Read the following lines from Emily Dickinson’s poem "We grow accustomed to the Dark," first published in 1890:
We grow accustomed to the Dark—
When Light is put away—
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye—
A Moment—We step uncertainly
For newness of the night—
Then—fit our Vision to the Dark—
And meet the Road—erect—
In the second stanza, the combination of lineation and punctuation (specifically the dashes and the enjambment between lines 5 and 6) primarily functions to do which of the following?
- Aprovide a literal, chronological summary of the speaker's journey down a dark street to meet a neighbor.
- Bcreate strict, isolated units of thought that force the reader to ignore the continuity between the lines and view each action as completely separate.
- replicate the speaker's halting, tentative steps and eventual adjustment to the darkness through rhythmic interruptions and pauses.Answer
- Dclassify the poem as a traditional sonnet, proving that the author is adhering strictly to classical structural conventions.
- Eobscure a sudden transition in the speaker's mood from deep despair to lighthearted optimism.
Answer
The combination of lineation and punctuation replicates the speaker's halting, tentative steps and eventual adjustment to the darkness through rhythmic interruptions and pauses.
The correct option is correct because the dashes create caesuras (pauses within lines), and the enjambment between the fifth and sixth lines creates a sense of suspension. Together, these structural choices mirror the hesitant, unsteady movements of someone trying to navigate the dark, followed by a steadier rhythm as their vision adjusts.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Analysing how poetic lineation and punctuation function to mirror and reinforce the speaker's psychological or physical experiences.
Estimated Time:1m 30s