AN ANALYSIS OF SYMBOLIC SIGNS
(A Semiotics Approach)
THESIS
Submitted as a Partial Fulfilment
of Requirements for the SarjanaSastra Degree in English Department Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts Sebelas Maret University
by
Nabila Inaya Jannati C0308052
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND FINE ARTS SEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITY
c. Descriptive systems ... 17
1. Because I could not stop for Death... 32
2. It was not death, for I stood up ... 39
3. I died for beauty, but was scarce ... 46
4. a death in the opposite house ... 51
5. How many times these low feet staggered ... 60
6. If I should die ... 65
B. The Way Dickinson Constructs Symbols in her Death Poems... 72
IV. CHAPTER IV : CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION A. Conclusion ...86
B. Recommendation ...87
ABSTRACT
Nabila Inaya Jannati. C0308052. An Analysis of Symbolic Signs in Emily . Undergraduate Thesis. Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts. Sebelas Maret University.
This research explores the symbolic signs in Emil
poems. This is a descriptive qualitative library research. The main data are six death poems taken from The Poems of Emily Dickinson.Meanwhile, the supporting data are involved the historical background of the writer, books, articles, journals, critics and other academic writings.
The objectives of this research are to identify the kinds of symbols appear in son constructs symbols in her death poems.
This research uses semiotic approach and applies Semiotics of Poetry. This theory focuses on poetry analysis and gives the most representative tool to uncover symbolic signs in poem. This theory also relates to social and cultural background analysis.
The first result shows that there are two kinds of symbols, personal symbols and conventional symbols. The second result shows that there are three major ways of Dickinson in constructing symbols in her death poems. First, she states that poetry expresses indirection (displacing, distorting, and creating
meaning). on in the
process of understanding the poem. Second, she uses cliché, customs and the role of influence or any characteristics of the conventional poems. Third, she creates personal symbols into two ways; modifies conventional symbols into personal symbols and uses the symbols of nature and modifies the meaning.
1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Research Background
Death is an interesting topic to discuss in human society, not only important but also controversial. In short, death is the end of life of a person and other living things. However, there are various conceptions of death from different scientific approaches and belief systems across the world. In biological approach, death means
the end . he loss of heart and lung function can be
seen as the criterion of death (Fisher, 1999, p. 473). In religious approach, Buddhism
focuses on seeing death as an ordinary spiritual opportunity and a component of natural life cycle or sufferings cycle (Heendeniya, 2009, p. 71).Death can be seen as a single event or maybe a process. Death emerges with an unclear definition that still being discussed by the society.
In general, people see the death of living things as a scary, frightening, and
(http://www.cookross.com/docs/haiti.pdf).Death can be seen as a controversial topic which is not only logical but also ambiguous.
The ideas of death emerged in the advance of literary works, especially poetry. In the era of poetry development, poetry did not only talk about love, beauty and other romantic things. However, some of themprecisely view dark and gloomy things. Death phenomenon becomes interesting theme which warped up inthe form of
poetry. The ambiguous conceptions and characters of death can be transformed into beautiful arrangements of poems.
The interesting things about death can be seen in . Emily Dickinson rejects common themes and conventional understanding upon poetry. She chooses death as an unusual theme which shows her characteristic. In her
poems, she dramatizes death in form of paradox. By her great intelligence, she can transform upsetting and frightening circumstance of death into beautiful circumstance of death. However, she uses ordinary and common objects to represent her ideas.
BECAUSE I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves And Immortality.
allusion to create a riddle in her poems. According to the researcher, the most symbol. Symbol is a sign which has further layers of meaning. Symbol stands above the other types of sign, that is, broader and more ambiguous in meaning (Guerin, 1996, p. 41-42).
I heard a fly buzz when I died; The stillness round my form
It can be seen that Emily Dickinson explores dark and hidden part of the mind. Death
emerges in a different circumstance that she creates through her simple object choices such a fly. She chooses the buzzing sound of a fly as an auditory imagery. The fly itself can stand as a symbol of death. It identically relates to the decomposition process of organism. Through her words, Emily Dickinson declares her sensitivity of nature.
However, Emily Dickinson is not the only poet that explores the theme of death. Christina Rossetti has many similarities with Emily Dickinson. Both poets were born in 1830; both poets were concerned with death as the theme of their works. But, Christina only shows the fear and tragic of death. Herverse grew continually thinner and more repetitive. In her works, the form and the explicit ideas of death are less interesting.
There are six poems explored in this thesis. The poems are Because I could
I I died for beauty, but was
If I s . The poems are taken from The Poems of Emily Dickinsonpublished by the Pennsylvania State University.
The poems explore the theme of death through the existence of various symbolic signs. Some of the poems use diction that does not exist in common poems by other writers. As a nonconformist poet, she often reserved meanings of words and phrases and uses paradox to create greater effect in her poems.
There are some points that the researcher expects by composing this thesis. ms are difficult to understand. Her ideas of death are too odd and abstract. Her symbolic sign are uneasy to be interpreted. However, the researcher thinks that symbolic signs in Emily
poemseven the most interesting part to explore. Thus, the researcher would like to using semiotics approach.
B. Research Questions
Based on the research background above, the researcher formulated two research questions. They are as follows.
1. What kinds of symbol appear death poems?
C. Research Limitation
This researchfocuses on analyzing the symbolic signs.The discussion includes the interpretation of each symbolwhich implies the ideas of death in Emily death poems. To avoid bias of the discussion, the researcher does not focus on analyzing the religious and philosophical aspect
poems deeply. Such limitation is needed in order to keep the research focused on the research questions.
D. Research Objectives
The objectives of the research are:
1. to identify the kinds of symbols death poems.
2. to describe how Emily Dickinson constructs symbols in her death poems.
E. Research Benefits
The research is expected to give significance as follows:
1. to contribute a new insight in understanding modern poetry, especially Emily death poems.
F. Research Methodology 1. Type of Research
This research uses descriptive qualitative library research. The descriptive technique is intended to make clearer understanding about symbolic signs in Emily Donovan (as cited in Stafford, 2011, p. 3) explains that qualitative research focuses on analyzing situation and interpreting symbols in a situation that is being studied. This research focuses on the interpretation of literary
document through existence of words, phrases, and sentences. As a library research, it uses books and other writings to support the objectivity of this analysis.
