Jessa Moon

Cosmin Ritivoiu
English 102
2 March 2015
Literary Analysis
The poem, If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking, was written by Emily Dickinson
between 1858 and 1865. This was during the civil war. It is a positive and meaningful poem
which was written during a difficult time. Characteristics of the Romantic era can be seen all
throughout the poem. Dickinson focuses on nature as she says Or help one fainting robin\into
his nest again (5-6) She also uses feelings and emotions as she says, stop one heart from
breaking (1), and ease one life the aching (3). The Romantic Era focuses on the imagination
and emphasizes love and nature (Odessa College 1).
Odessa College writes about the shift of focus in writing which took place during the
Romantic era:
Romanticism saw a shift from faith in reason to faith in the senses, feelings, and
imagination; a shift from interest in urban society to an interest in the rural and
natural; a shift from public, impersonal poetry to subjective poetry; and from
concern with the scientific and mundane to interest in the mysterious and infinite.
Mainly they cared about the individual, intuition, and imagination. (Odessa
College)

What characterizes poetry in the romantic era is the focus on nature, feelings, and imagination.
There is a more personal approach to the writing. Dickinsons poem, If I Can Stop One Heart
From Breaking, is no exception. In the poem she focuses on nature, imagery and feelings.
Although the lines, Or help one fainting robin\ unto his nest again\ I shall not live in
vain (5-7) could be understood literally it is also used as a metaphor. On one hand Dickinson is
saying ones life would not be in vain if they just helped one robin into its nest again. On the
other hand, Dickinson is also using a metaphor. She likens the bird to a person. If one was to help
one human regain their life or rescue one soul from dying their life would not be in vain.
One of the most prominent words used throughout this poem is vain. According to
Websters Dictionary vain means, having no real value (Websters Dictionary). The world vain
sets the tone for the entire poem. It brings up the question, what is the meaning of life? a
question which has been asked through all time periods. This poem creates a hopeful answer to
this question. A life which is lived in vain is one that did not administer kindness to others, and
one which looked over opportunities to be of help. However, even one small and seemingly
insignificant act of kindness can give life meaning and purpose. Ones life will not have been
lived vain even if only one heart is stopped from breaking.
Dickinsons poem demonstrates a positive and hopeful mood and at the same time it is
very solemn. She discusses the meaning of life in a hopeful way which leaves the reader feeling
that there is purpose in life. She writes, If I can stop one heart from breaking\ I shall not live in
vain (1-2), bringing the reader to the realization that there is meaning in small acts of kindness
and in seemingly purposeless areas of life.

She continues writing, If I can ease one life the aching\ or cool one pain\ or help one
fainting robin\ unto his nest again I shall not live in vain (3-7). Although many people who read
this poem would agree with the concept being discussed, few actually take the meaning of the
subject to heart. Few people really are contented if they are just used in life to heal one heart or
change the life of one person, but this poem suggests that even the smallest act of kindness
makes life worth living.
At the heart of this poem the meaning is that each persons life is worth the saving of
anothers life, even if it is just one life. Christians who are following Christ in His footsteps
should take this lesson to heart. Just as Christ didnt count His life worth more than the others
around him, and sacrificially gave his life for every person, so all Christians should not count
their lives as worth more than others. Instead, a true Christian desire would be to sacrificially
give their lives to others.
Many consider their lives to be more valuable than the lives of others. They might not
consciously think it but few would actually consider their lives worth one small act of kindness.
Many people want their lives to make a big impact on the world and arent satisfied with helping
the life of just one person. They want to change the whole world instead of just changing one
life.
It is also humbling for people to realize that their life is worth sparing if only to save one
other person. This is the example that Christ gave to the world. He would have died on the cross
if it was only to save one person. Christians must have the same type of humility as Christ. They
must have the type of humility which realizes that their life is not more valuable than another.

They must realize that if they were to die for another it would be worth it, even if it was just one
person.
If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking, is a poem which uses nature and imagery to
convey the message that there is much purpose in life and the way people are able to find
purpose in life is when they pour their lives out for the sake of others whether in large or small
ways.

Works Cited
"Odessa College." Odessa College. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.odessa.edu/>.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. <http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/vain>.
"If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking, Analysis." Emily Dickinson : Summary Explanation
Meaning Overview Essay Writing Critique Peer Review Literary Criticism Synopsis
Online Education. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. <http://www.eliteskills.com/c/4609>.