EMILY DICKINSONS’ DISAPPOINTMENT TOWARD PURITANISM TEACHINGS REFLECTED IN I PRAYED AT FIRST A LITTLE GIRL

Abstract

Poetry can be used to express someone’s feelings in a unique way, because it is sometimes based on the author’s experience. Emily Dickinson was an American poet woman who wrote a lot of religious poetry. In this study, the researchers try to analyze her expression in I Prayed at First a Little Girl. The aims of this study are to know the psychological side of Emily Dickinson toward Puritanism in her poetry I Prayed at First a Little Girl, to know the influence of the social condition of the society toward Emily Dickinson’s poetry, and to know the meaning of Emily Dickinson’s poetry mentioned above. The researchers used the library research method as the method of collecting data. The various sources which are collected are used to support the discussion, while for approaching the poetry the researchers used the objective or the structural approach method and psychological approach method to get deeper understanding of the author’s characteristics. Based on the analysis the researchers conducted, it can be concluded that the poetry was the expression of Emily Dickinson disappointment toward Puritanism teachings. Emily was disappointed with her father and the priests in her church who asked her to obey all their rules since she was a child without giving any chance to ask about them.

 Keywords: Poetry, Puritanism, Library Research, church