Some would consider the value of literature to be priceless. There is a richness and vivacity in a good literary work. But when it comes to the selections chosen for college English classes, how is the worth of literature decided? What determines which authors writings are acceptable and those that aren't? Because there is no overall judging standard for literature, one much create a personal criteria for establishing literary worth. In this essay, three specific criteria will be applied to the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I will also showcase the characteristics of her poetry and how she broke 19th century writing traditions. Finally, the similarities and differences of the works of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman will be discussed. .
Three criteria that can determine the worth of literature, specifically in poetry, are the style in which the poem is written, the tone or descriptive voice the poem carries and also how the poem connects to the reader. Poetry is characterized by its specific style. There are many different types of poetry styles, such as free verse poems or ballad poems. Understanding the various types of poetry, can help students determine what kind of poetry they enjoy and can easily understand. The tone of a poem is equally important. The tone is the writer's attitude toward the subject of the poem or the reader. Tone can be humorous, angry, regretful, playful, it truly can be anything and it can also change throughout the length of the poem. Being able to identify the tone of a poem helps students to understand the perspective of the author. Perhaps my personal favorite criteria, is the connection between the poem and the reader. Every poem has a meaning, whether that meaning is bluntly given or hidden between the lines, it is there. A reader searches for a connection between themselves and the poem they are reading, something about that poem that touches their soul.