2. Data and Source of Data
The main data or primary data for this research are taken from The Poems of Emily Dickinson published by the Pennsylvania State University. The selected
poems: Bec I I died
How many . The theme of the six poems are the same, all of them contain the idea of death. But, each poem has its own
appear differently in representing the theme.
academic writings. The data consist of the statements from literary experts and related references to support the analysis of symbolic signsofthe selected poems above.
3. Technique of Collecting Data
The first step of collecting data is by performing close reading to the primary and secondary data. The researcher made a brief interpretation and takes a note for important finding. From the note taken, the research
poetic devices, such as figure of speech, image, repetition, etc. The data collected were taken from the six poems whichshow the emergence of symbolic signs in representing the ideas of death.As the second stage of reading with deeper interpretation,the researcher selected the data collection to find the symbolic sign as the main data of this research. As the secondary data, the researcher collected any
documents that deal with the primary data and support the analysis.
4. Technique of Analyzing Data
The analysis of the data is done in three major steps. After finishing the data collecting method, the first step is classifying the data. The data classification is
based on the two kinds of symbol association: personal symbol and conventional symbol. The classification process is supported by the usage of Dictionary of Symbol
questions of this research. The researcher analyzed the kinds and the construction of symbols in the poems. The process of collecting data is already taken through heuristic reading. It is continued by hermeneutic reading as the process of finding the appearance of symbol and its meaning which related to the whole meaning of the poem. This process is the most essential part of the research. The essence of this step is to find the significance of symbols inside the poems. As the last step, the researcher drew the conclusion and reported the results in a systemic writing.
G. Thesis Organization
The thesis will be divided into four chapters and is divided into sub-chapters. The detail of the organization is as follows.
Chapter one is introduction. It consist of seven sub-chapters; research background, research questions, research limitation, research objectives, research benefits, research methodology, and thesis organization.
Chapter two is literary review. It consists of five sub-chapters; previous researches, semiotics of poetry, symbols, symbols and death poems, and biography of Emily Dickinson.
Chapter three is the analysis. It consists of two sub-chapters; the kinds of symbol and the way Emily Dickinson constructs symbols in her death poems.
9 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Previous Research
Faculty of Letters and Fine Arts. The thesis entitles
of Time and Eternity using semiotics theory by Michael Riffaterre. This thesis was written by Eko Suryo Sambodo who tries to reveal the type of love expression and the way Emily Dickinson expresses love through her poems. He analyzed the words, phrases, sentences and punctuation marks as signs which contain hidden meaning.
The results of this thesis are the description of four kinds of love that occur in love to her mother, love to her lover, love to her friends, and love of peace. In her love poems, Emily Dickinson uses metaphor to flatter someone she loves. She creates unperfected arrangement of rhymes to show the
her characteristic in expressing sadness.
The other thesis entitles using the
data of this thesis. The typography, ungrammatical words and dictions are the other
important elements of social criticism.
The results of this thesis are the descriptions of five social criticisms in E. E. Cummings poems such as criticizing the unrealistic life, criticizing people in the
Cummings delivers his social criticism in three ways: creating method by using many syntactic elements,
the typography pattern in his poems, and makes a contrast between clichés of the conventional poems with his view upon reality.
Furthermore, there is another thesis which uses semiotics approach written by Yudha Santi Utami. This thesis entitles
Novel Silas Marner. This thesis discusses about the kinds of icons and the
significance of icons in novel Silas Marner s
theories to answer the research question of this thesis.
As the conclusions, there are two kinds of icon found in Silas Marner. They are diagram and metaphor. The metaphor can be found after it is connected with the cultural and social background of the story. She uses some textual interpretants to find the significance of the icons.
the kinds of symbols, the significance of symbols and the way Emily Dickinson constructs symbols in her poems.
B. Semiotics of Poetry
The word semiotics derives from Greek, semeion, which means sign. Thus, semiotics means study of signs. Semiotics theory is developed by two pioneers, Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles S. Peirce. Saussure is known as the founder of modern linguistic through his theory of semiology gy as the
science which studies sign system: language, codes,
1975, p. 1). Saussure emphasizes the social function of the sign. There are two elements in Saussure s concept:signifierand signified. Signifier is something which carries the meaning and signified is the actual meaning which is carried.
However, Pierce also conceived of a general theory of signs which he called
semiotics, the domain area of investigation that explores the nature and function of signs (Guiraud, 1975, p. 1).Furthermore, Pierce stated that
sy 10). Pierce emphasizes the logical function of
the sign. Based on his statement, he analyzed how people think and communicate in
signs. Pierce explained is about the relation between
Signified
an inefficient thing to be an efficient thing to make it active but to . The essential function of a sign is the efficiency, not only in communicating but also in understanding the world. Sign is about what people believe and what people should realize. T t would make people become aware of what Zoest, 1993, p. 11).
According to Pierce, sign is something which represents something else. He defined triadic relation of sign: representament, object, and interpretant. The sign stand as the representament which represent something called object or referent. After the representament is connected with the object and conceived by the perceiver in his mind, it becomes interpretant. Pierce classified the relationship between the representament and the object into three kinds: icon, index,and symbol. Icon is a sign which its relation to object is based on similarity. Index is a sign which its relation to
object is based on causal relationship. Symbol is a sign which its relation to object is based on convention.
Representament
In the history of semiotics theory, Michael Riffaterre has played a central role expresses concepts and thing by indirection. To put it simply, a poem says one thing and m
(Riffaterre, 1978, p. 1). He clearly stated that poetry always deals with indirectness. Poetry is literary product that needs more contemplation in the process of understanding compared with other literary product such as prose and drama. In his theory, indirection employs concepts or rules that not familiar with public convention. Poetry often has its own writing concepts that may be not even be understood by common readers.
Semiotics of Poetrysubstantially consists of five chapters, but in this case the researcher will discuss the four chapters only. The four chapters are
, and interpretants.
1.
