Question

In Emily Dickinson's poem "324" ("Some keep the Sabbath going to Church"), what does the speaker prefer to listen to?

Answer 1

In Emily Dickinson's poem "324", the speaker prefers a personal, nature-based worship at home over attending church. Dickinson's rhythmic style, reminiscent of nineteenth-century songs, adds a lyrical quality to her poetry, enhancing the emotional and thematic connections with readers.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Emily Dickinson's poem "324" ("Some keep the Sabbath going to Church"), the speaker expresses a preference for a more personal and natural form of worship. Rather than going to church, she keeps the Sabbath by staying at home, with the orchard for a dome, the bobolinks for a choir, and God being her minister. The speaker feels closer to the divine in the comfort of her own space and through the simple, yet profound, elements of nature.

Many of Emily Dickinson's poems are rhythmically similar to popular nineteenth-century songs, which may assist us in appreciating the lyrical quality of her work. This melodic similarity helps to emphasize the universal themes of emotion, nature, and introspection in her poetry, making it accessible and resonant with readers just as songs do with listeners.

Answer 2

In Emily Dickinson's poem "324" ("Some keep the Sabbath going to Church") the speaker prefers to listen to birds singin. To be more precise, the speaker mentions that she has "A Bobolink for a Choister."

In this poem, the speaker compares two different forms of spirituality: while some prefer to go to church, she finds it rather restrictive and prefers to indulge in nature. The images of Birds as choister and sexton, and the orchard being her dome convey the idea of freedom. It could be said that instead of going to church, she develops her spirituality in contact with God's creations.