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Year 11
Eduqas

Analysing 'As Imperceptibly as Grief' by Emily Dickinson

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

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Year 11
Eduqas

Analysing 'As Imperceptibly as Grief' by Emily Dickinson

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

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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.

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

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?


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Analysing 'As Imperceptibly as Grief' by Emily Dickinson, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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

You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Emily Dickinson's poem featured in the Eduqas poetry anthology 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

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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, circular
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

Additional material

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