 | Four days ago I looked inFour days ago I looked into Dickinson’s “titanic” poems (i.e., two poems which use the word “titanic”), here:to Dickinson’s “titanic” poems (i.e., two poems which use the word “titanic”), HERE. Then for the past few days, I discussed a few points with “I have never seen ‘Volcanoes’” (which includes “a pain Titanic”). The other poem, “I think I was enchanted” (with its “Titanic Opera”) has interesting points to cover as well – and like “I have never seen ‘Volcanoes,’” I suspect the essence of the poem is likely autobiographical. Yes, it is Dickinson who, “when first a sombre girl,” thought she was enchanted (i.e., she recognized her gift of language and poetry). |
| First, let’s take a look at the opening stanzas – and, by the way, for an excellent interpretation of the first eight lines – and the entire poem – I would refer you back to the analysis I shared the other day on Susan Kornfeld’s (and now Adam Wade Degraff’s) blog site, “The Prowling Bee,” HERE. Kornfeld mentions that the “Foreign Lady” is thought by Dickinsonian scholars to be English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning; therefore, today I thought I’d touch on some of Dickinson’s favorite writers, those authors and poets who were dominant influences on her work.
|  |
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE:
Dickinson was so influenced by Shakespeare that supposedly she wrote to friends, “Why clasp any hand but this?” and “Why is any other book needed?”
NOTE: I could not find these lines in letters FROM Dickinson; however, I found reference to the latter in a letter about Dickinson from Thomas Wentworth Higginson to his wife -- he was quoting the poet.
CHARLOTTE & EMILY BONTE:
Dickinson was so moved by the Bronte sisters’ works that she requested a poem by Emily Bronte be read at her funeral. She also named her dog “Carlo” after the character St. John Rivers’ dog in “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.
FYI: The poem read at Dickinson’s funeral, "No Coward Soul is Mine," is HERE.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON:
Dickinson was introduced to Emerson’s poetry by Benjamin F. Newton, a law student of her father’s. Dickinson’s letters and poems reveal the lifelong influence Emerson had on her.
ELEZABETH BARRETT BROWNING:
Dickinson’s favorite poet, as evidenced by the portrait of Browning that hung in her room, and Browning’s long poem “Aurora Leigh” had a huge impact on her own poetry.
FYI: Information on “Aurora Leigh” is HERE.
For more info on what Dickinson’s favorite authors, check out this article on the Emily Dickinson museum’s site entitled, “Emily Dickinson and Reading,” HERE.
Dickinson was so influenced by Shakespeare that supposedly she wrote to friends, “Why clasp any hand but this?” and “Why is any other book needed?”
NOTE: I could not find these lines in letters FROM Dickinson; however, I found reference to the latter in a letter about Dickinson from Thomas Wentworth Higginson to his wife -- he was quoting the poet.
CHARLOTTE & EMILY BONTE:
Dickinson was so moved by the Bronte sisters’ works that she requested a poem by Emily Bronte be read at her funeral. She also named her dog “Carlo” after the character St. John Rivers’ dog in “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.
FYI: The poem read at Dickinson’s funeral, "No Coward Soul is Mine," is HERE.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON:
Dickinson was introduced to Emerson’s poetry by Benjamin F. Newton, a law student of her father’s. Dickinson’s letters and poems reveal the lifelong influence Emerson had on her.
ELEZABETH BARRETT BROWNING:
Dickinson’s favorite poet, as evidenced by the portrait of Browning that hung in her room, and Browning’s long poem “Aurora Leigh” had a huge impact on her own poetry.
FYI: Information on “Aurora Leigh” is HERE.
For more info on what Dickinson’s favorite authors, check out this article on the Emily Dickinson museum’s site entitled, “Emily Dickinson and Reading,” HERE.
RSS Feed
