Emily Dickinson: A Study of Her Work & Writing Advice

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul." - Emily Dickinson

There is little chance you have escaped the mention of Emily Dickinson’s name throughout your life, as one of the foremost Americans and women to write poetry. With nearly one thousand eight hundred poems written and over one thousand three hundred letters – and that’s only what’s surviving – she was one of the most prolific writers of her time, likely due in no small part to her infamous reclusiveness for over twenty years of her life. Despite only having ten of her poems published throughout her lifetime and going widely unknown as a writer before her death, Emily Dickinson remains today one of the greatest poets in the English language, one of the foremost female poets, and one of the most prominent American poets. And in this article, we’ll dive deeper into her history, writing style, major works, legacy and influence, and writing advice. 

A Brief History

Emily Dickinson was born in December of 1830 to a wealthy and prominent family in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her father was a well-connected man who served as a State Representative in the Massachusetts assembly and later as a Representative in the federal government, and her mother was unusually well-educated for the time. Emily was the second of their three children, with a brother and sister on either side of her.  

Like her mother, Dickinson was very highly educated for a woman of the time, and she attended Amherst Academy for ten years in her youth before studying at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary about ten miles down the road from her hometown, which would later become Mount Holyoke College. She was called by her teachers, parents, and mentors a positively astute student who was undeniably quick-witted, and though she took time away from school due to illness during her childhood, she never struggled in academia. 

Though she had a few close friends from her childhood in Amherst, Dickinson didn’t particularly connect with anyone at Mount Holyoke, and she returned home after only a short time there for reasons scholars have struggled to pin down. One of the few friends she stayed closely in contact with, and especially after returning home from Mount Holyoke, was Susan Gilbert, who would go on to marry her older brother, Austin. It’s been reported that Susan was the recipient of more than five hundred of Emily Dickinson’s letters throughout their lives, and it has been made clear in said letters and poetic dedications that Susan was Emily's closest and dearest friend. It has been widely speculated, however, that Susan and Emily perhaps were more than friends as well, as many of Emily’s writings to Susan were distinctly of a romantic tone and nature. 

At the end of the 1850s, when Dickinson was in her late twenties, she began her infamous reclusivity. Her mother had become bedridden because of a myriad of chronic illnesses, and Dickinson repeatedly mentioned needing to tend to her mother as cause for her own isolation from the outside world. This reclusive behavior would continue for the rest of her life until she died at the age of 55 in 1886, and her behavior would develop to the point that she wouldn’t even open the door to speak with people. She was most productive in her writing during this time, and particularly early on in her reclusivity, but virtually all of this writing went unpublished and undiscovered until after her death when her sister, Lavinia, found her papers. Her family would be the ones to posthumously publish her work on a large scale, though not without significant edits, and it wasn’t until the 1950s that we got a more original and comprehensive set of Dickinson’s poetry.  

Writing Style

Emily Dickinson's writing style was marked by its unconventional nature, emotional intensity, dramatization, vivid imagery, and its ability to capture profound and varied ideas within seemingly simple verses. Her writing was deeply emotional, philosophical, and dramatized, making her a complex and layered writer. 

Scholars have long been infatuated with her use of short lines and stanzas, which made her deeply unconventional in comparison to the poetic standards of the time. She employed a condensed and succinct style that was uniquely her own, with her poems being known for their ability to convey deep and complex ideas and emotions despite their brevity. 

Dickinson is also known for frequently used dashes, unconventional punctuation, and capitalization in her poetry, and these stylistic choices were also seen as unconventional and innovative for her time. Her use of this irregular punctuation and structuring, along with her themes, striking imagery, and symbolism to evoke emotions and create powerful, thought-provoking poems remains highly praised. 

Hope is the thing with feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers is one of Emily Dickinson's most well-known and beloved poems. Written in the mid-19th century, this poem reflects Dickinson's exploration of the concept of hope and its enduring nature, using vivid imagery and metaphorical language.

The poem begins with a powerful metaphor comparing hope to a bird ("thing with feathers") that resides within the human soul. And this metaphorical bird symbolizes hope's presence and its ability to provide comfort and reassurance, much like a bird's song. Dickinson’s portrayal of hope is as resilient, singing its "tune without the words" and persisting regardless of external circumstances or challenges. The bird's song continues unabated, conveying the unwavering nature of hope in the face of adversity.

The poem suggests that hope is most evident and comforting during difficult times ("sweetest — in the Gale"), implying that hope's presence is particularly poignant and essential when faced with life's storms and hardships. And ultimately, Emily Dickinson uses this poem to emphasize hope's endurance and steadfastness by highlighting that even in the most extreme conditions ("chillest land" or "strangest Sea"), hope never falters or demands anything in return. It remains constant and resilient, unaffected by the harshness of the world.

So while not explicitly stating the word "hope," Dickinson masterfully evokes a sense of optimism and resilience through her use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language, leaving the reader with a lasting impression of hope's enduring and uplifting nature.

Overall, Hope is the thing with feathers encapsulates Emily Dickinson's ability to express profound ideas with a great depth, leaving a lasting impact through its poignant portrayal of hope as an unwavering and resilient force within the human spirit.

