![]() ![]() Ultimately, I think the purpose of the dashes is to give specific parts of the poem more significance and by doing so Dickinson wants to make the audience more attentive and thoughtful about what they are reading. Plus, it seems that the dashes are a stylistic choice as its kind of formats her poem in a pattern and makes it seem like a sequence of fragments rather than sentences. In this case Dickinson uses dashes to replace the use of parentheses because while parentheses are a subtle way to add key notes, dashes are a more intrusive, blunt method to make a side statement. When she writes, “When it comes, the Landscape listens – / Shadows – hold their breath – / When it goes, ‘tis like the Distance / On the look of Death –” the dashes still end the lines but they also put emphasis on the statement “hold their breath” because being sandwiched between two dashes on the same line draws the reader’s attention. In addition, throughout the poem Dickinson uses dashes to frame specific terms. ![]() ![]() When she uses the dashes as commas like the stanza from above it shifts the focus on the words that follow the dash, so the phrase “that oppresses” is meant to resonate with the reader. Dashes can also serve as a marker of interruption, to draw out a sense of irony or sudden realization. They also help to emphasize and heighten certain words and concepts. They effectively add pauses between sentences to draw out meaning and create ambience. The dashes create an emphasis on parts of the sentence and take on the role of either commas or parentheses. The use of dashes in poetry is significant in several ways. For example when she writes, “There’s a certain Slant of light, / Winter Afternoons – / That oppresses, like the Heft / Of Cathedral Tunes –” the dash separates the first and second line from the third and fourth line allowing for each to hold individual significance but not disconnecting the train of thought. The lines in the poem are split into fragments by these dashes and beauty of a dash is that is allows the continuation of a sentence without a blunt end such as a semicolon or period, instead the reader is visually able to move from one fragment to the other following the line. I think the dashes allow Dickinson to make words and phrases seem more important and thought provoking as well as create a certain style to her writing. However, really understanding why Dickinson uses dashes is difficult because every part of the poem uses them a bit differently. The poem can inspire the reader to live more intentionally and to focus on what truly matters in life.Dickinson’s use of dashes is interesting because it’s one of the many things that makes her poetry different from other poetry. It encourages the reader to reflect on the way they live their own life and to consider the ways they can make a positive impact on the world around them. The poem can serve as a reminder to celebrate the joys and accomplishments of the deceased, while also reflecting on the lessons they taught us and the impact they had on our lives.Īlternatively, the poem can be enjoyed as a philosophical reflection on the nature of life and the importance of living a meaningful existence. It can be personalized by reflecting on the life and legacy of the deceased and how they spent their dash. Dickinsons choice to create ambiguity in her poetry emphasizes her belief in the importance of the process of discovery, rather than the finding of definitive. The poem can be used for a funeral as it highlights the importance of a life well-lived and the legacy we leave behind. The poem encourages the reader to reflect on their life and how they can make the most of the time they have. The large dashes, or the dashes that seem to convey more emotion, are placed after the second line and the ending line. The poem suggests that what matters most is not the material possessions we accumulate, but rather how we live and love, and how we spend our time on earth. The poem "The Dash" by Linda Ellis is a reflection on the importance of how we live our lives, as represented by the dash between the dates of our birth and death on a tombstone. Would you be proud of the things they say He noted that first came her date of her birthįor you never know how much time is left, He referred to the dates on her tombstone ![]()
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