Write a 250-word essay in which you explain how the author’s use of dashes and unusual capitalization contribute to your understanding of the theme of darkness in the poem.

Explanation:

“We grow accustomed to the Dark,” by Emily Dickenson is a darker poem which states that everywhere there is darkness and humans have got used to it so they don’t notice it throughout their lives. Only when they experience a negative event in their lives do they recognise this darkness like death. Through this point she also highlights about humans being selfish. It also states that this invisible darkness or sadness can come into our lives at any moment and without a warning.

Throughout the poem and in other poem by Dickenson, the use of dashes and capitalization is used. Some literary scholars believe the use of dashes was merely a part of Dickinson’s penmanship and some others believe that it was a conscious effort on her part.

The reason for using dashes is many places of the poem is to make the reader pause, not to continue to another sentence but to think for a second. It’s used to create impact and a dramatic effect on the reader.

In matter of capitalisation, Dickenson isn’t consistent. Not every noun gets capitalised but the words which would add weight to the meaning she wants to convey are capitalised.

Also, it gives her poems the concreteness and symbolism that she wants them to portray. It helps the readers to draw an outline of the image that the words stand for. It teleports the reader to that place where he can even experience it in his thoughts.

c) eager anticipation.