The language of poetry is different from the common usage of daily language. The language of poetry is usually connotative which need a deeper contemplation and imagination, both in creating and understanding it. Moreover, the language of poetry
a. Displacing meaning
when one word
(Riffaterre, 1978, p. 2). In poetry, the term of metaphor and metonymy as the representative of figurative words could create level of meaning.
b. Distorting meaning
ambiguity, contradiction, or n
(Riffaterre, 1978, p. 2). Ambiguity means that a word or a sentence may have two or more different meaning. Ambiguity is not only frustrating but also indicating an ingredient of literariness (Riffaterre, 1983, p. 8). As the characteristic of literary language, each word could create various meaning in the process of interpretation. Contradiction is caused by the use of paradox and irony. Contradiction relates to units of meaning, when the meanings contradict with the real or normative meaning. Nonsense means that the words have no meaning linguistically. But, the words create certain meaning when it takes on the arrangement of poems.
c. Creating meaning
symmetry, rhyme, or semantic equivalences between positional homologues in a p. 2).Homologues (equivalent of position) mean that all the signs out of linguistic create a meaning out of linguistic meaning. Symmetry, rhyme, or even punctuation mark may have a deeper or wider meaning than a sentence.
Riffaterre (1978) emphasize that poem has a structure of meaning (p. 1). Poetry has their own structure and different from a prosaic text. Riffaterre (1983)
states
components that guide the reader towards a
(p. 7). In poem, through finding the homologues of the text, the further explanation will depart in the area of intertext. The socialector the intertext offers a frame of thought or a signifying system that helps the reader in the process of interpreting (Riffaterre, 1983, p. 7). It is directed to the function of signs as the media of meaning
Furthermore, Riffaterre emphasizes the concept of semiotic unity as the most fundamental feature in his theory. It relates to his hermeneutic model where there are a frame, or system, or angle of vision in the process of looking for solution by the reader (Riffaterre, 1983, p. 7).In this process, there is an occurrence of phenomenon, a process which results in variants of the same structural matrix:
matrix is hypothetical, being only the grammatical and lexical actualization of a structure. The matrix may be epitomized in one word, in which case the word will not appear in the text. It is always actualized in successive variants; the form of these variants is governed by the first or primary actualization, the model. Matrix, model, and text are variants of the same structure. (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 19)
2. Sign Production
he poetic sign is a word or a phrase pertinent to the 23). In transforming signs into
thus the motor, the generator of the textual derivation, while the model determines the
manner of tha 21). Poetic sign determined by
hypogrammatic derivation: a word or phrase is poeticized when it refers to (and if a
phrase, patterns itself (Reffaterre, 1978, p. 23). He
says that hypogramis already a system of signs comprising at least a predication, or it maybe a large as a text, that maybe potential and observable in a previous text (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 23). It is a text which becomes the background or the reason of the other texts or poems creation.
There are three types of hypogram: semes and presupposition, clichés (or quotation), and descriptive systems.
pre Riffaterre, 1978, p. 25).Semes has the same function as an encyclopedia of representation related to the meaning of that word (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 26).
31). Presupposition means presuppose or presume to the meaning of a word. As s to decode not only the connotation but also denotation. It is important to find the meaning of a word.
b. Clichés
This hypogram is different from the preceding category because this
hypogram is It is part of
linguistic competence and literary connotations which is taken from other sources and usually to support a statement. Clichés are everywhere, something familiar, ready-made examples, well-tested images that the basic mechanism, however, is also one of the seme actualization (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 39). Clichés or quotation in a poem added by the poet, it is taken from previous poem or from other poet.
c. Descriptive systems
dictionary definition of their kernel words. The descriptive system is a network of words associated with one another around a kernel word, in accordance with the sememe of that nucleus (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 39).
3. Text Production
The text as locus of significance is generated by conversion and expansion. Both expansion and conversion establish equivalences between a word and a
sequence of words (Rifatterre, 1978, p. 47).
a. Expansion
establishes the equivalence by transforming one sign into several which is to say by deriving from one word a verbal sequence with that 47). Expansion transforms the
essential of simple matrix sentence into more complex forms. Expansion may be made up entirely of repetitive sequences. Riffaterre added that repetition is a sign that may symbolize an emotional tension or as n icon of motion.
xpansion has another far-reaching effect upon poetic discourse: it transforms the more abstract language forms, especially the
grammatical connectives, 53). Expansion is the
that seem to explain or legitimate the relationship they symbolize by rewriting them in the code of the words linked by these relationship (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 54).
b. Conversion
lays down the equivalence by transforming several signs sign, that is, by endowing the components of a sequence with the same characteristic features. Conversion particularly affects sequences generated by expansion (Rifatterre, 1978, p. 47). The rule of conversion is that conversion transforms the constituents of the matrix sentence by modifying them all with the same factor (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 63). Conversion is able to affect much longer sequences than phrases or sentences and to make one sign out of a whole text.
4. Interpretants
The concept of interpretant is needed in the shifting process of meaning to significance. It is a sign that translates
intention. In this term, signs standas mediator to represent the equivalence of two signifying systems: the meaning-conveying one and the significance-carrying one (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 81). Reffaterre distinguishes between lexematic interpretant and
textual interpretant.
a. Lexematic interpretant
Lexematic is mediating words. It is called asdual signsbecause either they generate two texts simultaneously within the poem (or one text that must be
understood in two different ways), or else they presuppose two hypograms simultaneously (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 81).
There are two reading stages in analyzing poems: heuristicand
hermeneutics.
1) Heuristic
since it is during this reading that meaning is
2) Hermeneutic
Hermeneutic or retroactive reading is the second stage of interpretation. As a higher system, hermeneutic is a guideline from mimesis to semiosis. It focuses on the transformation of signs which appear to reach the complete arrangement of semiotic system.Riffaterre (1983) explains that through hermeneutic the readers become conscious of their own interpreting, even the text seems obscure and ambiguous (pp. 7-8).
