Compare And Contrast Two Versions Of Emily Dickinson

In literature we often see many incommensurable versions of the same writing. This may include translated stories and poems from different languages or translations from the same language. Translations vary from person to person, depending upon who has translated a certain piece. Each translator alters the original piece in a way that they see the story. Emily Dickinson is one of the many authors who have many different versions of her manuscricpts. Although there are many versions of Emily Dickinson’s poems, there are two versions of the same poem about a well that will be discussed. Version A edited in 1890 and Version B, which is closest to the original, by Ralph Franklin from 1999 are two translations of an Emily Dickinson poem that through specific edits such as structure, line breaks, punctuations, and word choice helps influence the version’s overall effect. The structure of a poem plays a significant role in telling a story an author wishes to portray. Structuring a poem in a specific way benefits not only the tone, however, it also benefits the sound and rhythm. Although both versions of the Dickinson poem contain four lines and twenty-eight syllables in each stanza, it is apparent that Version A …show more content…
In both versions of the Dickinson’s poem the authors are able to give a better image to the reader, letting them connect to it on a personal level by using personification. In both versions an example of personification such as giving water the human quality of living, “The water lives so far”, and also giving the grass emotions, “The grass does not appear afraid” (1890/1999). Version B offers more examples of personification. With one version (1999) containing more examples of personification, the other version is lacking image and meaning. Although both poems seem to express the same meaning, Version B conveys a stronger image by using specific word choices and creating