Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Analysing 'As Imperceptibly as Grief'

I can explain how Dickinson uses language and poetic structure to express her viewpoint.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Analysing 'As Imperceptibly as Grief'

I can explain how Dickinson uses language and poetic structure to express her viewpoint.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Perhaps Dickinson uses light imagery in her poem to represent hope within the darkness of grief.
  2. The cyclical nature of her poem illustrates that life, and grief, come and go - a natural process.
  3. Dickinson uses a regular rhythm to represent the predictability of the passing of time.
  4. Subtle shifts in rhythm and near rhyme could represent the imperceptibility of time passing and healing from grieving.

Common misconception

Rhythm and rhyme are used to make the text sound poetic.

Pupils should always link the poet's use of rhythm and rhyme back to their intentions. How does this help explore some of the messages the poet is trying to convey?

Keywords

  • Cyclical - repeating in a predictable pattern or cycle

  • To lapse - to temporarily fall into a state of inactivity or failure

  • Harrowing - extremely distressing or traumatic, causing intense emotional pain

  • Liminal - relating to a transitional or intermediate stage

  • Metre - a rhythmic pattern or arrangement of syllables in poetry

To differentiate the final practice activity, you may wish to remove the supporting details to challenge students to select their own.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Emily Dickinson's poem describes grief as being...
Correct Answer: imperceptible
Q2.
Which words from the list below would you associate with Emily Dickinson's 'As Imperceptibly as Grief'?
Correct answer: summer
Correct answer: time
joy
Correct answer: death
flowers
Q3.
In 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', Dickinson uses the fading summer as a for the passing of time.
Correct Answer: metaphor
Q4.
Which of the following statements about Emily Dickinson is true?
She wrote most of her poetry after the American Civil War.
Correct answer: She wrote most of her poetry during the American Civil War.
She wrote most of her poetry before the American Civil War.
Q5.
At what time of the day does twilight occur?
morning
afternoon
Correct answer: evening
night
Q6.
At what time of day does dusk occur?
morning
afternoon
evening
Correct answer: night

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
In 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', Dickinson uses imagery throughout her poem.
Correct Answer: light
Q2.
Which of the following is a relevant interpretation of Dickinson's use of "dusk" in 'As Imperceptibly as Grief'?
It represents hope of a new day.
Correct answer: It represents the darkness of grief.
It represents that grief will never end.
Q3.
In 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', Emily Dickinson employs a structure, as the reader knows summer will return again.
Correct Answer: cyclical
Q4.
In 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', Dickinson juxtaposes the morning sun with the phrase "harrowing Grace". What does harrowing mean?
Correct answer: extremely distressing
well earned
hopeful
Q5.
In 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', Dickinson uses a rhythm, through use of iambic metre.
Correct Answer: regular
Q6.
In 'As Imperceptibly as Grief', why might Dickinson choose to use near rhyme?
to put the reader on edge
Correct answer: to reflect the imperceptibility in the poem
to show how painful grief is