There is a pain—so utter

Throughout this piece, readers may find themselves confused and amazed by the poet’s use of language and style. The speaker defines pain in an interesting way, one that some readers are likely able to connect to better than others. The lines of ‘There is a pain—so utter’ are a great example of the way Dickinson can complicate her style.

There is a pain—so utter—
Emily Dickinson

There is a pain—so utter—It swallows substance up—Then covers the Abyss with Trance—So Memory can stepAround—across—upon it—As one within a Swoon—Goes safely—where an open eye—Would drop Him—Bone by Bone.

Summary

‘There is a pain—so utter’  by Emily Dickinson is a complex poem that explores the concept of overwhelming pain.

The speaker begins the poem by suggesting that there’s a type of pain that can consume one’s life entirely. It takes one it the abyss, where they enter into a trance state. Here, the memory becomes important and perhaps takes one back to the worst times of their life. The final lines are even more abstract, perhaps suggesting that it’s only with these trance-like states that one can experience the pain. Without, that is, being dropped into the abyss for good.

Themes

Throughout ‘There is a pain—so utter,’ the poet engages with themes of pain and loss in addition to memory and time. The speaker explores these themes while also signaling that there is even more beyond them, things that words can’t effectively describe. There’s a deep and overwhelming pain one might encounter. It relates to memory and the way that these come in and out of one’s mind. Because the poem is fairly vague, readers are going to have very different experiences with it. This is a powerful aspect of the piece.

Structure and Form

‘There is a pain—so utter’  by Emily Dickinson is an eight-line poem that is contained within a single stanza of text. The lines contain a few examples of half-rhymes like “up” and “step.” This is something that is common within most writer’s work. “Bone” and “Swoon” might also rhyme, depending on how they’re pronounced. Readers are likely to notice Dickinson’s unique use of capitalization and spacing. Scholars are divided on why Dickinson chose to use dashes and capitalization in the way she does. Most believe it was in order to emphasize certain words more and ensure that the reader paused when it was the right time to pause.

Literary Devices

Dickinson makes use of several literary devices in ‘There is a pain—so utter.’ These include but are not limited to:

• Caesura: a pause in the middle of a line. For example, “Goes safely—where an open eye—“ and “Would drop him—Bone by Bone.”
• Imagery: can be seen when the poet uses especially vibrant descriptions. For example, “There is a pain—so utter— / It swallows substance up—.”
• Personification: occurs when the poet imbues something inhuman with human characteristics. For example, “Memory can step / Around—across—upon it.”
• Hyperbole: occurs when the writer exaggerates something for a specific purpose. For example, when they state that there is a “pain—so utter / It swallowed substance up.”

Detailed Analysis

Lines 1-3

There is a pain—so utter—

It swallows substance up—

Then covers the Abyss with Trance—

In the first lines of ‘There is a pain— so utter,’ the speaker begins by using the line the latter came to be used as the title of the poem. Due to the fact that Dickinson didn’t name her poems, the first lines often serve as the titles.

The speaker adds that this same pain, which is so “utter” or consuming, is capable of swallowing “substance up.” It can take away everything; replacing it was the pain alone. The poet uses the word “Trance” in the third line, suggesting that the pain covers the “Abyss” with “Trance.” This is perhaps a reference to a trance-like state that allows, as the next line adds, “Memory” to step “Around.”

Lines 4-8

So Memory can step

Around—across—upon it—

As one within a Swoon—

Goes safely—where an open eye—

Would drop him—Bone by Bone.

With the influence of the pain, memory can “step / Around— across—upon it.” Memory takes over once the pain comes. It’s a way of being reintroduced to pain from the past. The following lines are certainly up for interpretation. Dickinson uses quite an abstract language, describing a “Swoon,” also relates painful memories, and then an “open eye.” She is perhaps suggesting that being in this trance-like state or swoon is the only way to deal with the pain. If one addressed these issues with “an open eye,” then you’d be dropped “Bone by Bone” to the ground.

This is only one possible interpretation of these. Readers may find themselves considering the lines differently.

FAQs

Similar Poetry

Readers who enjoyed ‘There is a pain—so utter’ should consider reading other Emily Dickinson poems. For example:

• ‘Fame is a bee’ – talks about the transient nature of “fame” by using the metaphor of a “bee.”
• ‘Hope is the Thing with Feathers’ – a poem about hope. It is depicted through the famous metaphor of a bird.
• ‘The Letter’ – is a sweet love poem. It is told from the perspective of a love letter.