After reading a few of the posts I noticed that no one is really reading Emily Dickinson for enjoyment..not that I do but I thought it was an interesting observation.
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After reading a few of the posts I noticed that no one is really reading Emily Dickinson for enjoyment..not that I do but I thought it was an interesting observation.
*waves hand* I do.
I don't tend to discuss most of the books/poetry I read for pleasure, though. My teachers made sure I got that out of my system in high school; I'm always afraid that if I discuss what I've read, it will lose its magic, like it did in school.
She's one of my favorite poets,but school takes enjoyment out of everything because they believe there can only be one interpretation of a literary work(at least in my school) and your opinions don't really matter. Then I recieve a zero because I refuse to conform to my indoctrinate masters.
Man I hope that was the right word.
I love to read Dickinson for pleasure, and I wish there was more discussion of her. It's very sad if school makes you think anything is boring when it is interesting, and that your opinion isn't valid. I am a person who thinks everyone ought to have their own opinion on everything. I have a personal vision of literature and history, and if school makes it seem boring, or like I can't have my own opinion, I log onto a Russian history forum and hopefully this forum, and post my opinions completely unfazed.
I personally love school, homework, teachers and the classes. Think everyone if there wasn't school what would be your purpose??? Life without purpose is so hard to live, its like your walking in a long road and the end never comes. Everyone reaches their destination except you...anyways, I read Emily's poems only for pleasure but if we ever do have to do it for school i would love it!!!
School was what got me into likeing poetry, and first introduced me to Emily Dickinson, which then led on to me reading Emily's stuff for pleasure. So I'm pretty thankfull to my school for that. Frankly though, where I went to school one's own opinions in literature were strongly encouraged.
whats odd is that although i've been really into Emily's work for ages now, and although i've (sort of) been looking for this forum for ages also, I only found it just now.
well, I read Emily's poems for pleasure. I'm brazilian, so my school doesn't even mention her name during literature classes (we see only nacional authors or portuguese ones, from the 16th century or whatever), but I came across her poem about hope a few years ago, and I just loved it. since then I'm just trying to read a little more from her.
by the way, does anyone know which is the best book with her poems? I found many here, but they are all translated to portuguese and I would really like to have one in English, but I can't make up my mind in which to buy.
anyway, sorry for any mistakes in what I said here, my english is not that good :P
Personally, I find Emily Dickinson shallow and insipid. I had to read her in English this year, I wasn't sure if I could make it all the way through without puking.
I do, ever since I got a collection of her poems in 6th grade, when I couldn't even read (in english!). I love her work.
I don't read them for pleasure only for my classes. I've also noticed a number of posts where people ask for help in writing papers for one of Dickinson's poems and the help is negligible. Is it that people don't understand Dickinson's work or perhaps that nobody cares enough to help?
@Mapgirl: The thing is you're supposed to do these assignments yourself. People like to help but they don't want to write your homework (or anybody else's).
@Topic: I read E. Dickinson's works solely for pleasure. Some of her poems may not be to me liking but overally, I like her style.
I think there is a lot to love about Dickinson’s poetry. It’s just that most of the time when people ask for help on her stuff they don’t specify which aspect or they don’t contribute anything to the discussion, which turns the whole love of reading poetry into homework. Actually this goes for any of the posts asking for help on poems or poets. Most of the active threads of authors you see people discussing here are for pure enjoyment, and not for projects or assignments.
I read Emily's poems for pleasure. In fact, I read one everyday from her 'Complete poems' and I love it. She's just brilliant.
But I like this thread! I mean, it is true that a lot of people read her poems just for college or something like that and a genius like Emily Dickinson deserves much, much more.
Dickinson, although required in my studies, is one of the few poets I read for enjoyment.
I enjoy Miss Emily's work but confess that interpreting them can be quite a challenge!
Back in the 50s and 60s Marianne Moore was the most popular poetess that we had in NYC. But Emily surpassed her in popularity ever since. Perhaps it is because her work can be subjected to differing interpretations which can readily be altered with the passage of time!
:)
I had to read some of Emily Dickinson's poetry at school but, continued to read for pleasure.
Thought I'd add my voice to a chorus. I have never had to read her for school. I have, however, read most, if not all, of her published poems.
I am. Right now. So there! :D I may not understand all her poems (which frustrates me a bit) but I'm reading them anyway. Sometimes I'll find a poem which is very clear in meaning, and I usually enjoy those very much. :)
I wish I understood her more. I wish I didn't have to run to my dictionary so much when I read her, but, I enjoy her voice anyway.
I have been reading an extensive collection of Dickinson poems for my English class, but I have come to enjoy it very much. One of my favorite poems is #516:
Beauty-be not caused- It Is-
Chase it, and it ceases-
Chase it not, and it abides-
Overtake the creases
In the Meadow- when the Wind
Runs his fingers thro' it-
Deity will see to it
That You never do it-
This poem refers to the Romantic ideal of Beauty and how it is an "ideal" for a reason. It is not meant to be attained; however, many people (such as mainstream Romanticists) waste their entire lives on a "never-ending chase," searching for something that can never be found. The more they search, the farther they are from reaching it; however, if they leave it alone, they find that they are content with admiring it from afar.
"Overtake the creases" refers to overcoming the obstacles that prevent you from reaching the truth. However, as seen in the last stanza, "Deity will see to it That You never do it." Whether it is a divine figure or just destiny, it is a fact that Beauty (and other ideals) can never be truly understood.
"Overtake the creases | In the Meadow- when the Wind | Runs his fingers thro' it-" evokes a picture of grass and wild flowers creasing under a brisk wind. I imagine the poet chasing after beauty (rather than after truth) where beauty is best found. But chasing, alas, to no avail.Quote:
Originally Posted by laura3989
Some of her poems are true classics... but it's not really my cup of tea. I don't mind reading ED, but I would never really choose to read her poetry in my spare time... I don't think that a lot of her poems have much depth to them...
The poems of Emily Dickinson are totally different from those of any other writer, British or American. This may be due to the fact that she did not try for publication on the hand, and that she did not move much in society. The other writers were in constant touch with the literary world of publishing books, magazines. But Emily Dickinson read books and magazines; she never wrote for them. Her attitude to life does not conform to the patterns of her time. Just as Whitman transcended the religious Puritanism of the age, she also rebels against the narrowness of the religious view-point on life and goes back to a broader and more classical attitude. This is seen in her position regarding death, immortality, and eternity.
Emily Dickinson is a poet of extreme sensitivity. Her poems are never sentimental but she knows an excess of feeling and emotion. One of the special qualities of the life and experience of Emily is her " inner life". She lived the life of the imagination, and could experience things she had never seen or heard of, through her imagination.
The poems of Emily Dickinson are totally different from those of any other writer, British or American. This may be due to the fact that she did not try for publication on the hand, and that she did not move much in society. The other writers were in constant touch with the literary world of publishing books, magazines. But Emily Dickinson read books and magazines; she never wrote for them. Her attitude to life does not conform to the patterns of her time. Just as Whitman transcended the religious Puritanism of the age, she also rebels against the narrowness of the religious view-point on life and goes back to a broader and more classical attitude. This is seen in her position regarding death, immortality, and eternity.