Business Ethics
...of America’s poets. She is also “… known for her unusual life of self imposed social seclusion. Living a life of simplicity and seclusion…” Dickinson wrote poetry that touched on essential questions such as the meaning of death, immortality and human existence. However, she is also noted by many critics as being the inspiration for and one of the precursors of modern poetry and contemporary approaches to literature.
This paper will attempt to provide on overview of her work as well as insight into her significance as a modern poet. This will include as discussion of her use of diction and poetic language and how her poetic oeuvre can be seen as initiatory and a prelude to contemporary poetry.
Two central aspects immediately come to mind when thinking of Emily Dickinson’s works - her unique style and her questioning of the society around her though her life and penchant for seclusion. With regard to her poetry, one commentator notes that, “Within short, compact phrases she expressed far-reaching ideas; amidst paradox and uncertainty her poetry has an undeniable capacity to move and provoke” This is an apt description of the style and will be further explored in this analysis of the significance of her work.
Another aspect that will be discussed is the claim that Dickinson’s work should be seen in a wider context and that her importance lies in her artistic kinship with the great poets of the world. This is a view put forward by Henry W. Wells’ work, Introduction to Emily Dickinson.
The significance of Emily Dickinson lies in the fact that her kinship is closer to all great poets than it is to any of her contemporary New Englanders. As an individual, an amazingly alive person and a genius, she should be seen first of all against the background of the greatest individuals, persons, and men of genius, and not against a background of the men...
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