Poetry Research Paper - Essay Example

Many of her poems reveal the various aspects of death which is personified in different semblances. Some of her poems which deal with the theme of death are “Because I could not stop for Death”, “I heard a fly buzz when I died”, and “I died for beauty, but was scarce”. A reflective exploration of the poem “I died for beauty, but was scarce” reveals the relationship between the various themes in Dickinson poetry such as death, beauty, and truth, apart from exposing the interconnection among her different poems and the common features of her poems.

“Dickinson’s writing deals with all the stuff of life: nature, love and death, time and eternity. She treated these themes in a manner all her own: often with humor and playfulness, but also with seriousness and sensitivity.” (Borus, 44) In the poem “I died for beauty, but was scarce”, Dickinson deals mainly with death in connection to other major themes of her poetry, such as beauty and truth. Both themes are closely connected and the poet personifies them as “brethren” and “kinsmen”, who are buried in “adjoining” rooms.

The use of parallel language to express the experience and goals of both the characters also suggests the connection between the two themes. It is important realize that both the speakers die ‘for’ either beauty or truth and ‘for’ refers to ‘in the cause of’. These themes are connected to death, which is the ultimate reality for all human beings, as both the speakers were not able to achieve their goals, beauty and truth. A careful reader straightforwardly recognizes that the poet is concerned with “the relationship between human mortality and the ideals of Truth and Beauty.

Both of these ideals occupy an exalted place in Dickinson’s universe; both are eternal and exempt from analysis.” (Leiter, 94) The use of the word ‘failed’ is greatly suggestive as it gives the reason for their death. “He questioned softly why I failed? / “For beauty,” I replied. / “And I for truth,--the two are one; / We brethren are,” he said.” (Dickinson) Therefore, it is important to maintain that Emily Dickinson associates beauty and truth in this poem, and presents death as the ultimate reality in life.

In a reflective analysis of the poem “I died for beauty, but was scarce”, the interrelation among Dickinson’s various poems becomes palpable. Mainly, this interrelation is evident in the themes she deals with in her various poems. For example, death is one her favorite themes and she deals with this theme in her various poems such “Because I could not stop for Death”, “I heard a fly buzz when I died”, and “I died for beauty, but was scarce”. Many critics consider death as the touchstone for the poetry of Dickinson and she regarded death as the ultimate reality which reveals the exact nature of God and the state of the human soul.

In the poem “Because I could not stop for Death”, death is personified as a gentleman caller or suitor who takes the poet with him and they pass different places and stages of life. Death in the poem “I heard a fly buzz when I died” is presented as painless although its vision is horrifying. Therefore, it is important to recognize that the different poems of Dickinson are interconnected on the basis of common elements such as themes. A profound analysis of