Essay on A poem and a loaded gun - 1111 Words

A Poem and a Loaded Gun The post civil war era was wrought with sexism and backwards thinking. Emily Dickinson was born in 1830, wrote 1800 poems in her lifetime. She has become known for unfolding the social boundaries surrounding women in this time period. Most of her life was shrouded in seclusion and mystery. In the realm of poetry, authors are creative with their usage of literary techniques in order to illustrate their point of view to the reader. Emily Dickinson is especially known for her precise diction, powerful imagery, and obscure timing or rhythm. In her poem â€Å"My life had stood – A loaded Gun,† she is heavily dependant on the use of images, eloquent diction and tone to convey both the literal and symbolic meaning or themes to†¦show more content†¦The faster pace and constant beats provide for a significant change from the broken up stand still qualities of the first stanza. The mood portrayed here is that of eventfulness, even usefulness, it is apparent that the spea ker feels more fulfilled or somehow more whole. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Also in the second stanza the author introduces the theme of unity between speaker and master by use of her diction. Albert Gelpi, anther notable critic of Dickinson’s work, points out that â€Å"already by the second stanza â€Å"I† and â€Å"he† have become â€Å"we†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦the rhythm and repetition underscoring the momentous change of identity.† By doing this the author introduces the theme of possession vs. possessed and the inherent contradiction of the concept, referencing the fact that one cannot be without the other. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The second notable use of interesting diction can be found in the speaker’s description of her smile. She â€Å"compares her smile to the aftermath of a volcanic eruption.† This notable according to Christine Miller, a notable commentator of Dickinson’s work, because she does not compare it to an event but to â€Å"a completed action.† She says the â€Å"past perfect verb is more chilling than the present tense would be.† Miller notes this same technique later in the poem when the speaker describes guarding asShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Dickinsons Loaded Gun Poem1172 Words   |  5 PagesIn the poem 764 of The Norton Anthology which starts My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun - (line 1), Emily Dickinson takes on the role of a married woman of the nineteenth century whose husband owns and completely controls her. The woman, whose voice Dickinson wrote from, reflects on the importance of her husband s life to hers and her depende ncy on him being there to direct her life. Dickinson never married and lived a secluded life in her family s home, only ever leaving the house for one yearRead MoreAnalysis of Dickinsons Poem, My Life had Stood a Loaded Gun631 Words   |  3 Pages– a Loaded Gun† In the poem, â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun,† published around 1863, Emily Dickinson effectively uses metaphorical language in making the speaker compare him/her self to a loaded gun. The speaker speaks as if he/she is a loaded gun waiting to expose their full potential. When reading this poem, one could definitely see religious connotations in that one cannot reach his/her full potential without The Master’s – God’s – help and direction. In â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded GunRead MoreEssay about Loaded Gun Symbolism Depicted in Emily Dickinsons Poem, 7541993 Words   |  8 PagesEmily Dickinson’s poem â€Å"754,† the narrator immediately compares her life to a weapon, â€Å"My Life had stood -- a Loaded Gun --† (754). Usually, when one thinks of a gun, he or she might think of death instead of love. In most cases, when a person owns or has a possession of a gun, that person might use the gun for protection. A gun is an inanimate object that has the potential or power to take the life of a human. From analyzing the poem â€Å"754,† the narrator symbolizes a loaded gun, full of potentialRead MoreAnalysis Of Emily Dickinson s Poem My Life Had Stood- A Loaded Gun 993 Words   |  4 PagesEmily Dickinson is a very famous and accomplished poet with over 1700 published poems. Several of her poems are similar in theme, and also similar in bringing out human emotions that we human s usually try to avoid. The common theme in most of Dickinson s poems is the wonders of nature, and the identity of self, as well as death and life. The five poems with the common theme of death are: â€Å"My Life had Stood- A Loaded Gun†, â€Å"I Heard A Fly Buzz- When I Died†, â€Å"Behind Me Dips- Eternity†, â€Å"Because I CouldRead MoreEmily Dickinsons My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun Essay970 Words   |  4 PagesLife Had Stood – a Loaded Gun†, is a metaphor of a gun and its master which is used to represent a wife and her husband. This metaphor is used to illustrate an unbalanced relationship where the wife is objectified and lacks agency. The wife reduced to an object which is at the disposal of her hunter/master/husband. The gun narrates the poem and it takes pleasure in expressing its power to kill. The poem presents the challenge of identifying who the speaker is and who the gun metaphorically representsRead MoreEmotion in Emily Dickinsons â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun†1109 Words   |  5 PagesThis poem was written by American poet, Emily Dickinson, who was born in the 1800. This was the period where art was based on emotion; the â€Å"Romantic Period†. She was also born in the Victorian Era, where women had to be shackled to their pedestals and most had to be married by age eighteen. They were not allowed to vote, or earn money. This information should help the reader better understand the poem. When writing the poem â€Å"My Life had stood—a Loaded Gun† Dickinson thought of what format to useRead MoreMy Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun by Emily Dickinson Essay804 Words   |  4 PagesStood a Loaded Gun by Emily Dickinson Today, few would deny that Emily Dickinson is an important figure in American literature. The numerous ways to interpret her poetry draws more and more readers into her publications. Its as if everyone could interpret Dickinsons poems into his or her personal life; seeing the poems the way they want to see it. This is the effect flexible poems have on people. In Dickinsons My Life Had Stood#8212;A Loaded Gun, I interpreted the poem literallyRead MoreFight For Agency By Emily Dickinson985 Words   |  4 PagesFight for Agency Emily Dickinson’s poems predominantly portray the confinements placed on married women and illustrate the doubts that come along their role as a â€Å"wife†. In many of her poems, the speakers present a strong opinion about the lack of independence and autonomy women receive when they get married. Given the fact that Dickinson was born in the 1830’s, women in that era were consecutively facing massive oppression and were treated lesser than men. Consequentially, the societal norms greatlyRead MoreMy Life Had Stood - A Loaded Gun879 Words   |  4 PagesEmily Dickinson’s poem â€Å"My life had stood – a Loaded Gun† mainly reflects a woman confined in her traditional role of being a wife. As stated by Dickinson in her poem â€Å"1072†, a women’s life consisted of being â€Å"Born – Bridalled – Shrouded† (line 10). After birth, a female’s main purpose in life was to get married and take on the role of being a wife until death. Although, the speaker in this poem expresses anger at certain times on her constraints, she goes on to turn her situation into a positiveRead More An Explication of Emily Dickinsons Loaded Gun Essays917 Words   |  4 PagesAn Explication of Emily Dickinsons Loaded Gun Emily Dickinsons poem My Life had stood-a Loaded Gun- is a powerful statement of the speakers choice to forego the accepted roles of her time and embrace a taboo existence, a life open only to men. The speaker does so wholeheartedly and without reservation, with any and all necessary force, exulting in her decision. She speaks with great power and passion, tolerating no interference, and wills herself to maintain this choice for her