As he progresses through the text, the reader remembers what he has just read and modifies his understanding of it in the light of what he is now decoding. As he works forward from start to finish, he is reviewing, revising, comparing backwards. He is in effect performing a structural decoding, as he moves through the text he comes to recognize, by dint of comparisons or simply because he is now able to put them together, that successive and differing statements, first noticed as mere ungrammaticalities, are in fact equivalent, for they now appear as variants of the same structural matrix (Riffaterre, 1978, pp. 5-6)
Retroactive reading thus appears to be the method for decoding dual signs: first, because the sign refers to a paradigm, and a paradigm can be recognized only after it has been sufficiently developed in space so that certain constants can be perceived; second, because any stumbling-block sends the reader scurrying back for a clue, back being the only place to go; third, because the correction made backwards via the proximate homologue creates the ghost or parallel text wherein tactically unacceptable) semantic allegiance can be vindicated (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 91).
b. Textual interpretant
The interpretant may be a textual sign. Instead of being symbolized by a word referring to the text in which the reader is to find his hermeneutic clues, the
interpretant is a fragment of that text actually quoted in the poem it serves to
interpret (Riffaterre, 1978, p. 109). Textual interpretant leads the reader into the further stage where reading involves external factors (beside the poem itself), such as supporting text. Textual interpretant guides the reader in two ways. The first, it helps him focus on intertextuality, especially on how the poem exemplifies
C. Symbol
In Merriam Webster Dictionary, the term of symbol is derived from ballein syn symbolon and Latin symbolum, which means token, sign. Encyclopedia Britannica defines
element intended to simply represent or stand for a complex of person, object, group, Symbol not only represents something literal and concrete but also a complex set of abstract values.
Laurence Perrine (as cited in Fadaee, 2011, p. 20) states
something that means more than what it is. It is an object, a person, a situation, an action, or some another item that has a literal meaning, but suggests or represents Symbol is used by the poets to express feeling or thought and increases the beauty of the text, it has not only figurative meaning but also literal
meaning. Symbol has further layers of meaning, maybe more than the writer consciously intended.
In interpreting literary symbol, the important thing is the existence of general concept of symbols which has stable and fixed meaning. Moreover, the understanding
existence of organizational features or printed text as the relevant information. Symbol is different from metaphor and simile, the understanding does not contain a comparison but by a virtue of association representingsomething more than itself.
In Pierce theory, symbol is a sign which its relation to object is based on convention. Pierce explained that symbolhas unchangeable common meaning. Moreover, conventional symbol is a symbol that has an understood or widely accepted interpretation (http://english.tjc.edu/engl2307nbyr/symbolallegory.htm).For
example, a national flag is a symbol of country which may represent patriotism and loyalty.On the other hand, personal symbolis an object which is invested with a particular meaning by the poets. It
The characteristics of this symbol are fresh, new, and sometimes contrary to conventional
symbol(http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fitchf/readlit/symbol1.htm).As the result, it is more difficult for the reader to recognize the meaning of this symbol. For
example, someone may represent a dog as a symbol of loyalty, but other use it as a representation of fear and contemptibly.
A symbol that repeatedly emerges is not a reference of the various meaning, but it stands as a replica of the same sign (Zoest, 1993, p. 25).As the characteristic, symbol clearly relates to social aspects which force it to be more refined. Symbolis
attracting, touching, and convincing in understanding a sign which deliver an abstract and complicated concept (Zoest, 1993, p. 27).
D. Symbols in Death Poems
Symbol is one of interesting poetic devices. The researcher thinks that symbol stands above the other poetic devices.Symbol is broader and more ambiguous in meaning (Guerin, 1996, p. 41). Symbol representsa value which is different from those the thing being symbolized. Symbol frequently stands alone,
given little or no indication as to what is bein hadwick, 1971, p. 2).
Poems which are discussed in this donot
only talk about love and beautiful things but also dark and gloomy things. There are many poets who choose death phenomenon as the theme of their poems. Moreover, it can be seen as a special characteristic of them. Some poets such as, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, and Christina Rossetti are famous with their death poems. Each poet has their own ways in representing various characteristics of death
in poems.
nd impossibilities of language
to evoke the experiences 91). The books of Emily
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary, the term perception means the way someone notices things, especially with the senses, an idea or a belief or an image someone has as a result of how someone sees or understands something.According to the researcher, most of E
about her way of thinking to give respond and reaction in accepting death phenomenon.
In her death poems, Emily Dickinson has her own ways in using and
constructing symbols. She uses various objects, such as animals, plants, seasons, and places as symbols. In constructing symbols, she makes the transition process from something real and clear to the level of obscure and confused (Chadwick, 1971, p. 4). The transition process includes the uses of poetic structures which has the same area of interest, such as image, figure of speech, and myth. For example, Emily Dickinson in Tie the Strings to my Life, My Lord uses visual imagery Just a look at the horses .
(Cirlot, 2001, p. 152).
(VanSpanckeren, 1994, p. 35).Most of those works gives influences in some of Emily
E. Biography of Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 in Amherst,
Massachusetts as the second daughter of Emily Nocross and Edward Dickinson. Amherst is a small Calvinist village with the powerful Puritan traditions, about 2600 mostly strongly religious and orderly citizens. The Dickinson children; Emily, Austin d under the strong authorization of their father, a prominent lawyer who served as a U.S.
Congressman and as a treasurer ld
78). Emily Dickinson grows as an individualist with a very sensitive soul, shy, withdrawn, unpublished, and unknown village woman (VanSpanckeren, 1994, p. 35).
In 1840s, Emily Dickinson attended Amherst Academy and often spent her time for few short trips, such as Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston. She continued
reached a peak in 1862. After that year, she withdrew more and more into herself, and eventually did not even go out of the home. Although, she never got married, she had several significant relationships. There were two influential men; The Reverent
re p.
1995, p.
The year of the greatest stress was 1855, when distance and danger threatened
in mourning because of several deaths; her father died in 1874, both Charles bert died in 1883 (Martin, 2002, p. xiv-xv). All of those deaths influenced her work especially the
2002, p. 40).
work and her life in American 3).
F. Frame of Thought
This research is directed to answer the research questions mentioned in previous chapter. The research background
death poems.
are odd and abstract. The most intere
the symbolic signs which seemsto be difficult to be interpreted. Then, the researcher formulates that assumption into research question a
Semiotic of Poetry.
