Read the poem. I Dwell In Possibility

by Emily Dickinson

I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –
Impregnable of eye –
And for an everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –
For Occupation – This –
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise –

Question 1
Part A

What is a key theme of "I Dwell in Possibility"?

Poetry is superior to other genres of literature.

Nature is a spiritual teacher.

Paradise is both painful and sweet.

Pain reveals the deepest truths about life.
Question 2
Part B

How does Emily Dickinson develop the theme indicated in Part A?

Dickinson observes that walls and roofs should be difficult to attack.

She describes paradise as a house with strong windows and thick walls.

She compares poetry and prose to two homes, preferring the one with more doors and windows.

Dickinson longs for visitors but has only poetry for company.

Prewriting: this stage of the writing process involve gathering and selecting ideas; teachers can students in several ways: creating lists, researching, brainstorming,reading to discover more about the author's style, talking, collecting memorabilia or clips from other texts, and free-writingdrafting: in this stage, students begin writing, connecting, and developing ideasrevising: this is the stage of writing that involves rewriting or "re-seeing; " emphasis is place on examining sentence structure, word choice, voice, and organization of the pieceediting: this stage involves checking for style and conventions--spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuationpublishing: the "going public" stage of writingevaluating: in this stage, the writer looks back at his/her work and self-evaluates, and the audience evaluates the effectiveness of the writingwriting activities : personal writing, workplace writing, subject writing, creative writing, persuasive writing, and scholarly writingpeer review: acting a referee; evaluating a colleague's work professionally