Summary

In the section titled “Conventions of Literature” (p26) from Jonathan Culler’s chapter, he describes the idea that both the speakers and the listener work to create the meaning of something that is said. Read the poems by Emily Dickinson listed for this week and describe two instances where her writing requires that you complete the thought, that requires you interpreting what you see. How did you go about interpreting these parts of the poems? How did you draw conclusions? What evidence did you think of to support your interpretation?

After analyzing the multiple poems of Emily Dickinson two instincts where you have to fill in the blanks to her poem starting with the world is not a conclusion. "Narcotics cannot still the tooth that nibbles at the soul" as well as in the soul selects her own society "the soul selects her own society than shuts the door to her divine majority presents no more". how i went about interpreting what she meant in this poem is by using real life experiences as well as thinking a little bit into the religious aspect of the poem. The first interpretation presents to me as no matter outside factors being good or bad you cant let certain experiences and life lessons just dwell on your soul. I came to that conclusion by breaking the sentence down and really analyzing what the poet really was trying to tell readers and honestly i think its open to your own interpretation. the second interpretation presented to me as alot of things you choose to do or you like to do are premeditated by your soul. In the sense of some people are born with natural talents as oppose to others who later on take to a certain skill. Meaning if you like to sing, dance or even draw it could be something premeditated by your soul way before you were put on this earth and you chose to nurture it but once you have it down packed you close yourself off to just that box of skills you have. I came to this conclusion again by breaking down the statements and analyzing with real life experiences through peers. The author found a way to connect to its readers by leaving it open to your own interpretation because being honest everyone looks at things from different perspectiives.