UNIT II: POETRY: Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, and Pablo Neruda
UNIT
II: POETRY
1.
Emily Dickinson – “Success is Counted Sweetest”
About
the Poet
- Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) was an American poet known for her short, deep, and
thought-provoking poems.
- She lived a reclusive life in Amherst, Massachusetts.
- Her poetry often deals with life, death,
immortality, and the inner world of emotions.
- She used simple language, unusual punctuation, and
compressed expression.
Summary
of the Poem
The poem “Success is Counted
Sweetest” conveys that true success is best understood by those who have
failed.
Those who never achieve victory know its value more deeply than the winners.
Dickinson uses the image of a battlefield,
where a defeated soldier, lying in pain, understands the meaning of victory far
more than the triumphant army.
Through this, she emphasizes that deprivation sharpens appreciation.
In essence, the poem suggests that only
through failure can one grasp the true sweetness of success.
Themes
- Value of Failure:
Only those who fail truly understand success.
- Human Desire:
Everyone yearns for success but not everyone attains it.
- Irony of Life:
Winners don’t feel success as keenly as losers do.
- Emotional Insight:
Suffering brings deeper understanding.
Imagery
& Style
- Battlefield imagery:
Symbol of human struggle and ambition.
- Paradox and irony:
Success is sweetest to those who lack it.
- Compact and rhythmic:
Characteristic of Dickinson’s concise style.
Difficult
Word Meanings
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Counted Sweetest |
Considered most precious |
|
Defeat |
Loss in a struggle or battle |
|
Nectar |
Sweet liquid; symbol of success or
joy |
|
Comprehend |
To understand fully |
|
Forbidden Ear |
Someone not allowed to hear or
share in victory |
Important
Questions with Answers
Q1. What is the main idea of “Success is Counted Sweetest”?
Ans. The poem means that success is best appreciated by those who have
not achieved it.
Q2. What does the dying soldier symbolize?
Ans. He symbolizes those who fail but understand the real value of
victory and success.
Q3. How does Dickinson use irony in this poem?
Ans. The irony lies in the fact that only the defeated truly understand
the meaning of triumph.
2.
Emily Dickinson – “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”
About
the Poem
This is one of Dickinson’s most
famous poems, presenting Death as a kind and patient guide rather than a
frightening force.
It reflects her belief that death is not the end but a peaceful transition.
Summary
of the Poem
In this poem, the speaker
personifies Death as a courteous gentleman who comes in a carriage to
take her on a journey.
She accepts his presence calmly and rides with him, passing by symbols of
life — a school (childhood), fields (maturity), and the setting sun (old
age).
Eventually, they reach a house (a
grave), symbolizing her final resting place.
The poem ends with the realization that centuries have passed, yet the
day of death feels like only yesterday — showing death’s timelessness.
Themes
- Mortality and Immortality: Death leads to eternal life.
- Calm Acceptance of Death: The poet welcomes death with dignity.
- Cycle of Life:
The journey through childhood to eternity.
- Time and Eternity:
Death transcends time and brings immortality.
Imagery
& Symbolism
- Carriage Ride:
The journey of life to eternity.
- School, Fields, Setting Sun: Stages of life.
- House:
Symbol of the grave or resting place.
- Eternity:
The soul’s endless existence.
Difficult
Word Meanings
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Civility |
Politeness |
|
Immortality |
Eternal life |
|
Gossamer |
Fine, delicate fabric (symbol of
soul/spirit) |
|
Surmised |
Guessed or imagined |
|
Tippet |
Scarf-like garment |
Important
Questions with Answers
Q1. How is death personified in the poem?
Ans. Death is portrayed as a polite and gentle guide who kindly takes
the speaker on a final journey.
Q2. What does the carriage symbolize?
Ans. The carriage symbolizes the journey from life to eternity,
accompanied by Death and Immortality.
Q3. How does Dickinson view death?
Ans. She views death not as frightening, but as a natural and eternal
continuation of life.
