There is no Frigate Like a Book
...“born again” Christian which also alienated her not only from society, but her father as well, who was a devout Christian and the grandson of the founder of Amherst College, in Amherst Massachusetts. Knowing more about Emily’s life and her great love of books, it is easy to understand why she wrote this poem. Line by line analysis: A) There is no Frigate like a Book a. A frigate is a large ship used for traveling to foreign lands, expensive mode of transportation, slow, limited to one destination at a time, requires a lot of preparation before departing, and could be crowded and impersonal. b. A book is usually inexpensive, readily available, requires no preparation before being read, your journey is as slow or as fast as your ability to read, can cover multiple destinations, is a one on one relationship, (reader – book,) and is a very personal and private trip to experience. c. By relating a ship to a book as a mode of transportation, Emily opens a door to travel limited only by your imagination. The visual I experience as a reader, is one of infinite possibilities. B) To take us Lands away a. This line could be directed at the writer and the reader or just to the readers, through the use of the word, “us.” “Lands,” tell us that we are not limited to one destination, but are free to visit any land we wish. b. With the use of the word, “away,” the writer implies that we are transported from our present location to a distant destination. C) Nor any Coursers like a Page a. A “Courser” is a race horse, which is also a form of transportation; usually utilized by a single person. b. A single “Page” of a book can be utilized by a single reader to travel to many different destinations. D) Of prancing Poetry ____ a. Prancing is an act that you would normally see a horse do to show that it is spirited and ready to run or go somewhere. c. One would expect that “Prancing Poetry,” would be exciting and descriptive prose, capable of significantly stimulating your imagination. E) This Traverse may the poorest take a. To “Traverse,” is to travel and to state “This Traverse,” implies that the written word can transport a person. b. As being a possible mode of transportation for the poorest, we know that by the use of a book, even the poor are not restricted from traveling to any destination their imagination can conceive. F) Without oppress of Toll ____ a. A toll is a tax or fee charged for the privilege to do something or to go somewhere. In 1873 most tolls would have been considered oppressive for the poor, because it took most of their income to support themselves. b. For the poorest, to be able to escape their everyday misery, if only through a book, would have been an unimaginable luxury. G) How frugal is the Chariot a. Frugality for the poor is a necessity, so anything which they can procure cheaply or for free, would be valued greatly. b. In this line, Emily eludes to a “Chariot,” which can also be the human body, as being a cheap or affordable means of transportation. H) That bears the Human soul a. When coupled with the previous line, it is implied that the Chariot or the human body is the vehicle which bears the “Human” soul. b. Within the essence of the body, the human soul can be transported where ever the body may go. My Take on There is no Frigate Like a Book by Emily Dickinson Many analogies could be made by attempting to infer that the capitalized words in each line represent a much deeper meaning or intent on behalf of the writer. However, armed with the history and potential mental state of the writer, it is easy to accept the poem for what it is. It is a simple poetic statement of the potential capability of anyone to enjoy travel through reading. This is a powerful statement of the importance and the necessity of books. Through the use of such simple comparisons as a boat to a book, a horse to a page, or even a chariot to the human body as a means of transportation; the writer stimulates the reader’s imagination into moving beyond their present circumstances. For t...