The Transcendental Tendency In Emily Dickinson's Poetry

By introducing the historical origin and the main ideas of the American Transcendentalism as well as the unusual life style adopted by Emily Dickinson, this thesis attempts to cxplore the influence imposed by that current Transcendentalism on Dickinson's life and her poetry. The thesis focuses on Dickinson's poetry about nature, religion and death as well as her letters to the world for the purpose of analyzing Dickinson's admiration towards nature, her skepticism against the orthodox Calvinism and her pursuit of the spiritual perfection respectively. Thus the author holds that Emerson's Transcendentalism inspired Dickinson to create marvelous poetry. Emerson denied the existence of God and valued the intuition endowed to human beings, which was in great harmony with the pervasive Over Soul in the universe. It seemed that Emerson's thoughts seeped into Dickinson's meditation towards the subjects of nature, religion and death. Indeed, during her reclusion Dickinson was practicing Emerson's Transcendentalism by exploring the soul and consciousness.However, it is worth noticing that Dickinson was not so heartedly devoted to the Transcendentalism as Emerson and Thoreau did. Thus in some of her nature poems, there exists a touch of anti-transcendental thought, which is compatible with the anxiety the modern people are suffering. Therefore it is still instructive to read her poetry even today.