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
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller natashatabani. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.59. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
