Emily Dickinson

Date of Birth: December 10, 1830

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: May 15, 1886

Biography

Emily Dickinson, born Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, was a prolific American poet known for her reclusive lifestyle and her unique, often unconventional use of form and syntax. Born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts, she spent most of her life in her family’s homestead. Dickinson’s poetry is characterized by its exploration of themes such as death, immortality, nature, and the inner workings of the human mind. Despite her prolific output, fewer than a dozen of her nearly 1,800 poems were published during her lifetime, and those were often edited to fit the conventional norms of the period. It was only after her death that her complete works were compiled and published, revealing the depth and breadth of her talent. Her posthumous fame has since established her as one of the most important figures in American literature.

5 Interesting Facts about Emily Dickinson

1. Emily Dickinson rarely left her home and was known as the “Myth of Amherst” because of her reclusive nature.

2. She had a close relationship with her sister-in-law, Susan Gilbert Dickinson, who was also her literary confidante.

3. Dickinson’s poetic style was heavily influenced by the hymns of Isaac Watts, which her family sang in their home.

4. She often wrote her poems on scraps of paper and envelopes, which were discovered after her death.

5. Emily Dickinson was known for her penchant for wearing white dresses, which contributed to her enigmatic persona.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Emily Dickinson

1. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul—and sings the tunes without the words—and never stops at all.”

2. “Because I could not stop for Death—He kindly stopped for me—The Carriage held but just Ourselves—and Immortality.”

3. “I dwell in possibility.”

4. “The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.”

5. “To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Emily Dickinson did not achieve significant financial success during her lifetime, and thus her net worth was minimal. Her literary value and influence, however, are immeasurable.