ENGL 4623 Emily Dickinson Mercer

I. IDENTIFICATION OF POEMS. Be able to match a summary of the content of each of these poems to its first line. Most but not all of these poems are from the second half of the course.

“Abraham to kill him”

“An altered look about the hills”

“Because I could not stop for Death”

“Did the Harebell loose her girdle”

“Essential Oils – are wrung”

“Going to Heaven!”

“He fumbles at your Soul”

“I can wade Grief”

“I cannot live with You”

“I felt a funeral, in my Brain”

“I heard a Fly buzz--when I died”

“I should have been too glad, I see”

“I taste a liquor never brewed”

“I tie my Hat – I crease my Shawl”

“If you were coming in the Fall”

“In Winter in my Room”

“My life had stood – a Loaded Gun”

“One dignity delays for all”

“Safe in their Alabaster Chambers”

“Shall I take thee, the Poet said”

“Some keep the Sabbath going to church”

“Success is counted sweetest”

“The Heart asks Pleasure – first”

“There is no Frigate like a Book”

“There’s been a Death, in the Opposite House”

“This World is not Conclusion”

“Twas warm – at first – like Us”

“Water, is taught by Thirst”

“What Soft – Cherubic Creatures”

“Wild Nights – Wild Nights!”

II. IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS. Be able to match each person to a description of his or her role in the life and work of Emily Dickinson.

Bowles, Samuel (newspaper editor)

Dickinson, Austin (ED’s brother)

Dickinson, Edward (ED’s father)

Dickinson, Emily Norcoss (ED’s mother)

Dickinson, Gilbert (ED’s nephew)

Dickinson, Lavinia (ED’s sister)

Dickinson, Susan Gilbert (sister-in-law)

Higginson, Thomas Wentworth

Lyon, Mary

Todd, Mabel Loomis

Wadsworth, the Rev. Charles

III. POETIC ANALYSIS. Carefully study each of the following poems. Before we begin the exam, ask questions about anything you don’t understand.

“Alter! When the Hills do,” 729

“I had been hungry, all the Years,” 597