The importance of symbolic sign clearly relates to social aspects which force it to be refined in the process of interpretation. Symbols in poems have further layers of meaning, maybe more than the writer consciously intended. Symbols are richer,
broader, more ambiguous in meaning, and even contradictory.
poems. Third, this theory leads to social and cultural background analysis which gives important contribution in the process of poemanalysis.
Accord
The meaning of poem is not delivered explicitly by the poet. This theory emphasizes a significant character in poetry
includes reader oriented theory, a part of reception theory which stands as a philosophical fundament in his theory. It starts from the first stage of reading or
hen, the concept of semiotic arises in the second stage of reading or hermeneutic reading.
The intertextual decoding process includes the process of reference understanding: finding the meaning of each symbol and tracing the social and cultural background. In this part, the researcher could find the relation between symbol and its
convention.The most important element in . The
hypogrammatic derivation concept
that poetry is a work of art which is constructed from various related elements.
Hypograms Indirection
31 CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS
semiotics theory. There are six poems of Emily Dickinson analyzed in this chapter. The poems are:
1. Because I could not stop for Death 2. It was not death, for I stood up 3. I died for beauty, but was scarce 4.
5. How many times these low feet staggered 6. If I should die
The Poems of Emily Dickinson have no title, so the researcher takes the first line of each poem as a substitute for the title.
A.
1. Because I could not stop for Death
indicates that there is certain purpose created by the poet. This typography leads the readers to find the keywords in understanding this poem.
In the first as the
keywords is a something cliché. There are so many poets use those terms as the main
t become interesting topic
that people always talk about. As long as hu can be said as never-ending-topics.
There is another sign in this poem tha Because I
in the form of personification shows the process of displacing meaning created by the poet. The reader could find two implied meaning from those lines. First, the speaker shows her
. Se is a kind
man.
In the third stanza, Dickinson uses repetition as another important sign of this is repeated three times. It helps the reader to understand that there is press of meaning created by the poet. Moreover, the
repetition continued by the school/where children
we paused before a house that seemed/a swelling shows in form of simile. Furthermore, the uses of semicolon (;) in the end of that line indicates the process of creating meaning. The semicolon (;) connects
we paused before a house that seemed/a
and to give a
There is a contradiction
and yet eac can be seen as a paradox. In addition,
Dickinson creates I f .
This is how Dickinson produces distorting meaning to express indirection in her poem.
b. Hermeneutic Reading
The readers find the deeper meaning of this poem through the several sign that emerge in the first stage of reading. Dickinson shows that the typographies of lead the reader to find the basic idea of this poem. The term in in the poem is a something cliché. This is how people in general dream about immortality but face the death as a reality. Dickinson describes that the s
un . Most of scientific approaches and belief systems emphasize that death is an unavoidable fact. On the other hand, immortality is something that people wants deep inside their minds. It is something that they dream of, which is absolutely impossible to be a reality.
ecause I cou He kindly
as the model. Model explains the main topic being discussed in the poem. The main topic
to imagine the character or
manner of the matrix. The model as an
unavoidable man who could make the speaker receives all of his treatment defenselessly. In the second stanza, Dickinson shows how the speaker receives
manner.
We slowly drove, he knew no haste, And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too, For his civility.
can be interpreted as a symbol. Commonly, death represents the end of time relates to destruction and sadness. Ferber (2007) states that death may symbolize something else, but usually represented symbolically as a
(Ferber, 2007, p. 56). At a glance, those lines give similar idea with model and matrix that being discussed above.
indicates the uses of personal symbol which associates wit
Dickinson is unmarried until the end of her life. As a general assumption, it is caused
(Benfey, 2002, p. 40). Furthermore, Dickinson experiences several deaths of her
(Martin, 2002, p. xiv-xv). This is why she decides to spend the rest of her life in seclusion.
thought. It creates an assumption that Dickinson spends the rest of her life not only waiting for her death but also her lover. This explanation shows that the understanding of social and cultural background of the poet helps the reader in understanding the meaning of personal symbol of the poem.
In the third stanza, Dickinson uses repetition as the simplest form of expansion. Expansion is a process of text production. Repetition is a sign which
indicates the emoti is an expression of
of life.
As the first stage, they passed the school and the children. The child stands as a symbol of the future (Cirlot, 2001, p. 45). The child symbolizes the start of life and
the view of the future. In the second stage, the gazing grain symbolizes the life itself. In the Greek word sitos meant grain or bread. In English, the meaning extends into while to be alive is to eat bread (Ferber, 2007, p. 35). In the third stage, they passed the setting sun. According to Homer, life is when someone sees the light. On the other hand, death is when someone must leave the light of the sun (Ferber, 2007, p. 209). Moreover,
Fr f James
209). All of those symbols are called as conventional symbol that can be easily found in the dictionary of symbols. Conventional symbols have the unchangeable common meaning which is commonly used in several sources.
In the fourth stanz we paused before a house
that s to tell the reader that a grave can be seen as a
which give a
clearer description about the h the
corn
She emphasizes that grave can be a house for death people. In this part, Dickinson shows that she feels comfortable in facing the death.
Dickinson creates a paradox through Since then 'tis centuries, and
yet in the last stanza. She reveals the length of time
I f is an example of ambiguity.
m which is extremely complex and not clearly defined. In Germany and England, to dream of a white horse was thought to be an omen of death. In other place, a pair of horses (white and black) imprecisely
represents life and death (Cirlot, 2001, p. 152). Secondl leads
seen as the revelation of the speaker in this poem. The speaker finds that death is not the end of the story, but she continues the story toward eternity.
In sum, Dickinson wants to give an alternative point of view for the readers
through this poem. She reveals a n as her
poem. Dickinson shows her calm acceptance of death. Death is not something evil and scared. Death is a part of the stages of life which should be passed in finding the eternity.
2. It was not death, for I stood up
IT was not death, for I stood up, And all the dead lie down; It was not night, for all the bells Put out their tongues, for noon.
a. Heuristic Reading
At a glance, this poem tells about incomprehensible feeling which relates to the sense of depression. This poem starts with which does not refer to
process of interpretation. It can be seen as a riddle that is created by the poet to attract the curiosity of the reader.
