Emily Dickinson on Pain

Poem Review # 116275

English > Comparison
Literature > American
Literature > Poetry

An analysis and comparison of the poems "Pain has an Element of Blank" and "I Measure Every Grief I Meet" by Emily Dickinson.

1,172 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the many similarities between Emily Dickinson's poems ""Pain has an Element of Blank" and "I Measure Every Grief I Meet". The paper first examines "Pain has an Element of Blank" where Emily Dickinson describes pain as a domineering force that affects all humans and takes over the lives, identities and personalities of all whom it touches. The paper then contrasts this poem to "I Measure Every Grief I Meet" and notes similar ideas in both poems. Next, the paper highlights the main themes in "I Measure Every Grief I Meet" that deal with the immensity of the emotion of pain, but how in reality, the pain always dissipates over time.

From the Paper:

"Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) attended school and seminary in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts. In her mid-twenties, Dickinson began to live a life of reclusiveness and isolation. She stayed in her house and spent most of her time writing poetry about intimate experiences and ideas about life. It is estimated that she wrote approximately 1700 poems in her lifetime, which became famous only after her death. Specifically, two poems Dickinson wrote are called "pain has an element of blank", and "I measure every grief I meet." There are many similarities between these two poems. One idea that can be extracted from Dickinson's work is that pain is abstract and disconnected from everyday reality; it is eternal. Pain exists in a spiritual realm, not confined by the limits of time."

Sample of Sources Used:

Academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu. 2 Apr. 2009 <http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/blank.html>.
Dickinson, Emily. "I measure every Grief I meet." Columbia Granger's World of Poetry Online. 2009. Columbia University Press. 17 Mar. 2009. <http://www.columbiagrangers.org>.
"Emily Dickinson (1830-86)". Columbia Granger's World of Poetry Online. 2009. Columbia University Press. 17 Mar. 2009. http://www.columbiagrangers.org
Poets.org. 4 Apr. 2009 <http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15394>.
Wolff, Cynthia Griffin. "Emily Dickinson." Columbia History of American Poetry. Columbia Granger's World of Poetry Online. 2009. Columbia University Press. 17 Mar. 2009. http://www.columbiagrangers.org