艾米莉·狄金森诗歌自然意象及其涵义

Contents

Acknowledgements (i)

摘要................................................................................................................................ i i Abstract ......................................................................................................................... i v Introduction .. (1)

Chapter One Nature: Dickinson’s Attachment and Her Major Source of Inspiration (6)

1.1 Dickinson’s Attachment to Nature (6)

1.1.1. Dickinson’s Early Life and Educational background (6)

1.1.2. Dickinson’s Close Tie to Nature (9)

1.1.3. The Formation of Dickinson’s View on Nature (12)

1.2 Nature as a Major Source of Dickinson’s Inspiration (15)

1.2.1. Nature as an Important Poetic Subject (15)

1.2.2. Dickinson’s Preference to Nature Imagery (16)

Chapter Two Main Types and Features of Nature Imagery in Dickinson’s Poetry .. 18

2.1 Main Types of Nature Imagery in Dickinson’s Poems (18)

2.1.1. Nature Images in the Tradition of the Holy Bible (18)

2.1.2. Images of Natural Phenomena (21)

2.1.3. Images of Plants and Animals (22)

2.2 Features of Nature Imagery (23)

2.2.1. Symbolism of Nature Imagery (24)

2.2.2. Nature Images as Means to Achieve Artistic Effects (27)

2.2.3. Religious Intimation through Nature Imagery (29)

Chapter Three The Rich Implications of Dickinson’s Nature Imagery (33)

3.1 Nature Images and Dickson’s Major Themes in Poetry (33)

3.1.1. Nature Images and the Theme of Nature (33)

3.1.2. Nature Images and the Theme of Love (35)

3.1.3. Nature Images and the Theme of Death (36)

3.1.4. Nature Images and the Theme of Religion (38)

3.2 Frequently-Used Nature Images and Their Rich Implications (40)

3.2.1. Light and Its Embodiments (40)

3.2.2. Four Seasons and Their Connotations (42)

3.2.3. Flowers and Their Meanings (45)

3.2.4. Insects and Their Significance (46)

3.3 Dickinson’s Use of Nature Images and the Beginning of Modernism (48)

Conclusion (51)

Bibliography (53)

Introduction

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is one of the founders of American poetry and one of the precursors of the Imagist Movement in American literature. Known as “Queen Recluse”, Dickinson confined herself exclusively to poetry. In her life, she got only several poems published and was nobody at that time, but after her death she gained the recognition of the world and gained a high reputation in American poetry and so became somebody. However, her death is the beginning of the publication of her poems. Today her mysterious simple verse is praised for its originality, rich imagery, and stylistic complexity. Many imagist poets such as Amy Lowell regarded her as the pioneer of the Imagist Movement in the 20th century. One of the most outstanding features of her poetry is the wide use of imagery, which serves as an important approach to achieving artistic effects. Among all the imagery Dickinson employs in her poetry, Nature images as a group reflect Dickinson’s unique use of vivid and descriptive language to add rich implications to her poetry. These images appeal to readers’ common senses and help enhance their understanding of Dickinson’s poetry. Appropriate interpretation of the refined, vivid, and appealing nature imagery adopted can help readers to get an overview about, and deep understanding of, Dickinson’s poems and her thoughts.

When she was alive, few people knew her, but after a half century’s controversy and research, Dickinson’s position in American literature was established finally. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinso n by Thomas Johnson is the most authoritative and popular version of Dickinson’s published works. All original quotations in this thesis are from Johnson’s version. Although some scholars do not think highly of her poems, many readers like them and make some studies about her works from different perspectives.

In terms of the foreign research on Dickinson and her poetry, foreign researches are mainly focus on the biographical study, poetic aesthetics, conventional literature study (such as the basic study of Transcendentalism,