as the speaker addresses Sire directly. She says that he has left her with these two legacies, and that they are both a part of him. She then asks him to "choose" between the two legacies, suggesting that he has the power to determine which one will have a greater impact on the world.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful and emotional. The speaker says that she cannot choose between the two legacies, and that she wants them both. She says that the poem has given her "immortality," while the stone has given her "peace." This suggests that the two legacies are not just valuable in themselves, but that they have a profound impact on the speaker's own life and sense of self.

The poem ends with the speaker addressing Sire once again, saying that she hopes he will be proud of the legacy he has left behind. This final line is both a tribute to Sire and a reminder of the importance of leaving a lasting impact on the world.

In terms of literary devices, "Poetry You left me-Sire-two Legacies" is a masterclass in the use of symbolism and metaphor. The poem uses the two legacies as symbols for different ways of leaving a lasting impact on the world, and the contrast between the two is used to highlight the power of art to convey meaning and emotion. The use of the term "Sire" is also significant, as it suggests a sense of reverence and respect for the male authority figure.

The poem also uses repetition and parallelism to great effect. The repeated use of the phrase "one, a poem, and one, a stone" creates a sense of rhythm and structure, while also emphasizing the contrast between the two legacies. The parallel structure of the final stanza, with its repeated use of the phrase "I cannot choose," creates a sense of emotional intensity and reinforces the speaker's sense of indecision.

In conclusion, "Poetry You left me-Sire-two Legacies" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of legacy, art, and mortality. Through its use of symbolism, metaphor, and literary devices, the poem conveys a sense of reverence for the power of art to inspire and guide us, while also reminding us of the importance of leaving a lasting impact on the world. Emily Dickinson's mastery of language and emotion is on full display in this classic poem, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

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