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died is a poignant and contemplative poem by Dickinson that delves into the themes of death, the final moments of life, and the transition from life to death, and has been said to perfectly demonstrate her preoccupation with death. This poem is renowned for its vivid imagery and stark portrayal of the moment one passes.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the moment of death, focusing on the stillness of the room juxtaposed with the imminent event of passing away. The quietness is likened to the calmness between the intense heaves of a storm, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and tension. The individuals present in the room are emotionally overwhelmed ("Eyes around – had wrung them dry") and are preparing for the speaker's final moments. The mention of "that last Onset" suggests the arrival of death, portrayed metaphorically as a witnessing of a monarch ("the King") in the room.

The speaker's preparation for death includes the distribution of personal belongings ("Keepsakes") and the signing away of possessions or personal connections, symbolizing the detachment from worldly attachments in the face of mortality. But the sudden intrusion of a fly disrupts the solemnity of the scene. The fly's presence with its "uncertain stumbling Buzz" interrupts the final moments of the speaker's life and draws attention away from the significant event of passing.

The poem ends with a sense of obscurity and finality as the fly disrupts the speaker's vision ("the Windows failed") and obstructs the ability to see clearly. This image of visual obstruction signifies the transition from life to death, with the inability to perceive anything further.

Ultimately, I heard a Fly buzz – when I died captures the moment of death with vivid imagery, emphasizing the intrusion of the mundane into the sacred, profound experience of passing away, leaving the reader with a haunting and contemplative portrayal of life's ultimate transition. It remains one of Emily Dickinson’s most popular and enduring poems. 

I taste a liquor never brewed

I taste a liquor never brewed is a lively and imaginative poem by Emily Dickinson that celebrates the intoxicating power of nature and the transcendent experience it evokes. The poem is rich in vivid imagery and metaphorical language, using the metaphor of intoxication to describe the overwhelming joy derived from nature's beauty, and it has been praised as one of Emily Dickinson’s best. 

The poem begins with the speaker describing an extraordinary sensation of tasting a "liquor never brewed," surpassing any alcoholic drink produced by humans. This liquor is metaphorical, representing the overwhelming experience of nature's beauty, more intoxicating than any physical drink. Dickinson uses metaphors to convey the intensity of this experience. The speaker feels intoxicated by the air ("Inebriate of air") and becomes a "Debauchee of Dew," reveling in the sensory pleasures provided by nature's elements.

The speaker describes being in a state of intoxication throughout "endless summer days," indulging in the splendor of the sky ("inns of molten Blue") and the natural world. The poem playfully personifies elements of nature, likening the bee and butterflies to "drunken" beings that, when they relinquish their drinks ("drams"), the speaker, symbolically, will indulge even more in nature's intoxicating beauty.

The final stanza imagines a scene where celestial beings, seraphs, and saints are amazed by the speaker's immersion in nature, portraying the speaker as a devoted reveler in the intoxicating beauty of the world. And ultimately, I taste a liquor never brewed celebrates the overwhelming joy and intoxication derived from the wonders of nature with a masterful use of vibrant imagery and metaphors to convey the profound experience of being immersed in the beauty of the natural world.

Legacy & Influence

Initially unrecognized during her lifetime, Dickinson's poetry has become extremely lauded and popular posthumously. Her innovative style, unconventional use of language, and exploration of profound themes have influenced countless poets and writers that came after her, along with the ways her unique voice challenged traditional poetic norms. In particular, her exploration of themes such as love, death, nature, the self, and the human experience has resonated with readers and writers across generations, and her ability to delve into these universal themes with profound insight and emotional depth continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Her choice to live an unconventional and reclusive life, as well as her assertion of independence and intellectual pursuits, has also made her something of an icon for feminist scholars and readers.

Today, her poetry has a far-reaching impact on various forms of art, inspiring adaptations, references, and influences in music, visual arts, literature, and popular culture. And for all of these factors and so many more that could not possibly all be listed with any semblance of her famous brevity, Emily Dickinson’s groundbreaking work heartily solidifies her as one of America's most revered and influential poets.

Writing Advice

Though Emily Dickinson did not leave behind a comprehensive set of writing advice in the form of essays or formal guidance, through her letters and poems she indirectly offered insights into her creative process and thoughts on writing.

Dickinson emphasized the importance of being true to oneself and expressing one's thoughts and emotions genuinely, and her unique voice and style can be seen as encouraging writers to embrace their individuality. She also prioritized conveying deep emotions, whether it be joy, sorrow, love, or contemplation, in her writing, and it would take no leap of faith to say she would recommend others to do the same. She was also, clearly, a staunch supporter of experimentation and freedom in her writing, as exemplified by her unique use of structure, punctuation, capitalization, and form brushing off traditional constraints. She would likely not be one to encourage budding writers to stay within the lines, as her best work came when she did the opposite. So, ultimately, despite there not being any specific advice from Emily Dickinson on writing, the studying of her poetry can glean valuable lessons about creativity, originality, and authenticity in regard to poetic craft.