Letting Go of Love: Discovering Emily Dickinson's 'Heart, We Will Forget Him'

💔The poem explores the theme of letting go of a past lover and the struggle to forget.

❤️The speaker addresses her heart as a separate entity, emphasizing the emotional turmoil caused by remembering the past lover.

🖋️Dickinson's use of apostrophe adds depth to the poem by giving a voice to the heart.

📜The deviation from traditional ballad meter enhances the emotional impact of the poem and reflects the speaker's inner conflict.

💌The poem may be autobiographical, reflecting Dickinson's own experiences with unrequited love.

Who is the speaker addressing in the poem?

—The speaker is addressing her heart, personifying it as a separate entity.

What does the speaker fear in the poem?

—The speaker fears remembering the past lover and wants her heart to let her know when it is done forgetting.

What is the significance of the varying meter in the poem?

—The varying meter reflects the speaker's emotions and creates a sense of urgency.

Is the poem based on Emily Dickinson's own experiences?

—It is believed that the poem may be autobiographical, reflecting Dickinson's own experiences with unrequited love.

Who is the possible inspiration for the poem?

—Some suggest that Samuel Bowles, an editor and Dickinson's friend, may have been the inspiration for the poem.

00:01[Music]

00:09Emily Dickinson's poem 'Heart, We Will Forget Him' explores the theme of letting go of a past lover.

00:23The speaker urges her heart to forget the unnamed him, emphasizing the emotional turmoil caused by remembering.

00:44The deviation from traditional ballad meter and the use of apostrophe add depth to the poem.

01:14The speaker assumes the persona of a forgotten or rejected lover, making a distinction between herself, her mind, and her heart.

01:37The imagery in the poem may reflect Dickinson's unrequited love for a male figure.

01:53The poem's varying meter reflects the speaker's emotions as she addresses her heart and creates a sense of urgency.

02:00Some suggest that Samuel Bowles, an editor and Dickinson's friend, may have been the inspiration for the poem.