Dickinson in the first and second stanza.
She did not describe the real condition of her feeling, instead she describes the opposite condition of her real feeling. This contradiction is a form of distorting
meaning which is created by the po , is
fol
indicate the same meaning. It shows that the poet wants to emphasize her intention through the uses of repetition and metaphor.
In the first stanza, the line It was not night, for all the bells/put out their shows the process of displacing and distorting meaning in the
for all is a form of
personification which combines with the for . In the second stanza, the same style
could not be found in some of English dictionary. The next line is a form of
paradox which is used .
In the third stanza, Dickinson starts to give a direct description of her burial
feeling through t A
The figures I have seen/set orderly, give a powerful
statement which influences the r
leads the imagination of the readers to find the sense of depression through the line
as if my life were shaven/and fitted to a frame/and .
However, the form of simile
becomes a turning point for the readers to rem .
Dickinson shows the process of creating meaning through the uses of
alliteration in the fifth sp
in the third line. In the last stanza, simile
most like chaos, stopless/cool, . It can be seen as an important sign which helps the process of interpretation. However, the uses of dashes indicate certain meaning created by the poet which seems to be difficult to interpret. This is how indirection is produced by creating meaning process in a poem.
In this poem, Dickinson delivers a sense of confusion in t
Dickinson gives an unclear description is
poem. Dickinson gives signs th
. All of those things belong in the And yet it
in the third stanza is a simile w
and all of those things. Dickinson wants to reveal her incomprehensible feeling which
has . Therefore, the matrix of
or it can be said as unclear object. The model of the matrix leads the .
b. Hermeneutic Reading
In the second stage of reading,
are deeper. The words not only emerge as a form of metaphor but also as a form of symbol. In the
poetry or ice has been defined as the
dividing line between consciousness and unconsciousness which relates to the d (Cirlot, 2001, p. 156). Moreover, in the tradition of has the same significance as night and black (Cirlot, 2001, p. 228)
As the answer represents the death itself. This
statement is supported by the series of simile and clear description of burial created
by the poet in the t A in the
third stanza starts the description of the experience of
in the fourth stanza becomes a turning point for the reader to think
and And could not breathe
gives strong sense of hopelessness. In addition, the
has sig refers to the threshold of
the unconscious. It can be seen as a tool which is used to open the gates of death to immortality (Cirlot, 2001, pp. 167- represents a feeling of death which seems to be unrealized by the speaker of this poem. In line It was not death, for I , the speaker believes that it was not a feeling of death because she stood up. Therefore, the readers must interpret which object belongs to dead object in the poem.
Dickinson creates the series of contradiction in a form of paradox which distorts the meaning of this poem. Automatically, it influences the process of interpretation of the reader. For exampl
in the first st is identical with death and
darkness. On the
is anatole or (Ferber,
2007, p. 68). This kind of style occurs in the second stanza when Dickinson uses the and . Fire symbolizes any kinds of passion, warmth of feeling and human life itself (Ferber, 2007, p. 75).
which contains the sense of unconsciousness. The series of contradiction created by
the poet actually refers to the same in a form
power. Since it is in a hanging position, it creates mystic relations with all objects between heaven and earth (Cirlot, 2001, p. 24).
In this part, the reader could find the answer of the second riddle created by the poet. It is about the object that belongs to dead object in the poem. The answer is
the soul. Dickinson creates a contradiction between l to
make a connection between heaven and earth. As the important finding, she emphasizes that human body lives on the earth while human soul relates to the heaven.
In the fifth stanza, Dickinson creates alliteration which indicates the occurrence of symbol. The line When everything that ticked has stopped/and space
stares/all around/or grisly frosts/first autumn offers
a implies the sound of mourning that
ca has two meanings: the satisfaction of the
harvest in summer
. This is the time when
all of things seem - in the evening scene
(Ferber, 2007, p. 17).
In ge death.
personal symbol. According to Dickinson, the strongest sense of mourning does not
In the last two stanzas, Dickinson creates the maximum sense of despair. The speaker realizes the death of her soul but time is stopped. This is the worse condition of the speaker when there are no hope and salvation. The incomprehensible feeling of the speaker extends into sadness, despair and finally emptiness. In the sixth stanza,
Dickinson us stopless/cool, which is
combined with dashes. The uses of dashes interrupt the meaning of that line.
causes confusion of the reader. Therefore, punctuation is ignored by the readers. In conclusion, Dickinson creates a description of someone or maybe her own self who experience the death of soul. It happens when someone feels the sense of death while their body still exists. Dickinson uses six kinds of conventional symbols such as night, frost, noon, bell, fire and autumn. However, she
3. I died for beauty, but was scarce
I DIED for beauty, but was scarce Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain In an adjoining room.
He questioned softly why I failed?
the two are one; We
And so, as kinsmen met a night, We talked between the rooms, Until the moss had reached our lips, And covered up our names
(Emily Dickinson, poem num. X, p. 180)
a. Heuristic Reading
in that line implies two different meaning. First, it means the cause of. Second, i . The readers need to continue the reading process to find another signs which could give clearer explanation for that ambiguity.
In this poem, there are two speakers talking about the reason of their deaths. In this conversation, Dickinson creates a euphemism through the usage of the word
. As the conclusion,
becomes the reason of the Dickinson describesthe relation of through the uses of dash in the two are one/we brethren .
In the last stanza, Dickinson creates an affirmation of the relation between the
t in the
third stanza have the similar meaning. Moreover, the use gives a clear contribution in creating the circumstance of death. Dickinson gives several signs
which helps the process of analysis.
First, there is a change in the first and second
in the third stanza. Second, it is a repetitive description created by the poet.In this part, the scene of the conversation makes the readers feel the moment of forgetting that they are dead.
Dickinson declares the great ending Until the
moss had reached our lips/and covered up . This line becomes a reminder
for the reader to realize t to the scene of
such as room, tomb, mouth or maybe body.
b. Hermeneutic Reading
The conversation in the second stanza is the model which indicates the
essential idea of this poem. Dickinson emphasizes that each of the speaker has certain reason of their deaths, there are .
