Dickinson uses capitalization to draw the reader’s attention to certain things and actions throughout the poem. Capitalizing these words means they should be emphasized. The words that are capitalized are not (all) proper nouns; they are common words that seem important to the speaker.

Why does Emily Dickinson capitalize?

Why did she capitalize so many words? German, a language Dickinson knew, typically capitalizes nouns. To retain and give additional emphasis.

What is the purpose of capitalization in poetry?

Some poets use capital letters in a poem like they do in a story to show the beginning of a sentence. If you use capitals down the side all the time it can stop the flow of the poem. Nowadays poets are less likely to do this. Sometimes young poets give a capital letter to a word in the middle of a line.

What is the most important rule when using capitalization in poetry?

The traditional rules of grammar in poetry require capitalization of the first word of each line (in addition to proper nouns). While plenty of successful poets follow this rule, there are many who break them—especially in contemporary poetry.

Why did Dickinson use hyphens?

While Dickinson’s dashes often stand in for more varied punctuation, at other times they serve as bridges between sections of the poem—bridges that are not otherwise readily apparent. Dickinson may also have intended for the dashes to indicate pauses when reading the poem aloud.

Is capitalization a poetic device?

Capitalization can be used as a literary device, possibly to emphasize the importance of certain words or to give them some sense of being proper nouns or a title, or something to that effect.

What is the rule for capitalization?

In general, you should capitalize the first word, all nouns, all verbs (even short ones, like is), all adjectives, and all proper nouns. That means you should lowercase articles, conjunctions, and prepositions—however, some style guides say to capitalize conjunctions and prepositions that are longer than five letters.

Why would a poet use no capitalization or punctuation?

By avoiding the punctuation mark, the poet is able to create more ambiguity and therefore more possible meanings. Each of these poems would be much different with conventional punctuation. Each poet had internal consistency with his or her approach.

What does no capitalization mean in poetry?

A capital letter does a special job. Its function is to suggest a new sentence or a new idea beginning, or to draw attention to a name or title. We give capital letters an unconscious emphasis. In metrical verse forms it’s normal for there to be a tiny pause at the end of a line (even when the line is enjambed).

Why does the poet not Capitalise the first words in each line?

The answer is “no” because there are no rules in poetry. The fact that the first words of each line in a poem are usually capitalized is a convention, nothing more!

Did Emily Dickinson use the em dash?

Martha Nell Smith, a professor of English at the University of Maryland and the author of five books on the poet Emily Dickinson (the original em dash obsessive), said that Dickinson used the dash to “highlight the ambiguity of the written word.” “The dash is an invitation to the reader to make meaning,” Dr.

Why are hyphens used in poetry?

Hyphens in poetry are used as pauses, longer ones than commas or semi-colons.

Why do you think the author uses dashes?

It is often said that we use dashes to signal that something crucial is being added to a sentence and use parentheses to signal that the interruption is relatively unimportant (e.g., to give dates or citations or examples).

What is the effect of no punctuation in poetry?

A lack of punctuation (like full stops, commas, etc..) in a poem emphasises that the emotions or lack thereof flows freely throughout the poem. Ex: If the poem deals with someone going down a road the lack of punctuation emphasises that the road is continuous.

How does punctuation affect a poem?

Punctuation in poetry is similar to punctuation in prose and serves almost the same purpose as bar lines in music without which the words and notes won’t flow altogether. In other words, punctuation assists in organizing your words into discernible verses: encapsulates thoughts and ideas.

What poet did not use punctuation?

2) E. E. Cummings



This famous American poet and playwright (not to mention a Harvard graduate) managed to differ from other writers by using a very specific and unconventional orthography in his poetry. He scarcely ever used full stops and wrote almost everything in lowercase (even his name and the pronoun ‘I’).

Why are the names of the days in the poem written in capital letters not in small letter?

Days, months, and holidays are always capitalized as these are proper nouns. Seasons aren’t generally capitalized unless they’re personified.

Do poem titles have to be capitalized?

Capitalize the first word of the title, the last word of the title, and all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, subordinating conjunctions, and a few conjunctions. Prepositions are only capitalized if they are used adjectivally or adverbially.

Why do the words sunshine wind and sky begin with capital letters in this poem?

At the halfway point of the poem the speaker transitions to talking about another force at work in and around the sky above her head, the wind. It is capitalized, just as “Sunshine” and “sky” were. This helps in Brown’s relentless personification of the forces.

Do you spell autumn with a capital A?

Seasons Aren’t Proper Nouns



The seasons come, the seasons go, and the question remains: do you capitalize them? In most cases, no. The names of the seasons—spring, summer, fall or autumn, and winter—are not proper nouns, so they only get capitalized when other common nouns get capitalized.

How do you use capital letters in a poem?

Quote from video: Something I saw another patron do this week which I've started to see more periodically in contemporary poems is putting that first letter uppercase. And then all the other letters in the title being

Why are the pronouns referring to the Sun Capitalised?

Answer. The pronouns referring to the Sun are capitalised because the poet represents the Sun as eternal. The Sun is highlighted here, which is an essential aspect of everyone’s life. Without sunlight, nothing survives.

Do you capitalize sun and moon?

AP capitalizes the proper names of planets, including Earth, stars, constellations, etc., but lowercases sun and moon.

Is the S in sun capitalized?

Like every proper noun, the name of the sun is written in a capital letter. When the word “sun” is not used in an astronomical context, it should not be capitalized.

Is New moon capitalized?

Capital decision



“Capitalize the names of planets (e.g., ‘Earth,’ ‘Mars,’ ‘Jupiter’). Capitalize ‘Moon’ when referring to Earth’s Moon; otherwise, lowercase ‘moon’ (e.g., ‘The Moon orbits Earth,’ ‘Jupiter’s moons’). Capitalize ‘Sun’ when referring to our Sun but not to other suns.

Why is Earth capitalized?

When you’re talking about the planet we live on, capitalize the word. Here’s why: Used in this capacity, Earth is a proper noun. It names a specific place. Proper nouns should be capitalized.

Is Dad capitalized?

Even if a title isn’t being used to directly address someone, it is always acting as a proper noun—and should be capitalized—if it replaces a person’s name. For example, the word Dad is capitalized in the sentence I went fishing with Dad this morning even though the speaker is not talking directly to their dad.

Is Galaxy capitalized?

The words earth, moon, sun, solar system, galaxy, and universe are capitalized (as proper names) when used in an astronomical context to refer to a specific celestial body.

Do you capitalize black hole?

Other definitions for black hole (2 of 2)



(lowercase) any usually wretched place of imprisonment or confinement.

Are Aurora capitalized?

objects or phenomena are not capitalized. aurora borealis or northern lights gegenschein interstellar dust the rings of Saturn… characterizing word or phrase used as part of, or instead of, a person’s name is capitalized.