My comments follow. in "they shut me up in prose-", why do they put the little girl in your closet. In “They Shut Me Up in Prose,” Dickinson discusses how women are confined in society’s structured roles on women in the Victorian era. That it is not he, the bird that cannot change his ways, but it is the persona that cannot. The capitalization in this stanza has me stumped with no explanation. Which she place herself into the poem itself, and address the outlining issues of such a … Dickinson tears apart the idea that little girls are to be seen and not heard in this poem. In the third stanza, I believe her to be saying that, as “Himself has but to will”, she was able to break out of the standard prose writing and has become a “star” in the world of American poetry. In "They shut me up in Prose"., why do "they" put the little girl in the closet? She feels trapped by these traditional teachers and describes herself as being “put in the Closet”. Success in presenting the truth only comes when it is done circuitously (Success in Circuit lies). The ‘they’ is capitalized as the first word of a sentence normally is, but then the Prose is also capitalized. According to the speaker in "There is a solitude of space," ; Is death the deepest type of … There is rhyme used in parts of the poem, but it is not consistent. However, if the sentence is read in iambs, shut, up, and prose are stressed which could be important. This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Moving on, the first stanza seems simple, she illustrates the way she has been quieted by using the simile of a little girl. They might as wise have lodged a Bird For Treason — in the Pound — And easy as a Star Abolish his Captivity — And laugh — No more have I — J613, F445 (1862) There is quite a bit of power in this poem as Dickinson likens being shut up in “Prose” to being stuck in a closet for not being quiet enough as a girl. There is no rhyme pattern with the word prose later in the stanza that would cause it to be written that way. The ‘they’ is capitalized as the first word of a sentence normally is, but then the Prose is also capitalized. Personally, I see the “they” in this poem as the narrator’s teachers throughout her life, beginning from when she was “a little girl”. Whether it be her parents (hahaha), her teachers, “friends”, or bullies I feel is irrelevant. The speaker was told as a little girl to confine herself in prose. I think she feels that her parents believe that there is something wrong with her behaviorally, and the line “Could themself have peeped— and seen my Brain- go round-“ is her plea to them, trying to tell them that she is a good child and is undeserving of their punishments, which she compares to a pound. Want her to be still. Because they liked me ‘still’ —. In her work, Dickinson asserts the importance of the self,a themeclosely related to Dickinson’s censure of God.As Dickinson understood it, the mere act of speaking or writingis an affirmation of the will, and the call of the poet, in particular,is the call to explore and express the self to others. It appears from the title that her poems and creativity were “shut up” and she was forced to only write in standard prose. .] ENGLISH READING CIRCLE ON POETRY AND PROSE POETRY – POEM OF THE MONTH ANALYSIS: “THEY SHUT ME UP IN PROSE” BY EMILY DICKINSON. In this somewhat grimly humorous poem, Emily compares her childhood as a ‘little Girl’ with the way 'They' treat her as an adult. I agree with the comments above that above that the “They” are her parents, greater society, and anybody who is “Other” to her (or perhaps, have “othered” her). Quick, witty, and forward, “They shut me up in Prose” takes on a rebellious tone as Dickinson explains that her mind and creativity cannot be quashed with captivity. Dickinson does so in three stanzas, with an inconsistent rhyme scheme. Writing this right after an argument with my parents, I could not help but relate this poem to my personal feelings. "They Shut Me Up In Prose": A Cautionary Tale of Two Emilys "They shut me up in Prose"- Emily Dickinson, Poem 613, The Complete Poems ofEmily Dickinson Young Emily Dickinson, born in 1830 to a prestigious Amherst family, played with her dog Carlo and … I understood this to be an emphasis on the fact that she is able to voice her opinions in poetry even though the unknown ‘they’ have restricted her from expressing herself through normal writing. This poem opens with a directive to the reader, which seems to frame the poem as instructions for writing poetry. Mary C. Galvin: On 613 ("They shut me up in Prose--") You are here: Home » Mary C. Galvin: On 613 ("They shut me up in Prose--") In this poem, Dickinson is clearly drawing an analogy between the socialization process of women and the strictures of "proper" language use, and is defiant toward both. Emily Dickinson’s “They shut me up in Prose” is a very short poem, but it conveys significant meaning in the context of restraint. I don’t know her background, or how her poems were received, but perhaps she was shunned or scorned for her poetry at some point. The word/phrase still connects the lines. They shut me up in Prose – As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet – Because they liked me “still” – Still! This poem is her reaction to her readers, and she is telling them that she feels constricted for no good reason. Her spirit is broken and she laughs no more. Buy Study Guide. The way she words the sentence saying “in Prose” I’m guessing is the proper way to word that sentence. This poem comments on social conventions that restricted Dickinson creatively, perhaps written as a response to the denunciation of Dickinson’s radical structure of poetry, as critics believed that Dickinson’s uses of spaces and dashes were technically unsound. Sparknotes bookrags the meaning summary overview critique of explanation pinkmonkey. "They shut me up in Prose"They shut me up in ProseAs when a little GirlThey put me in the ClosetBecause they liked me “still”Still! Pay attention: the program cannot take into account all the numerous nuances of poetic technique while analyzing. Use the criteria sheet to understand greatest poems or improve your poetry analysis essay. Therefore, the rest of the poem can be read as Dickinson linking this disapproval to her childhood, living with her parents. The last stanza is broken up strangely in the end, but makes sense up until the last line. As when a little Girl. A lone bird that can be seen walking the streets of the city looking as lost as myself. The bird represents freedom perhaps that the author feels she did not have because of the other. The punctuation marks are various. Could themself have peeped – And seen my Brain – go round – They might as wise have lodged a Bird For Treason – in the Pound – Himself has but to will And easy as a Star Look down opon Captivity – They shut me up in Prose— [. For Dickinson,the “self” … 3. The only reason for connecting these three separate things would be to underscore the stupidity of the ‘they.’ Nobody would think that a bird would commit a crime, especially treason, and then to throw it in the pound is usually an idea synonymous with dogs. 2. “They shut me up in Prose– As when a little Girl They put me in the Closet – Because they liked me “still”” (1-4). A freedom that is not so free because it cannot be shared. Her poems often highlight these viewpoints. She compares this to when, as a child (“As when a little Girl”), she was put in the closet in an effort to keep her still and quiet (“They put me in the Closet -- / Because they liked me ‘still’ … Birds are a symbol of flight, of freedom, and of movement. A different view could change this poem and be good for a class discussion. Emily Dickinson They shut me up in Prose 445 (613) Imagery In The Poem As you read through the poem make a note of any strong images that the words describe or convey. Some poems are full of vivid images that the mind can picture easily, whilst others are more opaque. They put me in the Closet —. The literary device anadiplosis is detected in two or more neighboring lines. We make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability and suitability with respect to the information. 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