We Grow Accustomed to the Dark ~ Emily Dickinson

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 uncertain step
For newness of the night--
Then--fit our Vision to the Dark--
And meet the Road--erect--

And so of larger--Darknesses--
Those Evenings of the Brain--
When not a Moon disclose a sign--
Or Star--come out--within

The Bravest--grope a little--
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead--
But as they learn to see--

Either the Darkness alters--
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight--
And Life steps almost straight.

Analysis:

Literary Devices:
Imagery: Within many of the stanzas
Simile: "When Light is put away--" "As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp"
Personification of Life and Death



As you read this particular poem, you begin to picture with your mind many events occurring, thoughts of leaving what you've known, even when that path seems uncertain..


Emily Dickinson's "We grow accustomed to the Dark" Shows throughout life that we get used to the dark. In the first stanza the author says 'when light is put away- as when the neighbor holds the lamb to witness her goodbye.' Further posits the notion. I believe Dickinson is also talking about the darkness that covers the concept of death in general for most.

A literary device that Dickinson's speaker uses in "We grow accustomed to the Dark" consists of a simile within the first stanza between lines 2 and 4, discussing that we become accustomed dimness even with small light such as a lamp.

There are many areas where imagery is concerned.Within the poem, one can picture someone they know walking away with a lamp in hand. You can imagine taking a new path, your steps unsure as you carve your own way away from your past.