I Started Early – Took my Dog (Emily Dickinson)

In "I started Early – Took my Dog," the speaker describes a surreal and mystical encounter with the sea. The speaker, accompanied by her dog, visits the sea, where she is greeted by mermaids and frigates. Despite their assumptions about her being a mouse, the sea itself seems to interact with her, almost threatening to consume her. Eventually, the tide rises, enveloping her, but just as she starts to flee, the sea retreats, leaving her alone with her dog once more. You can read the poem below and find analysis further down the page.

I Started Early – Took my Dog by Emily Dickinson

I started Early – Took my Dog – 

 And visited the Sea –

 The Mermaids in the Basement

 Came out to look at me – 

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor 

 Extended Hempen Hands – 

 Presuming Me to be a Mouse – 

 Aground – upon the Sands – 

 But no Man moved Me – till the Tide

Went past my simple Shoe – 

 And past my Apron – and my Belt

 And past my Bodice – too – 

 And made as He would eat me up –

 As wholly as a Dew

Upon a Dandelion’s Sleeve – 

 And then – I started – too – 

 And He – He followed – close behind – 

 I felt his Silver Heel

 Upon my Ankle – Then my Shoes

Would over‑ ow with Pearl –

 Until We met the Solid Town – 

 No One He seemed to know – 

 And bowing – with a Mighty look – 

 At me – The Sea withdrew –

Analysis:

Title Significance:

The title sets the scene for the poem's narrative, indicating that the speaker embarked on her journey early and with her dog by her side. This sets the tone for a whimsical and fantastical adventure.

Setting:

The poem's setting is primarily by the sea, where the speaker encounters mermaids and frigates. The sea becomes a character in itself, with its movements and actions driving the narrative forward.

Imagery and Sensory Language:

The poem is rich in vivid imagery, evoking the surreal and dreamlike quality of the speaker's experience. Examples include "Mermaids in the Basement" and "Frigates – in the Upper Floor."

Sensory details such as the sea's touch on the speaker's ankle and the overflow of pearls from her shoes add to the sensory experience of the poem.

Structure:

The poem consists of six quatrains with irregular rhyme schemes, contributing to the poem's whimsical and unpredictable nature.

The structure mirrors the ebb and flow of the sea, with each stanza building tension and suspense.

Tone and Mood:

The tone is surreal and mysterious, with a sense of wonder and fascination at the strange occurrences witnessed by the speaker.

The mood oscillates between awe and apprehension as the speaker navigates her encounter with the sea and its inhabitants.

Themes:

Surrealism and Fantasy: The poem explores themes of surrealism and fantasy, with the speaker's encounter with mermaids and frigates blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

Power of Nature: The sea is depicted as a powerful and enigmatic force, capable of both awe-inspiring beauty and potential danger.

Journey and Transformation: The speaker's journey to the sea represents a journey of self-discovery and transformation, as she confronts the unknown and emerges changed by the experience.

Symbolism:

The sea symbolises the unknown and the subconscious mind, with its depths representing hidden desires and fears. The mermaids and frigates symbolise the mysteries and wonders of the natural world, as well as the imagination's capacity for creating fantastical beings.

Language and Diction:

Dickinson's language is lyrical and evocative, with an emphasis on imaginative imagery and playful language. The use of personification, such as the sea "presuming" the speaker to be a mouse, adds to the poem's whimsical tone.

Conclusion:

I started Early – Took my Dog by Emily Dickinson is a whimsical and surreal poem that explores themes of imagination, nature, and transformation. Through vivid imagery and playful language, Dickinson invites the reader on a fantastical journey to the sea, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, and the speaker confronts the mysteries of the natural world and her own subconscious mind.

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Time and Place Poetry Anthology Poems here.