I had been hungry all the years’

I had been hungry all the years.

My noon had come to dine.

I trembling drew the table near

And touched the curious wine.

Quatrain alternate eight and

six syllable lines

What is suggested by the word “noon”

Why trembling?

In what ways can hunger be seen as a metaphor for not belonging

Describe the rhyme scheme

This seems an interesting

choice of words. Are there any

religious allusions in this poem?

Quatrain 1

'Twas this on tables I had seen

When turning hungry home

I looked in windows for the wealth

I could not hope for mine.

Quatrain 2

Extended gastronomic metaphor continues from first quatrain.

The image of the window is introduced- the persona is positioned figuratively, outside,alone, looking in. How

effective is this imagery in consideration of the poem as a whole?

Comment on the narrative perspective and the

adjectives used throughout the poem.

How are images of dissociation and the persona’s feelings of displacement established in this stanza?

I did not know the ample bread.

'T was so unlike the crumb

The birds and I had often shared

In nature's dining-room.

Contrast ample bread

and crumb..religious allusions? Also comment on the rhyme scheme

The persona does not feel she belongs inside. How does she feel about nature? Does the personification suggest she is any more comfortable here?

Quatrain 3

The plenty hurt me, 't was so new.

Myself felt ill and odd,

As berry of a mountain bush

Transplanted to the road.

Why did the plenty hurt?

Comment on the effectiveness of this simile? How does the simile convey the persona’s feelings

Why is the gastronomic metaphor so appropriate to the emotional and spiritual states of the speaker presented in this poem?

Quatrain 4

Comment on the word choice here.

Nor was I hungry, so I found

That hunger was a way

Of persons outside windows

The entering takes away.

“ Nor was I hungry…” the persona realises that she does not desire what she previously lacked.

Extended metaphor of window image.

What is Dickinson’s final argument?

Quatrain 5

.

• Homework –due in two days• Write an extended response 300-400 words where

you bring together some of the main ideas in “I had been hungry all the years’.”

• You could consider, the structure and progression of the poem. The use and effect of poetic techniques, the use of extended metaphors…

• Ideas concerning: displacement, dissociation, isolation, belonging, not belonging…

• Complete during one of your study periods (hand written response required). Bring to class on Wednesday