Hi could you please help me with this poem? THANKS!!!

[sympathy]

Hi I have a lot of questions about this poem

"There is No Frigate Like a Book"

by Emily Dickinson

There is no frigate like a book
. To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
. Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
. Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
. That bears a human soul!

. (c. 1890)

1) What does "c." mean?

2) Here is a passage analyzing this poem:

This simple poem reveals Dickinson's fascination with reading. To her, there is nothing quite adventurous as a good book. She makes the case that there is no means of transportation that can take somebody "…lands away" (line two) like a literary work. Dickinson goes on to say that regardless of one's financial status, they have the same ability to take "This traverse…" (line five). In short, Dickinson is fascinated and happy with the way words can move a person. She views reading as a gift to humans, a gift that is beyond wealth. To her, the ability to read is the greatest gift of all.

Dickinson makes a reference to some sort of transportation in every other line. She does this to juxtapose the places books take you with the necessary physical means required to venture to the same place. The poem is written in upbeat manner, with the final four lines of the poem providing an enjambment-like effect. This upbeat style of writing coincides with the excitement Dickinson feels that when reading about an exciting event or something that awakens her adventurous nature.

The theme of this poem is that the imagination, spawned by a fascinating work of literature, is better than any physical trip to the same location because in the imagination, anything is possible.

http://library.thinkquest.org/23846/...n_01_poem.html

I don't understand the enjambments in this poem. Can you explain what are enjambments in this poem and why? What are their effect?

3) What do the final two lines mean?
'chariot' means a kind of carriage. What does the author mean by saying that the carriage is frugal? What does 'human soul' here belong to? Can you paraphrase the final two lines for me?

Thanks so much

[apex2000]

Firstly, 'c' is short for circa (around, about) that date.
Enjambment = the continuation of the sense without a pause beyond the end of the line:
As I wished my holiday to be longer than a day
I got up early so that we could quickly get away

This is very common in verse/poetry.

Frugal = economical, sparing, thrifty.
The last two lines are allegory, symbolical narration.
The meaning is that she needs so little to enjoy a book which can lift her soul. To make her happy, content, satisfied.

[sympathy]

Originally Posted by apex2000

Firstly, 'c' is short for circa (around, about) that date.
Enjambment = the continuation of the sense without a pause beyond the end of the line:
As I wished my holiday to be longer than a day
I got up early so that we could quickly get away

This is very common in verse/poetry.

Frugal = economical, sparing, thrifty.
The last two lines are allegory, symbolical narration.
The meaning is that she needs so little to enjoy a book which can lift her soul. To make her happy, content, satisfied.

Thanks apex.
Can you explain your example?
I don't understand the enjambment in your holiday example as well as in the poem???

[apex2000]

As I wished my holiday to be longer than a day I got up early so that we could quickly get away.
Continuous, but not the best example. Reworked:
As I wished my holiday
To be longer than a day
I got up early so that
We could quickly get away.

......my holiday to be..... continuation over the two lines.

There was a man
Red faced. I thought
He held a fan
That he had bought.

Does this help?

[sympathy]

Yes, this helps.
Now I understand. Enjambments are in every poem :D :D :))

[Kennith]

That was indeed a nice poem and would recommend everyone to have a look at that if they are unknown to it. My cousin has a poetic side too other than his student routine and recently he had mentioned about poetry visualized where the members review the poems posted by other members, either in text or audio and give a touch of their own in terms of graphics, video, paintings and lots of other creative things that suits the poem. It is a splendid way to see your work in a visualized manner as there is belief that people remember the visual scenes more than the audio ones and I believe that this will make your poem more noticed.

[apex2000]

I assume, Kennith, that you are referring to the poem in the first post, not to my attempt at explaining answers to the questions. I am adding this comment in case someone else picks up this thread which has been dormant for 8 months! Glad you spotted it.