Dickinson and Her Disciples: The Poetry of Belief

Abstract

My thesis is an exploration of Emily Dickinson’s poems that address religious and philosophical issues: the problem of evil, the absence of God, the relationship between the body and soul, and the possibility of immortality. After considering these poems on the difficulties of belief, I turned to two contemporary poets, Louise Glück and Jorie Graham, whose work resonates with Dickinson's concerns. In a more secular age, I was curious to discover both how Dickinson has influenced their work and how they have distinguished themselves through uniquely contemporary thought.