Here’s a full analysis of the poem ‘I cautious, scanned my little life-’ 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 / SUMMAR...
I cautious, scanned my little life -
Emily Dickinson
I cautious, scanned my little life —
I winnowed what would fade
From what would last till Heads like mine
Should be a-dreaming laid.
I put the latter in a Barn —
The former, blew away.
I went one winter morning
And lo – my priceless Hay
Was not upon the “Scaffold” —
Was not upon the “Beam” —
And from a thriving Farmer —
A Cynic, I became.
Whether a Thief did it —
Whether it was the wind —
Whether Deity’s guiltless —
My business is, to find!
So I begin to ransack!
How is it Hearts, with Thee?
Art thou within the little Barn
Love provided Thee?
VOCABULARY
Cautious - carefully, as if there may be a danger
Scanned - looked around, searching or analysing something
, Winnowed - the movement of blowing air through the wheat, to separate the grains
from the outer husk (the chaff)
A-dreaming laid - laid down to sleep and dream -
The latter - the last thing that was mentioned
The former - the first thing that was mentioned
Lo - behold, look
Scaffold - the vertical pieces of wood that provide structure to a barn
Beam - the horizontal pieces of wood that provide structure to a barn
Cynic - someone who is distrustful or sceptical
Deity - a god
Ransack - destroy
STORY/SUMMARY
Stanza 1: I was in a cautious state of mind, and I scanned through the different parts of
my little life - I separated what would fade away from what would last until people
like me were laid down to rest (dead).
Stanza 2: I put the stuff that would last in a Barn - the other stuff, that would fade,
blew away. I went to the barn one winter morning to look at it and lo - my priceless
stuff was nowhere to be found.
Stanza 3: it wasn't on the scaffold of the barn, it wasn’t on the beams, and I turned
from a successful farmer into a sceptical cynic.
Stanza 4: Whether a thief stole it away, or whether the wind blew it away, whether a
God is to blame or guiltless, my task is to find it again!
Stanza 5: So I start chaotically destroying the world around me, looking for those
important parts of myself that I lost. How is it, my dear readers, with you? Are you
inside the little barn too, one that was given to you by love?
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