5 Questions
What did Emily Dickinson express about her faith?
She wished she could buy into the message of Christianity
In 'I Cannot Live With You', what does the speaker refuse?
A marriage offer
What is the common theme in 'Because I Could Not Stop For Death' and 'I Heard A Fly Buzz – When I Died'?
Acceptance of death
What is the speaker's feeling towards the culture's embrace of Christianity?
She wished she could buy into it
What did Emily Dickinson pen to a friend regarding her faith?
“I am one of the lingering bad ones”
Study Notes
Emily Dickinson's Faith and Poetry
- Emily Dickinson's poetry expresses uncertainty and skepticism about traditional Christian beliefs and practices.
Speaker's Refusal in 'I Cannot Live With You'
- In the poem 'I Cannot Live With You', the speaker refuses to surrender to traditional Christian expectations of salvation and afterlife.
Common Theme in 'Because I Could Not Stop For Death' and 'I Heard A Fly Buzz – When I Died'
- The common theme in both poems is the exploration of mortality, death, and the afterlife.
Speaker's Feeling towards Christianity
- The speaker in Dickinson's poetry often expresses ambivalence and criticism towards the culture's embracing of Christianity, suggesting that it is superficial and lacking in genuine spiritual experience.
Dickinson's Letter to a Friend
- In a letter to a friend, Emily Dickinson wrote that she could not conform to traditional Christian beliefs, stating "I am not of the church" and expressing her independent spiritual path.
Test your knowledge of Emily Dickinson's poem "I Cannot Live With You" with this quiz. Explore the themes, poetic devices, and deeper meanings of one of Dickinson's most famous works.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
