1. What is your interpretation of the poem? What can you offer in terms of interpretation that can help deepen the understanding of the poem? What continues to confuse you? What do you notice about the use of poetic devices?
2. Comment on a classmate's interpretaion and/or question(s).
In general, I thought this poem was very confusing but fortunately can be interpreted in many different ways. I think that Emily/the narrator feels lost in a big world. I think she doesn't know who she is and considers herself "nobody." I get confused in the second paragraph when it says "To an admiring Bog!" I also get confused at this part because the mood seems to change to a happier state. For poetic devices, the most obvious to me was the use of rhyming. I am not sure if I interpreted it correctly but we'll see!
ReplyDeleteKelly L. P5
I thought that this poem was about how Emily sort of LIKED being a "nobody." She seems excited when she says "Are you-Nobody-Too? Then there's a pair of us!" Also, it seemed to me like she didn't want anybody else being like her when she said "Don't tell! they'd advertise-you know!" The part that confuses me is when she is talking about the Frog. Maybe she is trying to convey the thought of talking alot, sort of like how a frog ribbits throughout "the livelong June" and how frogs are usually noisy. Kelly, the rhyming scheme was really the only form of poetic devices that I could find, too.
ReplyDeleteJulianne M6
Julianne,
ReplyDeleteGood point! I didn't realize that Emily could have enjoyed being a "nobody." I also liked your interpretation of the line "Don't tell! they'd advertise-you know!" and think you are very right about that.
Kelly L. P5
I agree with Julianne, I think this poem is about Emily wanting to be left alone. I think it makes sense that Emily wrote this poem because she didn't leave her house often. She thinks it's not a good thing to stand out because she says "how dreary - to be - Somebody!". She uses the frog croaking ("to tell one's name") into the bog to show what standing out is like.
ReplyDeleteKelly,
I didn't really think about the mood until I read your response. I'm also curious why she used the adjective admiring to describe the bog.
I think that Emily Dickinson is trying to show that it is "ok" to be different. She likes the fact that everyone has their own identity. Unfortunately, it is human nature to "group" people based on how they look, dress, act, etc. She is definitely enthusiastic about being a nobody because she uses many "!" and tells her peer, "Don't tell! They'd advertise!" She doesn't want anyone to follow how she is because she is a leader. I don't understnad the use of animals in this poem, though.
ReplyDeleteAlexis M P5
Kelly, there is rhyming in some lines. For example, the first two lines rhyme, but the 3rd & 4th lines do not. Also, I relaly like your response because I didn't think of it this poem like that - maybe she doesn't know who she is yet so she considers herself a nobody.
ReplyDeleteAlexis P5
I first interpreted the poem as the narrator being referring to nobody as just one person out of the many in this world. But i reread it a couple more times and like a lot of other people came to the conclusion that she liked the idea of being a nobody. At the same time I felt maybe the narrator felt being a nobody was lonely no matter how much she enjoyed it. When the narrator exclaims "Are you nobody too?" I felt she was excited there was another person she could relate to.
ReplyDeleteCaitlyn L. Period 5
I believe that this poem tells people how Emily actually enjoyed being a nobody and a loner. She's almost saying how she doesn't want other people to know how much she likes it because then other people will become like her, and it will therefore be popular to be a nobody and shut yourself away from society. She wants to keep her enjoyable life a secret and enjoy every moment in suclusion and by herself. I notice that in this poem there is an exclamation and then a question over and over agian. She also uses dashes a lot in her poems i suppose to just make a dramatic stop or a long pause inbetween her statements. The only thing that really confuses me in this short poem is why she relates a frog to being public. Kelly there is rhyming in some lines, but to rhyme through the whole poem whould prove monotonous. Stacy per 6
ReplyDeleteWhen i first read this poem i was really confused. I had no idea what she was talking about, or if she was even having a conversation with anyone. But once i broke it down and took the poem piece by piece it became more clear as to what might be going on. It seemed to me as though she was writing this poem for all those who like to be by themselves. Saying its ok to be alone, and shes asking others if there alone too. Emily lived most her life at her house, and only traveled when it was absolutley necessary. She is telling her audience that it can be hard displaying yourself, and sometimes keeping to yourself is better, and harmless.
ReplyDeleteroz templeton period 5
I think the Emily Dickinson wanted to be a nobody. She wanted to find someone else was like her. She liked be none be very few people and want to either find someone like that or provide comfort for those that are shy. Although her poem is short it is a very meaningful. It provides a hope for all shy people that there are others and its ok.
ReplyDeleteAustin C
Period 6
In this poem I think that Dickinson celebrates the privacy that one gets from being a "nobody". Being in the public eye is difficult because one can not make one move without being seen. So in her case she loves the fact that no one knows who she is because she can live her life any way she chooses and that's something to be excited about.
ReplyDeleteCaitlyn, I agree with you on the fact that the narrator enjoys being a "nobody" and is glad to find someone like herself.
Treasure p6
i feel liek in this poem Emily was happpy at the fact that she was a nobody and the fact that there areother nobodys. i also think she doesnt like the idea of responsibility and to respond to people. i can relate to how sehe is feeling becuase sometimes i wish that i could be a nobody and not have to get myself invovled with others. but i feel liek she is just expressing how hard it must of been in her life and now shes kind of just bored or too tired and just wants to be doen with everything.
ReplyDeletei agree with Kelly.. like i felt that too when i was reading.
Lauren period 5
I think Emily is expressing in this poem that sometimes being a nobody is a good thing. That being a great "somebody" can be very bothersome and when everyone knows you you will never get time to yourself. she clearly likes to have time to herself and be able to be in the peace and quiet. So in her mind why would you want to be a somebody when you can be a nobody?
ReplyDeleteJarrett L
period 5