Analysis of "After great pain, a formal feeling comes"

The central theme of this poem seems to be the omniprescence and omnipotence of pain and how pain overwhelms an individual to the point of unfeeling.

What the speaker says in the first stanza explains how after a time of great pain or sorrow, an individual experiences a type of numbness. This numbness is like the silence of a formal event, maybe an event such as a funeral as suggested by the mention of "Tombs." This is the period in the lifetime of pain in which the individual questions if this is truly happening to them and also how long they've been experiencing the numbness. Also the reader sees in the first stanza a type of dehumanization of the individual who experiences the pain as exhibited by describing the individual in terms of their nerves and heart. This use of synecdoche serves to exhibit how pain overwhelms an individual.

In the second stanza the speaker discusses how an individual attempts to function when they are overwhelmed by pain. They go through life mechanically and with little purpose. They merely do what is necessary to maintain a semblance of life though inside they feel very little, as if they are dead. Inside they have "a Quartz contentment, like a stone," and this implies that what they experience has numbed them inside. This could also be another symbol of death because many tombs are made of stone, and of course a tomb is a fairly formal setting.

The final stanza relates how an individual feels after they have passed the period of numbness and pain. They remember as a time of necessity and dread. The speaker calls it the "Hour of Lead," and this name shows how an individual drags himself through this time without feeling, much like a nonliving item. Only after a long time can a person remember the experience and finally let go of the pain and become part of the living once more.

To me, this poem seemed very accurate but to the point of exaggeration. Of course an individual experiences a type of uncaring following a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one but the speaker suggests that the person barely functions after the event. I've been through a few traumatic experiences but I am stronger because of them and I never truly became numb.

Analysis of "I can wade Grief"

The central theme of this poem ceners around the fact that happiness can oftentimes be the downfall of a person, no matter how strong they are.

The first stanza of the poem especially exhibits this notion by stating that "the least push of Joy breaks up my feet." The reader takes this statement to mean that the speaker trudges along quite well through pools of Grief but when she encounters Joy, she stumbles and falls. She begs the pebbles to not mock her as she falls and she actually blames her fall on the happiness she experienced. She even calls it "the New Liquor," thus comparing happiness to an inhibitory type of drink.

In the second stanza, the speaker discusses how "power is only pain." This shows the reader that power is only obtainable after an individual has experienced true pain that is isolated "thro' Discipline" and thereafter used as a "weight" (as in a workout weight) until that person is strong enough to withstand the pain. The speaker also says that if you "give Balm- to Giants they'll wilt, like Men," meaning if one allows those who are already strong to experience happiness, then they become weak like normal men and will therefore be unable to be giants any longer. However, if one gives a man "Himmaleh," referring to the Himalayan Mountains, then he will rise to the challenge and succeed.

This poem made me think of my own childhood, honestly. When I was put through terrible and difficult things, I had to rise to the challenge and essentially grow up at a young age. However, when I was exposed once more to happier times, I was able to revert to some childhood ways and experience a childhood.

Analysis of "I like a look of Agony"

In the first stanza of this poem Dickinson discusses how Agony presents itself among the reactions of individuals. The central theme of the poem insinuates that the speaker enjoys the appearance of agony among people because it's a very difficult emotion to fake. People rarely pretend to experience something so painful or horrifying that they experience convulsions. Also, it's nearly impossible to convincingly act out a sharp attack of emotion. Therefore, the speaker enjoys the mere truthfulness of the appearance of agony.

In the second stanza, the speaker discusses death and the agony that death entails. The speaker mentions how death is "impossible to feign" and this statement exemplifies yet again how truthful agony is. In an individual's final moments that individual will exhibit the characteristics of pure agony until they pass into the void beyond. As the truthfulness of agony is the central theme of the poem, and nearly every line exemplifies this single theme.

As a reader, this caused me to ponder the true state of agony and if any people truly do attempt to feign this emotion. It caused me to remeber the times that my friends were clearly attempting to fake this emotion and people could see right through their facade. The poem allowed me to see the truth in Dickinson's ideas and also that agony is probably the only truthful emotion- the one that cannot be feigned.

Explanation

Over the next few days, I will be analyzing these poems and thereby explaining what Dickinson means. Feel free to comment or post any other ideas you get from the poems.

Poem choices

I like a look of Agony

I like a look of Agony,
Because I know it's true-
Men do not sham Convulsion,
Nor stimulate, a Throe-

They Eyes glaze once-and that is Death-
Impossible to feign
The Beads upon the Forehead
By homely Anguish strung.

-Emily Dickinson (#241)

I can wade Grief

I can wade Grief-
Whole pools of it-
I'm used to that-
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet-
And I tip-drunken-
Let no Pebble-smile-
'Twas the New Liquor-
That was all!

Power is only Pain-
Stranded thro' Discipline,
Till Weights-will hang-
Give Balm-to Giants-
And they'll wilt, like Men-
Give Himmaleh-
They'll Carry- Him!

-Emily Dickinson (#252)

After great pain, a formal feeling comes-

After great pain, a formal feeling comes-
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs-
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?

The Feet, mechanical, go round-
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought-
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone-

This is the Hour of Lead-
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow-
First-Chill-then Stupor-then the letting go-

-Emily Dickinson (#341)