As Imperceptibly As Grief by Emily Dickinson Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in As Imperceptibly As Grief by Emily Dickinson Deck (10)
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1
Q

What does Dickinson use As Imperceptibly as Grief as vehicle to?

A

To help her process her grief, which she recognises as a very difficult emotion to recognise and understand as shown by the title

2
Q

Intital point

A
  • Dickinson adresses her loss through the symbolism of summer fading away
  • Contextually, summer is respires stative of the priest who left her
3
Q

Initially… (qoute 1)

A

“The Summer lapsed away”

  • The summer is representative of the preacher Charles Wadsworth who left her
  • “lapsed” highlights the fleeting nature of the people in her life, and of her emotions. This notion would be invisible to normal people, however she spent many years in recluse
4
Q

Initially… (qoute 2)

A

“To seem like perfidy- A Quietness distilled”

  • “perfidy” is in reference to the preacher leaving her
  • “quietness distilled”- is reference to the distinct silence that now surrounds her since Charles left her
  • the use of the dash symbolises her processing her grief, and breaks up her thoughts
5
Q

However as the text develops point…

A

She continues to process her grief by making distinct references to her lover that left her

6
Q

However as the text develops… (point 1)

A

“The morning foreign shone”

  • “foreign” suggests that the hope of seeing a new day with new opportunities is alien to her which shows her complete lack of hope that her she will ever get over her grief
  • “shone” and “gone” from the next line are the only two rhyming words, which softens her tone, juxtaposing the animosity of the sentiment that he left her
7
Q

As the text develops… (point 2)

A

“A courteous yet harrowing Grace”

  • “courteous” is reference to him trying to peacefully leave her
  • However, the prolongation of the leaving process is “harrowing” and distressing for her, it also highlights the unrequited nature of their love
8
Q

Ultimately point

A

Ultimately, Dickinson comes to the realisation that her grief will dissipate just as her happiness did with Charles, as does all emotions are constantly “fleeting” and fading

9
Q

Ultimately… (qoute 1)

A

“And thus”

-this phrase suggests that she has began to accept her grief and has began to move on

10
Q

Ultimately… (point 2)

A

“Light escape”

  • this contrasts her initial acceptance because it suggests that she recognises that he felt very little in leaving her and she took the grunt of the grief
  • The final full stop is the only terminal punctuation, is shows her ultimate acceptance of grief