Summary Poem Analysis of 'A Murmur in the Trees - to note' by Emily Dickinson
122 views 1 purchase
Course
Poetry
Institution
CIE
Here’s a full analysis of the poem ‘A Murmur in the Trees - to note -’ by Emily Dickinson, tailored towards A-Level students but also suitable for those studying at a higher level. Enjoy and feel free to leave feedback if you found it useful!
Includes:
POEM
VOCABULARY
STORY / SUMMARY
...
A Murmur in the Trees – to note –
Not loud enough – for Wind –
A Star – not far enough to seek –
Nor near enough – to find –
A long – long Yellow – on the Lawn –
A Hubbub – as of feet –
Not audible – as Ours – to Us –
But dapperer – More Sweet –
A Hurrying Home of little Men
To Houses unperceived –
All this – and more – if I should tell –
Would never be believed –
Of Robins in the Trundle bed
How many I espy
Whose Nightgowns could not hide the Wings –
Although I heard them try –
But then I promised ne'er to tell –
How could I break My Word?
So go your Way – and I'll go Mine –
No fear you'll miss the Road.
VOCABULARY
Murmur - a low, mumbling sound - like people talking quietly to one another
Hubbub - chaotic, noisy sound
Fret - stress, worry
Audible - able to be heard
, Dapperer - more refined and elegant
Unperceived - hidden
Trundle bed - a low bed that can be rolled around, often used for guests
Espy - spy, notice
Ne’er - never
STORY/SUMMARY
Stanza 1: I heard a murmuring sound in the trees - you must note that it wasn’t loud
enough to possibly be the wind - after that, I saw a star in the trees too - it wasn’t far
enough away to look for, like a star in the sky might be, but also it wasn’t close
enough for me to be able to find it.
Stanza 2: Light cast a long, long yellow stripe on the lawn, and I heard a busy noise
that sounded like feet, not as loud as our own feet sound to us, but softer, more
elegant, and more sweet.
Stanza 3: It was the rushing home of little men (elves or faeries), they were going
home to their hidden houses - If I told people about this, and more things that I saw,
nobody would believe it.
Stanza 4: I could tell you too about the Robins I saw in the trundle bed, how many I
spied there, they tried to hide their wings in the nightgowns that were stored inside
the bed, but they weren’t able to hide fully from me.
Stanza 5: But then, I promised never to tell anyone about these magical things that I
saw - so how could I break my word and tell you now? So you carry on as you were,
going the way that you originally were travelling - and I’ll go my own way too,
without being afraid that you’d lose your path?
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller natashatabani. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.01. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
