What does this poem by Emily Dickinson mean?

Question

I'll tell you How the Sun Rose.

I'll tell you how the sun rose, -- A ribbon at a time. The steeples swam in amethyst, The news like squirrels ran. The hill untied their bonnets, The bobolinks begun. Then I said softly to myself, "That must have been the sun!"

But how he set, I know not. There seemed a purple stile Which little yellow boys and girls Were climbing all the while Till when they reached the other side, A dominie in gray Put gently up the evening bars, -- And led the flock away.


What does the poem symbolize? I have no idea how to interpret it.

Answer 1

Freud "thought that sometimes, just sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar and not a symbol for a penis."

"This is a poem without hidden meaning for most readers. Just a clean, bright and fresh approach to a plain old sunrise." [ http://poetrypages.lemon8.nl/nature/illtellyou/illtellyouhow.htm ]

This is my favorite comment on this poem. I think that if your teacher wants you to analyze "deeper meanings," you should do two things:

Look at the poem in lines, not in the prose paragraphs you've reduced it to. This kinda slows it down, and lets you look at each image, one at a time, and to hear the rhymes and half rhymes.

I'll tell you how the sun rose,--
A ribbon at a time.
The steeples swam in amethyst,
The news like squirrels ran.
The hills untied their bonnets,
The bobolinks begun.
Then I said softly to myself,
"That must have been the sun!"

But how he set, I know not.
There seemed a purple stile
Which little yellow boys and girls
Were climbing all the while
Till when they reached the other side,
A dominie in gray
Put gently up the evening bars,
And led the flock away.

Then simply ask yourself how the images used in the two parts (the sunrise and the sunset) make you feel yourself. What connotations do they have for you?

For instance, the rising of the sun proceeds from quiet, gradual images to quick, lively ones: [one] ribbon at a time, [church] steeples swimming in amethyst, squirrels running, hills [like ladies] untying their bonnets [to free their glistening locks of hair--then what?], bobolinks beginning [to sing maybe, or what?]. Then the speaker realizing and saying softly to herself, as if in surprise, Why, look it's suddenly daylight! To me all this suggests pleasant things like, maybe, awakening, spring, growing from childhood to young adulthood, and the beginning of so many pleasant things, like falling in love. It happens gradually, then all of a sudden you notice it's happened.

What about the sunset? a purple stile [steps to climb, over a fence or a wall, shadow of deep purple], little children dressed in bright yellow climbing to the other side, a dominie [clergyman] gently putting up the bars [drawing the shutters or curtains] [like a shepherd] leading the flock away. To me all this suggests pleasant things, but quiet, thoughtful things, like sleep, autumn fading into winter, ageing, calming down, rest and peace [OK, death, if you insist, not a traumatic, grievous death, but a slow peaceful "fading away"]. Notice that the speaker isn't conscious of this process, "I know not," maybe because it hasn't happened yet or when one is asleep, at rest, beyond life, consciousness is not the same.

The important question is not What does This Poem Mean? but rather, what does this little poem mean to you personally, and why?

Enjoy!

Answer 2

It seems that she can tell all about the sunrise, which is described in detail about the world coming alive-and awake.

The sunset on the other hand--is described in a more abstract way, I'm not sure what the little boys and girls represent--The sun is setting over the hill -that must be the other side and after that--grey.

Morning seems to represent life and night seems to represent a prison of sorts. Emily Dickinson was a deeply depressed woman and maybe she really hated facing the nights.
Night was her prison? Day was her joy?

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Well it's mostly talking about the rays of sunlight climbing from behind the darkness. But with Emily D. She's mostly morbid in a poetic way so she could also be talking about the death of the sun in a way. The last stanza says that she don't know how he set.
More then likely it's just about the rays of the sun conquering the night and then being conquered by the night. The cycle of night and day. Good Luck and Enjoy Emily.

Answer 4

well, she is describing the sunset and sunrise... im seriously lost by the phrase "the news like squirels ran"?? wat on earth does that mean?? anyway, she ws describing the sunset as yellow boys and girls going to the other side...guess it mean joy leaving to somewhere else... i suppose the other side of the world... ok tatz all i cant sAY lol nd i know im notmuch of a help... but hey i tried!! :P

Answer 5

Sounds to me like she's just explaining in ever so beautiful prose how she sees the sun rise and set.
Don't know if there's any deeper significance to it.

Answer 6

what are we helping you with homework ? I think the idea intended by your teacher is for you to interpret the poem as or how you see it. Good Luck.