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Poetry/emily dickinson

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Expert: Clare Washbrook - 1/9/2008


Question
Have you ever read Emily Dickinson's poem about the Darkness? If so, what is
the structure of the poem?

Answer
Chrissy

I assume that you mean 419 "We Grow Accustomed to the Dark".

Dickinson doesn't adhere to standard poetic forms - at all.

You are lucky to get stanzas in this one.  

So;

1)  It is laid out in verse form
2)  Each verse/stanza has 4 lines
3)  The second and fourth lines are half rhymes (this means that although they do not rhyme, they are intentionally close)
4)  Fifteen out of twenty lines end with a hyphen
5)  She capitalizes odd words (which is more to do with her personal style than the structure of this poem).

That's it!  Dickinson is, as I said, very light on structure.

I hope that helps.

smiles
CL Washbrook

Poetry

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Clare Washbrook

Expertise

I can answer questions on English Poetry both classical and modern. I can identify British poems if you have a partial quote. I can deal with both the content and construction, as well as the historical and personal contexts. I do not offer complete analysis of entire poems. My expertise is limited to British writers and the odd noteworthy American; I cannot answer questions on foreign poetry or translations. I do not limit my responses to stock interpretations by regurgitating other writer's opinions. I will distinguish between accepted interpretation and personal analysis but I don't think text book recitation helps one to actually understand how to analyse poems oneself. I will reject homework questions, non-poetry English questions, anything written in text speak and anything to do with amateur poetry.

Experience


Organizations
The Poetry Society

Publications
The Radio Times, Books by Dogma, "SO" Magazine, NUS publications, Other Poetry, OED, Publications by PTS others

Education/Credentials
BA (HONS) Literature (Theatre minor), MA (current accreditation)

Awards and Honors
Bronze Award - International Poetry Awards 2004

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