He questioned softly why I failed?
the two are one;
beauty and truth become the speak .
In this poem, Dicki as the reason of
death. Therefore, the matrix of this poem is beauty and truth.
The in this poem is an allusion. It reminds the reader created by John Keats. In his phrase, Keats concludes an important statement about the eternity of art.
that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.
relates to the eternity which could not be reached by human. In conclusion, the beauty is enough for human. Beauty is the only truth that could be reached by human.
In this part, is considered as the hypogram. In fact, is beauty and
truth. indicates that Dickinson is influenced by
Keats . This poem seems to be the continuation
In the first stanza, Dickinson creates a description about the reason of her
death in l I . Dickinson emphasizes that her death
is different from the death of common people. Dickinson affirms her death as something precious. She wants to get the eternal beauty which could not be reached by human. The eternal beauty is more than what human see on their eyes. It is higher
than the beauty of an image. to affirm her
statement.
Moreover, Dickinson cr When one who died
to support her statement. She believes that no one will die for truth. Truth is a beauty which exists in this world and everybody could see it. In this stanza, Dickinson creates the circumstance of death
. It is a form of metaphor which can be e
circumstance of death. She creates the scene of conversation between the two speakers. She uses the wo rather than died which is an example of euphemism. Euphemism is an understanding of the effect of a statement. The word
becomes the s the circumstance of death.
Dickinson expresses her indirection through the process of creating meaning. She uses dash as a sign which informs the
can be seen as a
unity. More to describe the
. In fact, beauty and truth are the representation of art.
In this to represent the death.
poem, Dickinson describes the important of beauty and truth. She emphasizes that human ought to seek them out and live and die for them.
Dickinson describes that the moss covered the lips and the names. The word clearly relates to the scene of conversation. rather than
the other possible objects such as tomb, room, mouth and body to end up her poem. It
creates strong personal effect in can be seen
as an identity for someone. For example, the name of the dead body carved in a tombstone. In the Egyptians idea, name relates to the character and destiny of someone. As the power of words, name is the reflection of soul which could have a magical effect upon someone (Cirlot, 2001, p. 226). In this poem, Dickinson uses as the representation of death. The moss has a power which could end up the
effectiveness of human.
To sum up, Dickinson uses two kinds of conventional symbols, they are: tomb and name. This poem can be seen as an irony. If someone died for truth, it means there is no truth in the human life. There is no truth means there is no beauty which is created by human. It means that something wrong happens in this humanity.
This poem tells about the man who sees a scene of mourning in the opposite house. The man says that someone has died in the house across the road. In this poem, Dickinson chooses the man asa witness in that scene of mourning. Dickinson uses I know it by the numb look .This line explains that the sad face of people indicates the event of death.
give more explanation about the characteristics of death itself.The characteristics of death used by Dickinson in this poem are cliché. Death is something common, continuous and noticeable.
I t
are easy to interpret. Those lines occur as cliché. the neighbours describes the custom in the society. It is about giving
respect and condolence to the deceased and the family. is a confirmation of the death.
is a simile which represents the death. The indicates the
customfor someone who passed away relates to the nature.
It abrupt, m which indicates the power of
nature.
In the next stanza, Dickinson describes that the activity in that house still are
someb is a custom which informs that
clean the mattress. Dickinson describes that the children run to pass the house and the mattress. It is a scary experience to imagine someone has died on that mattress. The man said that he used to do the same as a young boy. In this stanza, Dickinson uses capitalization in the word to represent the deceased.
Dickinson creates an irony the minister goes stiffly in/as if the house
were his/and he owned all the mourne .The Minister
arrived and took control of the situation as well as the mourners in that house.It seems
that the minister as the representation of religion has an authority to control anything in that house. It indicates that religion is the main protection when people are experiencing terror and fear of the death.
In the fifth stanza, Dickinson describes that there is a milliner or hat-maker who prepares the attire of the deceased the man of the appalling trade/to take the measure of the house can be seen as the undertaker who prepares the coffin. It can be seen as an irony. Dickinson describes that the work of undertaker is dreadful. However, the skill of undertaker is definitely needed in this kind of situation.
Dickinson tells about the funer
parade/of tassels and of coaches soon . indicates the scene of
funeralwhen the mourners dressed in black. or the
states that all of those things can be seen as obvious signs inthe event of death.Dickinson uses dash to inform the important message of this poem. the intuition of the news/in just a country town tells how the people understand the event of death.
b. Hermeneutic Reading
Dickinson uses the been a death in the opposite house/as lately
I know it by the numb look as the model
which indicates the topic of this poem. The main topic being discussed in the poem is the event of death. Therefore, the matrix of this poem is the event of death. The model leads the reader to understand the characteristics of the event of death. The model leads the reader to describe the event of death as something common, continuous and noticeable Thisis how Dickinson uses a cliché in her poem. In general, people believe that the event of death is an inevitable fact for all human lives. It is an ordinary event which happens continuously. It is a simple truth that can be seen through the manner of people in responding that event.
In the next stanzas, Dickinson shows several evidenceswhich seem to be a verificationof that description. In this poem, there are several evidences which indicate the event of death. All of those evidencesconvince the reader to believe that the event of death is something common, continuous and
First, Dickins I know it by the numb look/such .It explains that the numb look indicates the event of death which relates to fear, sadness and despair. There is a numb atmosphere surrounds that house which is caused by the death. It relates to the numb face of the mourners in that house.
Moreover, that line indicates something cliché. The event of death happens
continuously in a house. House relates to the material world where life and death are closely tied up to each other. In symbolism, house is a feminine aspect of the universe and the repository of all wisdom which relates to the tradition. House or home has spontaneous associations with life including the human body and human thought (Cirlot, 2001, p. 153).
Second, Di the neighbours rustle in and
. In the past, a simple funeral is organized by families, friends and neighbors. It was a popular custom in American society. This is how people show their respect and care for the deceased (Schvaneveldt, 1989, p. 1). the doctor drives away is a cliché. In general, a patient with serious ill is intensively treated by under close care
of a doctor. Therefore, can be seen as a scene of
losing hope. It seems to be a confirmation that the death are truly happens.
