Death and Dying in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson

by Claudia Durst Johnson (Editor)

Overview

Great literary works resonate with readers not only because of well-developed characters and plots, but also because they often reflect important social themes. The Social Issues in Literature series brings together the disciplines of sociology and literature in a unique format designed to support cross-curricular studies. Each volume explores a work of literature through the lens of the major social issue reflected in it, and features carefully selected content representing a variety of perspectives. All volumes in the series contain biographical and critical information about the author; secondary excerpts offering both historical and contemporary views of the highlighted social issue; a timeline of the author's life; a "For Further Reading" section of other works on the issue; and a detailed subject index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737763768
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	09/27/2012
Series:	Social Issues in Literature Series
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

About the Author

B01

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Chronology 13

Chapter 1 Background on Emily Dickinson

1 The Life of Emily Dickinson Ruth Miller 17

2 Death and Dying Surrounded Emily Dickinson Alfred Habegger 25

3 Dickinson's Obsession with Death John Cody 34

Chapter 2 Death and Dying in Emily Dickinson's Poetry

1 Death and Dickinson's Quickened Imagination David Porter 42

2 Dickinson's Connection of Death to Time Clark Griffith 48

3 Representation and Personification of Death in Dickinson's Poetry Thomas H. Johnson 59

4 Dickinson Affirms Vitality in Life and Death Robert Weisbuch 70

5 Dickinson's Gothic Poems Challenge Social Order Joan Kirby 80

6 Dickinson's Depiction of the Bereaved Is Varied Paul Ferlazzo 89

7 Death's Implications in a World Without Meaning Wendy Martin 96

8 Frost as Death in Dickinson's Poems Patrick J. Keane 103

9 Dickinson Explored Death Unflinchingly Bettina L. Knapp 112

10 The Freedom in Death and the Uncertainty of Immortality Jane Donahue Eberwein 123

Chapter 3 Contemporary Perspectives on Death and Dying

1 The Idea of "Stages" of Grief Is a Myth Russell Friedman John W. James 133

2 The Death of a Loved One Can Lead to Renewal Darlene F. Cross 140

3 Facing Death Puts Life into Perspective Randy Pausch 146

4 Western Approaches to Death Are Unnatural Maurice Abitbol 152

For Further Discussion 161

For Further Reading 162

Bibliography 163

Index 167