Emily_Dickenson

Generally, Emily Dickenson’s works are very distinct and recognisable. Dickenson uses erratic punctuation and tends to focus her themes on dark, depressing topics that explore the moment death and the after life. This is evident in poems such as “The Soul has Bandaged moments”. However, Dickenson has a lighter side which enabled her to produce several definition poems that attempt to describe intangible things through the use of metaphor like “Hope is the thing with Feathers” and joyous poems that express her love of nature and buoyant states of mind. An example would be “I taste a Liquor never brewed”. This style she used appealed to me much more than her macabre poems. “The Soul has Bandaged moments” explores the periods that are faced by the soul. But the soul may be a comparison for her physiological state of mind. There is many comparisons in this poem fright & fulfilment, depression & happiness, freedom & restraint, hope & despair. The poem is divided into three sections each containing two stanzas. The first stanza suggests that the soul is hurt, fragile or restricted when she says it has “bandaged moments”. A Fright is introduced that violates the soul and paralyses the vulnerable, soul with dread. This “Ghastly Fright” may be seen a death, the “freezing hair” indicates the chill of fear death brings and its coldness. The conflict between the fright and the lover can be seen as any of the conflicts mentioned above. The third and forth stanza break free of the atmosphere of threat and dread. It now suggests an image of freedom, fulfilment and warmth. Verbs like “dances” and “swings” describe carefree activities, while “bursting” and “bomb” indicates energy and excitement. The image of the “delirious” bee, completely fulfilled, coming out from the rose over all sums up the feeling of joy in this part of the poem. But this escape is short lived, its temporary. “The Horror welcomes” the soul again. The last two stanzas could be characterised by feelings of imprisonment, by words such as “Felon” and “shackes”. In the poet’s opinion this experience of depression is one that should not be spoken of, making it lonely and isolating. “Not brayed of Tougue”