If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking Figurative Language

In Emily Dickinson’s poem, “If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking” she describes ways she can improve someone’s life. Dickinson feels that if she improves someone’s life, her life will not go in vain. She ultimately describes that her purpose in life is to care for others. Dickinson’s use of sound devices, a reoccurring theme, and figurative language allows her emotions to surface in the poem and draws attention to certain aspects of her poetry. During Emily Dickinson’s adult years, she spent most her time at home (“Emily Dickinson Biography”). She was secluded because she had to take care of her ill mother and the rest of her family (“Emily Dickinson Biography”). The reoccurring them she uses in her poem describes selfless love. The poem describes the selfless love Dickinson shows

She uses repetition by writing “I shall not live in pain” various times. The use of this repetition stresses the fact that she does not want to life her life in vain, she wants her life to have meaning (2-5). Dickinson also uses idioms and imagery when writing “If I can stop one heart from breaking” (1). She does not literary mean that she wants to stop a broken heart, but means that she wants to stop someone from feeling pain and sadness. She also uses symbolism when comparing birds to humans by saying, “Or help one fainting robin... Unto his nest again” (5-6). She compares rescuing a bird to helping someone get back on their feet. She also uses personification by giving the bird human characteristics. Birds do not faint due to stress, while humans do faint due to stress. She uses figurative language in order to show her desperation of getting out there and helping people get back on their feet. She was sequestered from the world in order to take care of her family. While she was fulfilling her purpose in life by taking care of her family at home she also desired to help others outside of her