Dickinson and Religion | The Poetry of Emily Dickinson | Dr. Abigail Rawleigh

Dickinson is famously skeptical of religion and yet her poetry is full of religious imagery, mimics the form and content of Christian hymns, and contains beautiful and compelling descriptions of belief and religious practice. This lecture begins with a brief introduction to poetic scansion, explaining how rhythm and rhyme work in Dickinson's poetry and drawing some unexpected connections to Pokemon and nineteenth-century hymn culture. Then, we'll discuss some of the key terms in the theological system of Calvinism, exploring the nuances of Dickinson's reactions against and questions about the theological system of her upbringing.
Guiding question(s): How does Dickinson deal with religious questions in her poetry? What are her attitudes to religious belief?
Today's readings:
61 “Papa above!”
79 “Going to Heaven”
234 “You’re right - ‘the way is narrow”
338 “I know that He exists”
501 “This World is not Conclusion”
528 “Mine - by the Right of the White Election!”
608 “Afraid! Of whom am I afraid?”
683 “The Soul unto itself”
766 “My Faith is larger than the Hills-”
1270 “Is Heaven a Physician?”
(Numbering from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, ed. Thomas H. Johnson)
Read ahead for next week: abigailrawleig...

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