Fringed Gentian

Symbolism and Theme in “The gentian weaves her fringes”?

Where is there symbolism in Dickinson’s poem “The gentian weaves her fringes” and what is the theme?

This is classic Dickinson in the sense that she wrote a great deal about nature and often said, in effect, that nature was her “church.” That’s what’s going on here. The words are all those of a funeral: departing, illness, where the angles are (not “angles,” by the way!), procession, etc.

So who has died? As always with Dickinson and other poets, look up words you don’t know. Do you know what gentian is? The “blossoms” have fallen off and died. But no parade (funeral procession) is required. Those in attendance at the funeral include the bobolink and the bee.

The last stanza is a clear mocking of religious services. We might ordinarily hear, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.” Dickinson’s version is slightly different, is it not? Her “holy trinity” is something much apart from tradition.

So, you probably see the answers to your questions now. The theme (there’s never a single correct answer to this) might be phrased as “Nature and her cycles provide a better setting in which to reflect on life than does a church.” All of the flowers and plants are symbolic representations of people. The bee is seen both as the preacher and also as God the father.

Best wishes!

Language Arts 5/6 Emily Dickinson Poems

25875 FOR THE PIANOFORTE GR.4 BLUE FRINGED GENTIANS BY ARTHUR L. BROWN OPUS 96 MUSIC BY ARTHUR L. BROWN;WORDS BY B.F. BROWN. SHEET MUSIC….

WILD PLANTS NEEDING PROTECTION. 12. FRINGED GENTIAN. …

To the Fringed Gentian …