Emily Dickinson Context Report

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Emily Dickinson Context Report Emily Dickinson, known as one of America’s greatest poets, is also regarded for her unusual life of self imposed social privacy. Living a life of simplicity and seclusion, she yet wrote poetry of great power; questioning the nature of immortality and death. Her different lifestyle created an atmosphere; often romanticised, and frequently a source of interest and assumption. Ultimately Emily Dickinson is remembered for her unique poetry written with short, compact phrases. She expressed broad ideas using paradox and uncertainty which shaped her poetry as an undeniable capacity to move and provoke. Early Life of Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson was born on 10th December, 1830, in the town of Amherst, Massachusetts. Amherst had become well known as a centre for Education, based around Amherst College. Her family were members of the local community. Emily proved to be a bright and conscientious student, as a young child. She demonstrated a sharp intelligence, and was able to create many original writings of rhyming stories, entertaining her fellow classmates. Emily’s father was strict and keen to bring up his children in the proper way. Emily said of her father. “his heart was pure and terrible”. His strictness can be shown through his censorship of reading materials. Walt Whitman, for example, was considered “too inappropriate” and novels had to be smuggled into the house. In response, Emily was highly deferential to her father and other male figures of authority. But in her own way she loved and respected her father, even if at times, he appeared to be unfriendly. At a young age, she said she wished to be the “best little girl”. However despite her attempts to please and be well thought of, she was also at the same time independently minded, and quite willing to refuse the prevailing orthodoxy’s on certain issues. Religious

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