Response 8 PDF

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Weekly Response based on respected readings...

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Emily Dickinson - “Of God we ask one favor” and “I died for beauty, but was scarce”

Analysis - “Of God we ask one favor” 1. Discuss the central message of the poem. What does the poet want you to learn/know once you finish reading the poem? The earth we live on today expands on the belief that happiness is the goal of life. However, she introduces her faith of asking God for a favor, forgiveness, because of the sin that humans have committed. This sin has kept us from achieving full joy in a “prison”, competing with the moment we enter heaven, when all our sin is forgiven. 2. Analyze the structure of the poem. What’s noteworthy about the rhyme scheme, meter, stanza structure, length of the lines, word choice, punctuation, etc.? There is no rhyme scheme within the poem and rather has “off-rhymes” and metric instability. She also has an inconsistent use of dashes. Her word choice also leaves the readers feeling deep emotions due to the dramatic finish of the poem. 3. Discuss the tone (e.g. humorous, sad, tense, joyful, etc.) of the poem. How does the tone contribute to the overall message of the poem? Her tone of the poem seems tense and dramatic. This does contribute to how readers will read her poem, wanting to hear more background of what point she is trying to get across. Leaving her readers in awe by what millennials would call a “mic-drop”. 4. What do you like most about the poem? Would you change anything about the poem? If so, what would it be and why? I like the intensity of her tone because I can hear someone in a play ending a scene with this poem. I also do like her religious take on sin and how earth can sometimes feel like a prison.

Emily Dickinson - “Of God we ask one favor” and “I died for beauty, but was scarce” We sometimes confuse happiness that is temporary and the permanent joy God will give us when we reach Heaven. I will not change anything about the poem. 5. (F.I.) How does this poet’s work address ethical issues and matters of faith? The whole poem is a matter of faith. Talking about sin and how it can be believed to be our happiness. Analysis - “I died for beauty, but was scarce” 1. Discuss the central message of the poem. Dickinson’s message is about finding the similarities between truth and beauty. She wants her readers to ponder on how they can essentially be one. 2. Analyze the structure of the poem. Again, her structure of the poem is “off-rhythm” due to her inconsistent rhyme scheme, meter, and stanza. She did use dialect in this poem and created a vivid scene for readers to imagine the conversation. 3. Discuss the tone (e.g. humorous, sad, tense, joyful, etc.) of the poem. Her tone is sorrowful and slightly dark. She talks about two people in tombs, communicating about why they failed at life, and then there is a quick disappearance of conversation when their names are covered on the tomb. 4. What do you like most about the poem? Would you change anything about the poem? I would not change anything about the poem. I liked how she created life through the dead people of the poem. Some people may not like that dark part, but I did not mind the quick transitions.

5. (F.I.) How does this poet’s work address ethical issues and matters of faith?

Emily Dickinson - “Of God we ask one favor” and “I died for beauty, but was scarce” Dickinson addresses ethical issues of life and how people are supposed to live it. There are so many right and wrong ways to live life and she shows that between the two people who died from beauty and truth. We see those things as harmful to the world, but hurtful to ourselves. However, some people may think differently and see those two as opposite ways of failure. She lets her readers interpret how they perceive beauty and truth to be....