The Soul Selects Her Own Society

Emily Dickinson
The Soul selects her own Society
Thenshuts the Door
To her divine Majority
Present no more
Unmovedshe notes the Chariotspausing
At her low Gate
Unmovedan Emperor be kneeling
Upon her Mat
Ive known herfrom an ample nation
Choose One
Thenclose the Valves of her attention
Like Stone

Literary Critical Reading Guide

Use the following outline to guide you through an "active reading" of poetry. These
steps will assist you
In identifying key literary elements and opening the rich relationships of those
elements.
Analyze the content of the poem
1) Read the poem carefully.
2) Summarize the poem briefly. Make sure you identify major characters, plot,
conflict, topic, etc.
The poem is about an individual and her female soul. And she is living in her own
society. She chooses her own self over the company of others. In modern day some
might say she is a loner. But without a negative outlook. The author does not mind
being alone and she knows she is just one

Analyze the Structure of the poem

1) Identify the poems structure (stanzas, line breaks, punctuation) and rhyme
scheme (if there is one).
3 stanzas with a total of 12 lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF
2) Explain how the author uses time.
The author does not use much time but she says about the soul selects her own
society then shuts the door like you are born and choose your own path and then
grow up

3) Explain how the author uses setting.

The author uses the setting by showing she is within her own company
4) Identify the point(s) of view through which the poem is written.
Her point of view is that its okay to be your own guest in your life and to be by
yourself
Analyze Rhetorical Elements
1) Identify literary devices e.g., metaphor, simile, personification, etc. Cite line
numbers for each.
The soul selects her own society then shuts the door (2)
2) Identify recurring image patterns. N/A
3) Explain the author's use of symbols. Identify what the symbol is and what it
stands for. The door is a symbol for her life and her decision to be self-reliant and
okay to be her own company

4) Identify special uses of language, including unusual diction and syntax. N/A
Analyze the Meaning of the poem (Interpretation)
1) Identify what seems to be the theme (dominant message or claim) and how the
author announces it.
The main theme is to accept yourself and be okay with who you are and to not be
afraid to have some isolation to your self
2) Explain how rhetorical elements (in the section above) contribute to the theme.
The symbols ad drama to seem like she the author is making a big decision
3) Identify contextual elements (allusions, symbols, other devices) that point
beyond the poem to the
author's experience/life, history, or to other writings.

Analysis
The poem ties into my topic of self-reliance because the author talks about being
one and use I to talk about her individuality. She is one person and her own self.
The author also uses time to show she is own her own and is okay with that. She
has the chance to choose another person but instead she sticks to herself and
wants to be isolated.