Summary Poem Analysis of 'One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted' by Emily Dickinson
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Course
Poetry
Institution
CIE
Here’s a full analysis of the poem ‘One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted -’ 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 ...
One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted -
Emily Dickinson
One need not be a Chamber — to be Haunted —
One need not be a House —
The Brain has Corridors — surpassing
Material Place —
Far safer, of a Midnight Meeting
External Ghost
Than its interior Confronting —
That Cooler Host.
Far safer, through an Abbey gallop,
The Stones a'chase —
Than Unarmed, one's a'self encounter —
In lonesome Place —
Ourself behind ourself, concealed —
Should startle most —
Assassin hid in our Apartment
Be Horror's least.
The Body — borrows a Revolver —
He bolts the Door —
O'erlooking a superior spectre —
Or More —
VOCABULARY
One need not be - a person doesn’t have to be
Surpassing - being better than / going beyond
, Material - related to the physical world
External - outside, in this case something in the physical world
Interior - inside, a pun on the idea of
Confronting - one thing attacking the other
Host - a pun, firstly the title of a person who invites guests to their house, and
secondly evoking the idea of spiritual possession, where a ghost or demon enters a
human body and possesses it, using it to do their bidding
Abbey - a building or group of buildings housing a convent or monastery - a
spiritual, holy place - ruined or broken abbeys are often a central feature in Gothic
horror tales
gallop - a fast pace on a horse, similar to sprinting in a human
A’chase - chasing
A’self - oneself
Lonesome - lonely
Concealed - hidden
Assassin - a hired murderer
Revolver - a gun
O’erlooking - two possible meanings, passing something by or not noticing
something important
Superior - higher in rank or status
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