Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Emily Dickinson's poem "That Such Have Died," the brevity belies the profundity of its subject matter. Composed of just four lines, the poem explores the relationship between life and death and their impacts on the human psyche, particularly the idea of comfort and inspiration drawn from those who have lived and died before us.

The first line, "THAT such have died enables us," immediately introduces the reader to the concept that the deaths of others can somehow enable or empower our own approach to mortality. In other words, there's a tranquility that comes from knowing others have faced the same fate. The word "enables" is pivotal; it suggests an active, liberating force. Death isn't just a passive occurrence but something that can provide understanding or even permission to face our own mortality with a degree of calm.

The second line, "The tranquiller to die," serves as an extension of the first, revealing what exactly is enabled: a tranquil approach to death. The use of "tranquiller" suggests that death is a common anxiety but that the knowledge of others dying before us has a calming, almost therapeutic effect. It acknowledges the universal fear of death but also suggests a collective courage or wisdom gained from those who have already passed away.

In the third line, "That such have lived, certificate," the poem shifts focus from death to life. If the deaths of others enable us to face our own end with tranquility, then the lives of others serve as a "certificate" or proof of something even greater. Dickinson is delving into the notion that the value of life can be documented and celebrated, almost like an achievement or a form of validation.

Finally, the poem concludes with "For immortality." This line can be seen as a logical extension of the 'certificate' concept. If life itself is a certificate, then it's a certificate "For immortality," suggesting that the ways people live their lives leave lasting impacts, granting a sort of symbolic immortality. Even if physical life is finite, the influence one has on the world or on other people can live on indefinitely.

The poem can also be read as a discussion of legacy. Those who have lived meaningful lives and faced death with tranquility serve as role models, providing the living with both a roadmap to a well-lived life and a peaceful death. In this sense, they offer "certificates" for how to achieve both earthly and symbolic immortality.

In conclusion, Emily Dickinson's "That Such Have Died" serves as a nuanced examination of how the lives and deaths of others can influence our perspectives on mortality and immortality. Despite its concise format, the poem manages to open up expansive avenues of thought regarding how we view the symbiotic relationship between life and death, providing both comfort and inspiration. It's a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet that she can evoke such intricate ideas in so few words.

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