Final answer:
The author of “Reckless Genius” highlights Emily Dickinson's technical innovation with the use of dashes in her poetry, which is integral to her unique style and prefigures Modernist techniques. Her innovative punctuation, vivid imagery, and exploration of gender roles mark her as a significant figure in nineteenth-century American literature. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author of “Reckless Genius” explores Emily Dickinson's technical innovation of the use of dashes in her poetry (A). Dickinson's poetry is noted for its unconventional punctuation, especially her frequent use of dashes, which contribute to the unique rhythm and emphasis within her verses.
Despite sometimes being edited out by early publishers, scholars now recognize the dashes as integral to understanding Dickinson's poetic style. Her usage of dashes adds to the ambiguity and allows multiple readings of her lines, a technique that was innovative for the nineteenth century and showcased her avant-garde approach to poetry that predated Modernism.
In addition to her innovative use of punctuation, Emily Dickinson is also acknowledged for her vivid imagery and exploration of themes such as death, immortality, and nature. Her ability to convey powerful emotions and thoughts in a brief and concise manner is one of the hallmarks of her writing style. Furthermore, her exploration of gender roles through her poetry provided subtle yet powerful commentary on the societal expectations of women during the nineteenth century. Dickinson's work defied traditional gender roles by asserting the independence and inner life of the female speaker, often in contrast to the prescribed norms of her time.