Question

HELP
How does Emily Dickinson use dashes in Poem 362? Review the poem before you respond—you might find a detail or two to use in your answer.

632



The Brain—is wider than the Sky—

For—put them side by side—

The one the other will contain

With ease—and You—beside—



The Brain is deeper than the sea—

For—hold them—Blue to Blue—

The one the other will absorb—

As Sponges—Buckets—do—



The Brain is just the weight of God—

For—Heft them—Pound for Pound—

And they will differ—if they do—

As Syllable from Sound—



Emily Dickinson

Answer 1

Answer:

While Dickinson's dashes often stand in for more varied punctuation, at other times they serve as bridges between sections of the poem—bridges that are not otherwise readily apparent. Dickinson may also have intended for the dashes to indicate pauses when reading the poem aloud.