Theology Leads to Interpretation - 1336 Words

Emily Dickinson’s extensive collection of poems on the subject of death can be better understood individually once time has been taken to view her works as whole. By viewing the works as a whole, it is possible to conclude a likely theological view point of the author and then apply this theology to the individual works in order to improve interpretation. Emily Dickinson’s poem â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† is one such poem that when viewed individually is open to a wide scope of readings. Using Dickinson’s other works in collaboration with the poem itself creates a theological viewpoint through which a more defined interpretation can be reached. Dickinson’s poems on death indicate a theology which extends the concept of stages in†¦show more content†¦The speaker of the poem is picked up in a carriage by two beings, â€Å"Death† and â€Å"Immortality.† Dickinson’s personification of these concepts as two separate beings reinforces them as two separate stages in the process of death. Death being the one who â€Å"kindly stopped for [her]† is the stage which has already been achieved. However the lines indicating that the horses’ heads were pointed â€Å"toward Eternity† and not yet arrived clarify that this is only a future destination and not a point which has actually been reached. Another puzzling feature of the poem â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† which has undergone much debate is the â€Å"[pause] before a House that seemed/ A Swelling of the Ground.† These lines are usually interpreted in two way: the first being that the pause is actually a stop for the subject who is left at a true house and thus there is no burial in the poem, the second is that it is only a pause at the grave before the â€Å"self† moves on â€Å"towards eternity† thus achieving immortality. Abbott Collamer’s explications on this poem employ historical facts to provide convincing proof that the structure described is a grave. The burial vaults at the time were structures similar in shape to the elementary image of a square home. After construction they were buried and covered in grass. Thus the terms associated with the construction of a home, â€Å"Roof† and â€Å"Cornice,† apply to the construction of the grave. The burial of the structure accounts for theShow MoreRelatedHow I Think Theologically By Howard W. Stone And James O. Duke1554 Words   |  7 PagesIn their book, How To Think Theologically, Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke convey to their reading audience on the very first page of their introduction that â€Å"†¦Christian theology is at its roots a matter of faith seeking understanding.† The premise of the book argues – no states emphatically â€Å"†¦their (christians’) faith makes them theologicans.† It is this foundational point on which the entire work pivots. So Stone and Duke are asking their readers to buy in to the realization that by merit ofRead MoreWhy Is Theology A Theology?953 Words   |  4 PagesBelieving in God constitutes theology. One does not need to spread God’s word or study Him to a certain extent, but only needs to believe in Him and lead a life of what they believe to be holy and godly. 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