Third, the custom. People
escape. The process of escaping the spirit from a house through windows is to confuse the spirit. It is important to keep the spirit away from its families and friends (Untiedt, 2008, p. 6). Moreover, it relates to the shape of window which consists of apertures. The window and the apertures imply the meaning of distance. It is also symbol of consciousness (Cirlot, 2001, p. 373).
which relates to the nature. The line
seems like an analogy. Automatically, the pod is burst out when it is ripe enough. It is similar with the scene of people who open the windows because someonedied in a house.In addition, the line explains that all of those things happen automatically. It seems like a machine. In this part, Dickinson emphasizes about the power of nature which organizes anything including death.
Fourth, t some is a custom. It
informs that someone just passed away in that mattress. Therefore, the family member brings the mattress out to clean the germ which is carried by the deceased.It can be seen as a custom which prevents the spirit to come back to its mattress and
into the house (Untiedt, 2008, p. 6). the children hurry by/they wonder if It
Fifth, Dickinson creates an irony the minister goes stiffly in/as if the house were his/and he owned all the mourners now/and little boys besides . The minister has an important role in the event of death. The minister is the person who performs and takes charge of the prayer for the deceased. In this part, Dickinson shows that the minister as the representation of religion who has an authority to control anything in that house. Dickinson shows the ultimate power of religion which could control anything. Religion can be seen as a place where people getthe serenity of life and release their fear of death.
Sixth, the milliner is one of important element in the event of death. It directly relates to the deceased which becomes the central point in the funeral procession. It is important to prepare the appearance of the deceased. The milliner and dressmaker
prepare the attires which reflect the status and the characteristics of the deceased(Patkin, 2008, p. 166).
creates an irony in those lines. Although, the service of undertaker is one of important element in the event of deat
dreadful.
Eighth, d indicates the scene of funeral procession. It happens
when the mourners dressed in black and marched. In symbolism, black relates to death and other negative things. Therefore, black is one of the proper mourning attire in several places. As the color of death and mourning, black has been adopted by Christians as a sign of death in this world(Ferber, 2007, p. 28).The dark parade consists of tass or the ornaments of death. It includes which means the use of horse and carriage.
In the end of this poem, Dickinson states that all of those things can be seen as signs. All of this signs are useful to spread the death news in a neighborhood. Dickinson emphasizes that this is what happens in a country town. It is about people who use their senses and intuition to understand the condition of their society.
responding the death. Moreover, it can be seen as an important historical understanding for people who study social and cultural subject.
5. How many times these low feet staggered
How many times these low feet staggered, Only the soldered mouth can tell;
Try! can you stir the awful rivet? Try! can you lift the hasps of steel? Stroke the cool forehead, hot so often, Lift, if you can, the listless hair; Handle the adamantine fingers Never a thimble more shall wear.
Buzz the dull flies on the chamber window; Brave shines the sun through the freckled pane; Fearless the cobweb swings from the ceiling Indolent Housewife, in Daisies lain!
(Emily Dickinson, poem num. XI, p. 181)
a. Heuristic Reading
At a glance, this poem tells about the corpse of a housewife. The first line of
how many can be seen as a clue for the
readers
clearly refers to the corpse. In this poem, Dickinson not only describes the outlook but also the story behind the corpse.
only sold is a form of paradox. In fact,
cannot tell anything. In other words, there is no story about the housewife to share to the readers.
In the first stanza, Dickinson delivers her intention through the uses of
repetiti . It is followed by the
which seems like giving a challenge for t
contain ambiguity. First, it describes the hardship of the readers who wants to know about the story of the corpse. Second, those lines are the representation of the story behind the corpse.
In the second stanza, Dickinson clearly describes about the outlook of the stroke the cool
e also
lift, if you can, . handle
the adamantine fingers/ contains dramatic expression
which attracts sentimental feeling of the readers. buzz the du
can be seen as a cliché. Fly is one of arthropods which regularly appear in inson creates imagery in brave shines the sun through fearless the
actually have similar meaning which in
line Indolent Housewife, in Daisies lain! which clearly represents corpse.
b. Hermeneutic Reading
how many these low feet stagg becomes the
interpretation. It seems like an early awareness for the readers about the tone of this poem. Therefore, the matrix is hardship. However, this poem tells about the death of a housewife. As the result, the model is the hardship of a housewife which could be released by death. It can be seen as a critical expression. In this poem, Dickinson
death. how many
indicates the tone. From this line, the readers could feel the sense of hardship which relates to the corpse. This line guides the reader to imagine the hardship of a housewife during her lifetime.Moreover, the readers can conclude that the hardship relates to the role of a housewife who should handle a lot of housework.
Dicki . In
contains the sense of frustration for the readers who wants to know about the housewife. Dickinson creates
imag to describe the
hardship of the readers. The hardship of the readers relates to the scene of frustration when the readers should ask question to a corpse. In the same time, those lines can be seen as
might not be able to behandled by others.
I stroke the cool
forehead, hot become the contrastive things. It can be seen as the representati
is full of hardship. It describes the . In contrast,
the word represents release which implies comfort and peacefulness. In this part, Dickinson describes that death can be seen as a savior who saves the housewife from her hardship.
Dic lift, if you can, . The word
dramatizes the hair symbolizes grief or mourning
in classical literature. As a widespread belief, hair is an expression of life, youth, strength, or fertility (Ferber, 2007, pp. 91-92). Therefore, Dickinson creates the
Moreover, Dickinson creates dramatic expression
. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary is a pitted cap or cover worn on the finger to push the needle in
sewing to remind the readers that sewing can be seen
fascicle manuscripts (Martin, 2002, p. 6). Fascicle means a small bundle. Therefore, the readers could imagine that Dickinson sews the sheet to make her fascicle manuscripts.
In buzz the dull flies on the
can be seen as a cliché. Fly is an object which regularly appears in death poems. Rutledge (2003) states that fly, gnat, midge, worm (maggot) and malaria appear in 21 poems of 1775 poems written by Dickinson (p. 72). Fly can be seen as a symbol of death which relates to the decomposition process of organism.
Dickinson crea brave shines the sun through the freckled
fearless the to draws the condition of a
