1. Can the weather make us happy? Do you feel happier on a bright sunny day than you would otherwise? Discuss the impact the weather can have on people’s moods and on people living in Ireland in particular.
2. If you could visit any place in the world, what place would you visit and why?
COMPREHENDING AND RESPONDING
1. What do you think the poet means when she writes: ‘I taste a liquor never brewed’? How can you taste something that has not been made?
2. Make a list of all the words associated with alcohol that Dickinson uses in this poem. Explain the impact that these words have on the reader.
3. What image do you picture when you read the phrase ‘Tankards scooped in Pearl’? Explain your answer.
4. In stanza two what do you think the poet means when she claims to be inebriated by the air and debauched by the dew? Support your answer with reference to the poem.
5. Looking at the poem as a whole, where do you think it might be set? Explain your answer.
6. What is the significance of mentioning bees and butterflies in stanza three, in your opinion?
7. What is the significance of mentioning seraphs and saints in stanza four, in your opinion?
8. Did you like the closing stanza of this poem? Give reasons for your answer. 9. How would you describe the tone of this poem? Explain your choice.
10. What theme or themes can you find in this poem? Refer to the poem in support of your answer.
CREATING
1. There is an old saying that God invented whisky to prevent Irish people from ruling the world. Write an article for an online publication aimed at Irish teenagers in which you consider Ireland’s problematic relationship with alcohol and give suggestions as to what can be done about this.
2. Write a personal essay with the title ‘My Perfect Day’.
3. Imagine you could interview Emily Dickinson about her life and her poetry. Write the text of that interview, ensuring you include at least five questions and five answers.
