Thinking Activity : I.A. Richards Figurative Language (Practical Criticism)
I ’M nobody! Who are you By Emily Dickinson
Are you nobody, too?
Then there ’s a pair of us—don’t tell!
They ’d banish us, you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog! Summary :
In this poem, the speaker says they are "nobody" and wonders if the person they are speaking to is also "nobody." They enjoy the idea of being private and not drawing attention. This is contrasted with the idea of being "somebody," which the speaker finds unpleasant, like a frog who constantly croaks in front of an audience.
Glossary :
dreary : not at all interesting or attractive; boring
bog : an area of ground that is very soft and wet
bog : an area of ground that is very soft and wet
Analysis:
1. Sense (What the Poem Means):
The poem speaks about happiness as a "nobody" that is, a person who doesn't seek to be famous or known. The speaker likes being unnoticed because it feels peaceful and free. She thinks being a "somebody" that is, a famous person is exhausting and fake.
2. Feeling (How It Makes You Feel):
The poem feels friendly and playful. It makes you feel like the speaker is talking directly to you, inviting you to join her in being "nobody." It might also make you think about how tiring it can be to try to fit into what society wants.
3. Tone (The Poet's Attitude):
The tone here is humorous, a tad sarcastic, and anti-authority. The poet pretends that it is so lame to try to be recognized and significant all the time-it is just like a frog croaking all day in the jungle for no logical reason.
4. Purpose (Why the poet wrote it):
Emily Dickinson wanted to get across that it's sometimes good to be forgotten or overlooked. She says to be yourself, it's better than being some type of celebrity or fame-struck.
5. Meaning of Words in the Poem:
Nobody : A person who doesn't like fame or attention
Someone : A person who likes being famous or admired
Frog : A loud person that likes attention
Bog : A group of admirers who don't know their own minds
6. Misinterpretation of the Poem:
The poem may be misinterpreted by some as saying being "nobody" is bad or unimportant. That's wrong. Dickinson says that being "nobody" can make one free and happy.
1. Sense (What the Poem Means):
The poem speaks about happiness as a "nobody" that is, a person who doesn't seek to be famous or known. The speaker likes being unnoticed because it feels peaceful and free. She thinks being a "somebody" that is, a famous person is exhausting and fake.
2. Feeling (How It Makes You Feel):
The poem feels friendly and playful. It makes you feel like the speaker is talking directly to you, inviting you to join her in being "nobody." It might also make you think about how tiring it can be to try to fit into what society wants.
3. Tone (The Poet's Attitude):
The tone here is humorous, a tad sarcastic, and anti-authority. The poet pretends that it is so lame to try to be recognized and significant all the time-it is just like a frog croaking all day in the jungle for no logical reason.
4. Purpose (Why the poet wrote it):
Emily Dickinson wanted to get across that it's sometimes good to be forgotten or overlooked. She says to be yourself, it's better than being some type of celebrity or fame-struck.
5. Meaning of Words in the Poem:
Nobody : A person who doesn't like fame or attention
Someone : A person who likes being famous or admired
Frog : A loud person that likes attention
Bog : A group of admirers who don't know their own minds
6. Misinterpretation of the Poem:
The poem may be misinterpreted by some as saying being "nobody" is bad or unimportant. That's wrong. Dickinson says that being "nobody" can make one free and happy.
Doubts:
1. What does the speaker mean by saying, "They’d banish us, you know"?
2. How does the comparison of a "frog" in the poem relate to the speaker's view of being "somebody"?
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