6.06 Dickinson Quiz

Read the poem and answer the following question.

"This Is My Letter to the World"
       by Emily Dickinson

This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me—
The simple News that Nature told—
With tender Majesty

Her Message is committed
To Hands I cannot see—
For love of Her—Sweet—countrymen—
Judge tenderly—of Me

Question: To whom does "Her" refer in the second stanza?

Answer

• 'Her' refers to Nature

• 'Her' refers to News

• 'Her' refers to the Message

• Her refers to News

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Read the poem. "This Is My Letter to the World" again. Then answer the following question.

This is my letter to the World
That never wrote to Me—
The simple News that Nature told—
With tender Majesty

Her Message is committed
To Hands I cannot see—
For love of Her—Sweet—countrymen—
Judge tenderly—of Me

Question: What central idea is conveyed by the highlighted purple lines.

• The natural and spiritual worlds are interconnected.

• A writer's words often go unappreciated.

• Writing is a lonely profession.

• Nature is both complex and forceful

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"I Heard a Fly Buzz - When I Died"

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air -
Between the Heaves of Storm -

The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room -

I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable - and then it was
There interposed a Fly -

With Blue - uncertain - stumbling Buzz -
Between the light - and me -
And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see -

Question:  Consider Dickinson's poems "I Heard a Fly Buzz —When I Died" What topic is this poem about?

• The feeling of loss

• The quest for truth

• The process of grieving

• The Rhythms of Nature

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"I Heard a Fly Buzz - When I Died"

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air -
Between the Heaves of Storm -

The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room -

I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable - and then it was
There interposed a Fly -

With Blue - uncertain - stumbling Buzz -
Between the light - and me -
And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see -

Question: 

What evidence from the poems supports your answer to the previous question?

<Example, both share the same theme of____(your answer to the previous question), as seen in the following two quotes>. 

Select the two correct answers.

• "And then a Plank in Reason, broke, / And I dropped down, and down—"

• "And then the Windows failed—and then / I could not see to see—"

• 
  "The Eyes around—had wrung them dry— / And Breaths were gathering firm"

• "And then I heard them lift a Box / And creak across my Soul"

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"I Started Early — Took my Dog" 

I started Early – Took my Dog –
And visited the Sea –
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me –

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands –
Presuming Me to be a Mouse –
Aground – upon the Sands –

But no Man moved Me – till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe –
And past my Apron – and my Belt
And past my Boddice – too –

And made as He would eat me up –
As wholly as a Dew
Upon a Dandelion's Sleeve –
And then – I started – too –

And He – He followed – close behind –
I felt His Silver Heel
Upon my Ankle – Then My Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl –

Until We met the Solid Town –
No One He seemed to know –
And bowing – with a Mighty look –
At me – The Sea withdrew –

Question: 

Consider Dickinson's poems "I Started Early—Took My Dog" Which topic is this poem about?

• The intensity of the forces of nature

• The importance of practicing piety

• The conflict between individual and society

• The bond between humans and animals

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What are Emily Dickinson's Poems about?

• Emily Dickinson's poems focus on romantic relationships and love.
• Emily Dickinson's poems primarily discuss political issues and social justice.
• Emily Dickinson's poems are mainly about historical events and figures.
• Emily Dickinson's poems are about themes of death, immortality, nature, and the inner self.

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