Emily Dickinson

Though she was largely unknown outside of her father's small circle of literary friends, Emily Dickinson is now one of the best known American poets of the nineteenth century, and f the best known female poets of all time. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1830, Emily Dickinson spent most of her life in that city. She was known to be incredibly reclusive and private, and did not leave the family home very often. She never married, and her poems were mostly unpublished until her sister discovered them after her death. Her poetry is often marked by its obscurity and the difficulty in knowing exactly what Dickinson meant. She also includes many capitalizations that can appear to be irregular and even random.

Many of her poems also focus heavily on nature themes mixed with religious imagery. One of her most famous poems that deals with this, and yet is very difficult to extract definite meaning from, is "There's a Certain Slant of Light," which is numbered 258 in the published edition of her complete works. This poem talks of light in winter and compares it to a cathedral, and says that both kinds are "oppressive." It is not easy to figure out exactly what Dickinson is saying in this poem, but much of her poetry seems to have the belief that organized religion is oppressive, where as nature and intrinsic feelings about God are liberating.

Many critics note that a religious crisis was probably the cause of Dickinson's decision to leave her school at Mount Holyoke and return to Amherst, and they credit this crisis with the view of religion that is shown in her poetry. Others also suggest a possible lesbian relationship with her sister-in-law and friend Susan, though the evidence here is ambiguous.

Quotes:

There's a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes -" bird came down the walk:

He did not know I saw" door just opened on a street -- "