4B+D'Orio



One theme of //__This is my Letter to the World__//, by Emily Dickinson, is that Dickinson feels unappreciated by the world. There are many stylistic features portraying this theme throughout the poem. For example, this theme is shown when she wrote "This is my letter to the World That never wrote to me-" (Dickinson 2). The hyphen after Me really can be read as silence by the reader, showcasing the sorrow Dickinson feels about no one responding to her letters, or poetry, that she sends out to the world. Thus causing a feeling of being unappreciated. Another example, of this theme of feeling unappreciated, is in the last line when she says "judge tenderly-of me" (DIckinson 8). The stylistic hyphen again emphasizes and pronounces that Dickinson wants people to judge her more nicely, implying that they may have judged her too harshly to begin with. Overall, Dickinson makes many stylistic decisions throughout the poem to portray a theme of feeling unappreciated.

Her Countrymen’s Response

This is my response to You even though it is years overdue. We are the Hands that You could not see and We haven’t judged you quite as harshly

Your messages have been received by people who understand and aren’t easily deceived Dickinson is now widespread and your poetry - in every homestead

You may not be able to receive an award but You’ve inspired others to strive toward- overcoming Problems similar to Yours Nature still speaks tender majesty- leaving the future full of open Doors

-Ethan D’Orio

response to Emily Dickinson’s “This is my letter to the world”