3.
Adrienne Rich – “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”
About
the Poet
- Adrienne Rich (1929–2012) was an American feminist poet and essayist.
- Her poetry focuses on women’s identity, freedom, and
oppression in a patriarchal society.
- She was one of the strongest voices in 20th-century
feminist literature.
Summary
of the Poem
The poem “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”
portrays a contrast between art and reality.
Aunt Jennifer, trapped in a life of fear and submission under her husband’s
authority, embroiders a picture of tigers that are bold and fearless —
unlike her own life.
The tigers she creates move proudly
and freely, representing female strength and courage, while Aunt
Jennifer remains weak and oppressed.
Even in death, her hands will still carry the mark of her struggles, but her
art — her tigers — will continue to express freedom.
Themes
- Female Oppression:
The impact of patriarchy on women.
- Art as Freedom:
Creativity as an escape from real-life suffering.
- Courage vs. Fear:
The tigers symbolize bravery, while Aunt Jennifer symbolizes fear.
- Immortality of Art:
Art survives even when the artist suffers.
Imagery
& Symbolism
- Tigers:
Courage, freedom, and power.
- Wedding Ring:
Symbol of male domination and confinement.
- Embroidery:
Artistic expression and suppressed desire.
Difficult
Word Meanings
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Denizens |
Inhabitants |
|
Sleek |
Smooth and elegant |
|
Chivalric |
Brave and noble |
|
Ordeals |
Painful experiences |
|
Terrified Hands |
Symbol of oppression and fear |
Important
Questions with Answers
Q1. What do Aunt Jennifer’s tigers symbolize?
Ans. They symbolize freedom, strength, and the spirit of rebellion
against oppression.
Q2. How does the poem reflect women’s position in society?
Ans. It shows how women are restricted by patriarchy but find expression
through art and imagination.
Q3. What happens to Aunt Jennifer after death?
Ans. Though she dies, her art (the tigers) continues to symbolize
strength and courage — she achieves immortality through her work.
4.
Pablo Neruda – “Oh Earth, Wait for Me”
About
the Poet
- Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) was a Chilean poet and diplomat who won the Nobel
Prize for Literature in 1971.
- His poetry ranges from passionate love poems to deeply
political and environmental themes.
- He loved nature and saw Earth as sacred and nurturing.
Summary
of the Poem
“Oh Earth, Wait for Me” is an emotional
plea to nature.
The poet, who has been busy with worldly affairs and human conflicts, asks the
Earth to wait for him — to let him return and reunite with its peace and
simplicity.
He wishes to reconnect with the
natural world, to be forgiven for his separation from it, and to rest in
harmony with the soil, the leaves, and the silence of the Earth.
The poem expresses a deep environmental and spiritual consciousness.
Themes
- Union with Nature:
The poet’s desire to merge with Earth.
- Regret and Redemption: Regret for straying from nature; wish to return.
- Peace and Purity:
Earth represents calm and innocence.
- Mortality and Continuity: The poet seeks eternal rest in the lap of nature.
Imagery
& Symbolism
- Earth:
Symbol of life, motherhood, and eternity.
- Roots, Rivers, Trees:
Represent connection and renewal.
- Silence:
Symbol of peace after the chaos of life.
Difficult
Word Meanings
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Perplexed |
Confused or troubled |
|
Reconcile |
To make peace with |
|
Boughs |
Branches of a tree |
|
Communion |
Deep spiritual connection |
|
Solitude |
Peaceful loneliness |
Important
Questions with Answers
Q1. What is the poet’s request to the Earth?
Ans. He asks the Earth to wait for him so that he can return, rest, and
unite with it after his life’s journey.
Q2. What does the Earth symbolize?
Ans. The Earth symbolizes purity, peace, and the eternal mother that
nourishes and embraces all life.
Q3. What is the mood of the poem?
Ans. The poem is meditative, reflective, and full of longing for peace
and union with nature.
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