Question

How were Emily Dickinson's poems generally received during her lifetime?

• A. They were widely celebrated and published.
• B. They were mostly ignored by the public.
• C. Only a few were published, often edited to fit conventional poetic standards.
• D. They were praised by critics but not popular with readers.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Only a few were published, often edited to fit conventional poetic standards.

During Emily Dickinson's lifetime, only a few of her poems were published, and these were often edited to fit conventional poetic standards. It was only after her death that her extensive collection of nearly 1,800 poems was discovered and published, leading to her recognition as one of America's greatest poets.