Emily Dickson’s “I dwell in possibility” is filled with of symbolism. In order to understand this poem, I had to use a dictionary to help me break down each word. By doing this, the poem started to make sense to me. The poem discusses the idea of the many ways you can achieve happiness in life. You have to break each stanza down and then see how they all related.
In the first line of the poem, the idea is pretty clear: “I dwell in Possibility.” It means that “you sit and wonder of how things could be .” Then, there is a pause. The second line says, “A fairer House that Prose.” From my understanding of the word prose, it means “ordinary or dull,” (http://www.m-w.com/). What I believe Dickinson was trying to say, is that there is a better or more “promising” direction in which you can take in your “ordinary” life , (http://www.m-w.com/). The dashes following this line indicate a link to the next line. The next line translates to mean: “Down each path you can take, you can see the predict the ending result.” The last line of this stanza is linked to the previous line. The word “superior” is describing the fact that the ending result of each path that you take can be overlooked by the appealing aspect of each path.
In the second stanza, the last part of fourth line is linked to this line. “the doors” is described by the “of chambers as the cedars.” It describes the fact that “the doors” represent the constriction of each path you can take. Line five states that “some things may seem unconquerable,” (http://www.m-w.com/). Between lines two and three, there is a pause. The last two lines of the stanza role right along with each other. A “gambrel roof” is one that is very “steep and dangerous,” (http://www.m-w.com/). The second half of the stanza states that “there are many instances in which things can come at you really fast.” Then, there is a pause until the last stanza.
Line nine of the third stanza contains the word “fairest,” which relates to the word “fairer” in line two of the first stanza. This time “fairest” is describing the many people you will meet along your journey to happiness. In the last part of this stanza, it says, “For Occupation —This—The spreading wide my narrow Hands to Gather Paradise--.” This quote describes the idea that “every decision you make will affect your ability to achieve happiness.’
Throughout this poem, as I am sure you have noticed, there are many dashes. These dashes help break up the poem in such a way that makes the poem easy to understand. Dickinson uses each dash to either “relate ideas” or to emphasize each thought. The layout of her poem supports the breakdown of the moral behind her poem. All together both the dashes and layout of her poem add to its meaning.
In the first line of the poem, the idea is pretty clear: “I dwell in Possibility.” It means that “you sit and wonder of how things could be .” Then, there is a pause. The second line says, “A fairer House that Prose.” From my understanding of the word prose, it means “ordinary or dull,” (http://www.m-w.com/). What I believe Dickinson was trying to say, is that there is a better or more “promising” direction in which you can take in your “ordinary” life , (http://www.m-w.com/). The dashes following this line indicate a link to the next line. The next line translates to mean: “Down each path you can take, you can see the predict the ending result.” The last line of this stanza is linked to the previous line. The word “superior” is describing the fact that the ending result of each path that you take can be overlooked by the appealing aspect of each path.
In the second stanza, the last part of fourth line is linked to this line. “the doors” is described by the “of chambers as the cedars.” It describes the fact that “the doors” represent the constriction of each path you can take. Line five states that “some things may seem unconquerable,” (http://www.m-w.com/). Between lines two and three, there is a pause. The last two lines of the stanza role right along with each other. A “gambrel roof” is one that is very “steep and dangerous,” (http://www.m-w.com/). The second half of the stanza states that “there are many instances in which things can come at you really fast.” Then, there is a pause until the last stanza.
Line nine of the third stanza contains the word “fairest,” which relates to the word “fairer” in line two of the first stanza. This time “fairest” is describing the many people you will meet along your journey to happiness. In the last part of this stanza, it says, “For Occupation —This—The spreading wide my narrow Hands to Gather Paradise--.” This quote describes the idea that “every decision you make will affect your ability to achieve happiness.’
Throughout this poem, as I am sure you have noticed, there are many dashes. These dashes help break up the poem in such a way that makes the poem easy to understand. Dickinson uses each dash to either “relate ideas” or to emphasize each thought. The layout of her poem supports the breakdown of the moral behind her poem. All together both the dashes and layout of her poem add to its meaning.
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