A Day - Poem Detail Summary

UNIT - 1

Poem

A Day

Class 12 Poem A Day Summary | NEB Grade XII Compulsory English Note | NEBdesk |

Summary of A Day Poem

‘ A Day ’ by Emily Dickinson is a renowned metaphysical poem of the nineteenth century. Literary Devices like metaphors, symbolism, simile, personification and alliteration has embellished the poem. In a literal sense, ‘A Day‘ describes sunrise and sunset. Which means the transition of life from birth to death metaphorically. Dickinson, through the use of brilliant imageries and symbols, 

describes a beautiful day that leads the children from innocence to experience.

The speaker, or poet persona, in the poem is a child. The persona is thrilled to gaze at sunrise. In the first stanza, the persona compares the sun to a ribbon. Layers of the ribbon are the gradual process of sunrise. The eagerness of a child to talk about sunrise shows his/her innocence. In a metaphorical sense, this stanza also winks at the excitement of childbirth.

In the second stanza, the persona has notices some events that occurred during sunrise. The sun lightens at the top of hills, The ‘Bobolinks’ started to chirp. Highlighting the events that occur during sunrise, the poet wants readers to feel the beauty of nature. 

The statement “That must have been the sun!” really reveals the apparent innocence of the child.

In the third stanza, the moment of happiness has turned reserved. The child’s confidence fades since he/she doesn’t know much about sunset. This stanza shows the transition of life to death. Like the child, Humans prefer to talk about exciting things than dreadful subjects.

In the final stanza, Christian references “flock” and “Dominie in gray” are used to show the poet’s own view about death. Where a “Dominie in gray” means “God”, and “flock” means human beings, Dickinson believes God leads human beings wherever after they die. A day ends on a sober note when the sun sets and the child has no time for his excitement.

Theme : 

Dickinson’s poem explores the beauty of nature from the phenomena of sunrise and sunset. Digging deeper, the poet also examines life, death, and the transition between the two in ‘A Day.’ Another theme is spirituality: a common one among Dickinson’s poems. With references to the “Dominie in gray” and “flock”, Dickinson reveals her Christian faith and the belief that God awaits humans at the end of their lives.