EMILY DICKINSOND E C E M B E R 1 0 , 1 8 3 0 – M AY 1 5 , 1 8 8 6

By: Karris Thompson

LIFE STORYBorn into one of the most prominent families in Amherst Massachusetts on December 10, 1830

Emily’s life was set by her grandfather Samuel, whom built a house on Pelham St. called Homestead for his son and founded Amherst Academy, where she spent learning for 7yrs. of her youth. Not only did her father Edward go to the same school but he was also the school’s prize student. He later on became a lawyer and state legislator. He later then married Emily’s mother and her name was Emily Norcross

They were very active in the community.

SAMUEL FOWLER DICKINSON(EMILY’S GRANDFATHER)

Homestead (The house he built)

Amherst Academy (The school he founded)

LIFE STORY

Emily had one brother Named William Austin “Austin” (1829-1895)and a sister that who’s name was Lavinia “Vinnie”(1833-1899).

~ Her brother Austin will soon marry Emily’s closest friend Susan Gilbert in 1856

During the time Emily was growing up the crucial issue was religion, which to Emily was the “all important question.” Her family could be traced back all the way to the earlier settlers.

Not only was Emily great with her creative writing skills, she was also a great musician. She also had a great imagination, that she liked to use when she was in her room.

LIFE STORY

When she wasn’t in her room, Emily was a bright young student, that showed her intelligence by creating original writings that pleased her classmates and teachers.

Emily benefited from studying the works of Classic Literature, Mathematics, History and Botany.

Emily’s favorite class was botany.

While Emily was growing up she was pressured to be all that she could be, because her father was strict and he wanted to bring up all his children the proper way.

“His heart was pure and terrible” – Emily Dickinson

LIFE STORYIn 1840 Emily moved to new house where she lived across from a cemetery, where daily burials occurred.

Dickinson proved to be an amazing student and in 1847, even though she was already somewhat of a ‘homebody’, at the age of 17 Emily left for South Hadley, Massachusetts to attend the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.

While in college she worked on her poems

Once Emily finished college she went back home to help her mom with everyday chores.

EMILY’S SECLUSION

Emily always felt very awkward when it came to socializing.

Emily had the type of personality that made her appreciate being alone, she enjoyed staying in her room and rarely left it. She had chosen her own society and had shut her door on the rest.

She felt as if in her own room she had the freedom to explore her own thoughts. Inside this room she had the freedom to develop her genius.

Despite the physical seclusion Emily still kept in contact with a variety of thought provoking people through writing. Also her poetry does show some moments where Emily did experience great joy.

http://youtu.be/PU8XijqmnT0 Fast forward this video to the 1:28 mark and there you will learn a little bit about Emily and how she felt about her room

EMILY DICKINSON’S POETRY

After Emily died her sister Vinnie was told to burn all the letters that Emily wrote, and while doing so Vinnie found 1,700 poems that Emily wrote during her lifetime, however Emily wrote 1,775 poems.

Then Vinnie handed the poems off to a family friend who’s name was Mabel Todd, and she and Emily’s friend typed up about 200 and the first book with her poems was published in 1893.

Her poems soon received praises from newspapers and magazines. Some of the work however when first published were largely un-favored, but still received widespread popular acclaim.

I felt a funeral in my brain,And mourners, to and fro

Kept treading, treading, till it seemed

That sense was breaking through.

And when they all were seated,

A service like a drum

Kept beating, beating, till I thought

My mind was going numb

I FELT A FUNERAL IN MY BRAIN

And then I heard them lift a box,

And creak across my soul

With those same boots of lead, again.

Then space began to toll.

As all the heavens were a bell,

And being, but an ear,

And I and Silence some strange Race

Wrecked, solitary, here.

INFORMATION ON POEM

Poem: I Felt a Funeral in my Brain

Rhyme Scheme: ABCB

Meter of Poem: Iambic with a stressed beat and followed by an unstressed beat.

Emily’s poems usually follow the patterns of church hymns. Most common meters in hymns is 8/6, or an eight-syllable line followed by a six-syllable line. This poem stays close to this pattern.

EMILY DICKINSON’S DEATH

May 15, 1886.

Emily was 55 yrs. 5 months, and 5 days old when she died.

She is buried in West Cemetery, Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, America

BIBLIOGRAPHYCengage, Gale. "Emily Dickinson." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, 1999. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.enotes.com/emily-dickinson-criticism/dickinson-emily-elizabeth>.

Merriman, C.D. "Emily Dickinson." Emily Dickinson's Biography. Jalic INC., 2006. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.online-literature.com/dickinson/>.

Pettinger, Tejvan. "Biography Emily Dickinson." Emily Dickinson Biography. Amazon, 26 June 2006. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://www.biographyonline.net/poets/emily_dickinson.html>.

Vince, Thomas L. "WRA: Past & Present." : Emily Dickinson's Grandfather at Western Reserve College. 2 May 2007. Web. 14 May 2012. <http://wra-pastandpresent.blogspot.com/2007/05/emily-dickinsons-grandfather-at-western.html>.

Youtube Video: http://youtu.be/PU8XijqmnT0