Read The Following Poem And Answer The Following Question

Read The Following Poem And Answer The Question That Followsi Like T

Read the following poem and answer the question that follows. " I Like to See It Lap the Miles " by Emily Dickinson I like to see it lap the miles, And lick the valleys up, And stop to feed itself at tanks; And then, prodigious, step Around a pile of mountains, And, supercilious, peer In shanties by the sides of roads; And then a quarry pare To fit its sides, and crawl between, Complaining all the while In horrid, hooting stanza; Then chase itself down hill And neigh like Boanerges; Then, punctual as a star, Stop—docile and omnipotent— At its own stable door. A train stopping to let get fuel and passengers [removed] A train showing up late to its home station [removed] A train breaking down in the middle of the track [removed] A train stopping to let passengers enjoy the view

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The poem "I Like to See It Lap the Miles" by Emily Dickinson presents a fascinating allegory of a train, capturing its dynamism, power, and rhythmic movements through vivid imagery and personification. Through this poetic portrayal, Dickinson explores themes of technology, nature, and human admiration for machinery, emphasizing a complex relationship between progress and natural elements. This analysis will examine the poem's imagery, personification, symbolism, and thematic implications to understand how Dickinson portrays the train and what it signifies within the broader context of human innovation and its harmony with the environment.

The poem opens with the speaker expressing a visceral enjoyment in observing the train "lap the miles," suggesting a swift, relentless movement that mimics a creature in motion. The use of animalistic verbs like "lick" and "lap" connotes a natural, almost instinctual appetite, emphasizing the train's boundless energy. This personification of the train as a living entity continues with phrases such as "stop to feed itself at tanks," evoking the idea of a animal pausing at a water source, yet also alluding to the vital necessity of fuel for its operation. Such imagery highlights the symbiotic relationship between human invention and natural elements, portraying technology as an extension of nature’s own life-force.

Dickinson employs vivid imagery to depict the train's journey across varied landscapes. Descriptions like "prodiguous" steps around mountains and "supercilious" peering at shanties evoke a sense of grandeur and superiority, almost anthropomorphizing the train as an intelligent, observing presence. The image of the train "crawling between a quarry" and "complaining all the while in horrid, hooting stanza" further solidifies its characterization as a sentient, expressive being. The word "hooting" adds an almost primal auditory element, intensifying the train’s personification and suggesting a mixture of protest or noise that echoes animal calls, thus blending mechanical sounds with natural cries.

The poem’s depiction of the train chase and its descent "down hill," neighing "like Boanerges" (a biblical term meaning "son of thunder") underscores its mighty, thunderous power. This dynamic imagery emphasizes the train’s strength and energy, almost personifying it as a powerful beast or deity. The closing lines, where the train "stops—docile and omnipotent—at its own stable door," serve as a compelling metaphor for mastery over its environment, paralleling the train’s arrival at its station with a domesticated creature returning to its lair. The juxtaposition of "omnipotent" and "docile" suggests a blend of awe-inspiring power and calm control, reflecting human admiration and reverence for technological progress.

The added multiple-choice options provide contextual perspectives on a train’s behavior, asking whether it halts to fuel and allow passenger enjoyment or shows up late, breaks down, or stops for views. Dickinson’s poem aligns most closely with the last option — "A train stopping to let passengers enjoy the view." The poem’s detailed depiction of movement and pauses, along with its lyrical admiration, indicates a sense of appreciation for the scenic, almost leisurely aspects of travel, despite the train’s immense power.

Overall, Dickinson’s poem encapsulates the awe, vitality, and reverence humans feel towards machines that embody progress. Through lively imagery and personification, she elevates the train from mere transportation to a narrative of natural forces, technological prowess, and human admiration. The train becomes a symbol of unstoppable progress, majestic yet intimate, blending natural imagery with human emotion, illustrating how technology can evoke both power and poetic beauty in human experience.

References

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