1. After Great Pain, Stages of Pain
In "After Great Pain," widely renowned as one of her two greatest poems, she describes three stages of pain experienced in an unknown traumatic event. ... Nerves seem to stand guard and loom over one's life. ... The second stage of pain in the poem is "stupor." ... Her path in life becomes "a wooden way" that she must navigate alone. ... The final stage of pain described in Dickinson's work is "letting go." ...
- Word Count: 510
- Approx Pages: 2
- Grade Level: High School