“I’m Nobody! Who are you? ” by Emily Dickinson
Prepared by: Dahlia Syahrani Md. Yusof GS 18383
“I’m Nobody! Who are you?” by Emily Dickinson
I am nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there’s a pair of us – don’t tell! They’d banish us, you know. How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog! 2
About the author •1830 - born in Amherst, Massachusettes •by 1860’s – lived in isolation but maintained correspondence •After age 40, never left her home •Spent almost her entire 56 years in hometown •1886 – died in Amherst 3
Denotative meaning •“nobody” - no importance - someone unnoticed - insignificant
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Denotative meaning •“a pair of us”
– being together
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Denotative meaning •“banish” - make something disappear
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Denotative meaning •“somebody”
– popular person, known to many
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Denotative meaning •“a frog” – an amphibian which makes loud croaking sound
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Denotative meaning •“a bog” – wet, soft ground formed of decaying ground
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Denotative meaning •“dreary” •“public” •“name” •“livelong day”
- depressing - concerning people - reputation, a good one - the whole length of a day
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“I’m Nobody! Who are you?” by Emily Dickinson
I am nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there’s a pair of us – don’t tell! They’d banish us, you know. How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog! 11
Connotative meaning “I’m nobody” – writer admits to being a nobody, loner, unpopular “Are you nobody, too?” – tries to find an ally
I am nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there’s a pair of us – don’t tell! They’d banish us, you know
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Connotative meaning “There’s a pair of us” - a friend to enjoy each other’s company and share anonymity “banish us” becomebeco
- you’re not a nobody anymore when you have a friend; disappear and become somebody
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•How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog!
• “dreary to be somebody”
– writer denotes to like being a nobody; awful to be famous 14
Connotative meaning “a frog”
– noisy animal, usually heard but little attention is paid to it
“name”
- good image and reputation
“livelong day” - all the time “a bog”
- the environment, usually insignificant •How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day 15 To an admiring bog!
GENERAL ANALYSIS FIRST STANZA -loneliness -companionship SECOND STANZA -more confident tone -in a crowd 16
GENERAL ANALYSIS •Being an outsider •Be herself and feel comfortable about it •As a nobody - not forced to be under publi c scrutiny or forced to put on an act •As a nobody – we have our own individuality, uniqueness •Ordinary people are aplenty, we are not alone 17
GENERAL ANALYSIS •“Nobodies” need to keep a low profile or risk becoming somebody •“Being a pair” – having a friend is much better than having a crowd of admirers
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GENERAL ANALYSIS •“like a frog” with an “admiring bog” -you’re popular but your relationships are impersonal or distanced -people may not take you seriously despite all the publicity you have - the bog is only the environment not a friend 19
THEMES • being proud of who you are • popularity may be destructive
• companionship is a remedy to loneliness 20
POETIC DEVICES SIMILE “How public, like a frog” •comparison to a trifling creature PERSONIFICATION “Admiring bog” • useless admirers RHYMES “frog” – “bog” •Emphasis, connect similarity
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PERSONAL RESPONSE
•Companionship is a remedy
NOBODY – loner •Unimportant yet Invisible •Uniqueness of self •Lets you be proud of yourself •There are benefits
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PERSONAL RESPONSE POPULARITY •stressful •need to live up to people’s expectation •Live under microscope – under scrutiny •True friends?
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“I’m Nobody! Who are you?” by Emily Dickinson
I am nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there’s a pair of us – don’t tell! They’d banish us, you know. How dreary to be somebody! How public, like a frog To tell your name the livelong day To an admiring bog!
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Being a LONER
is
not
being a LOSER… Thank you 25
