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If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking

by Emily Dickinson

In the poem, the speaker describes how they want to make a positive impact on others’ lives.

As you read, pay attention to the perspective of the speaker of the poem.



If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
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.


___


Adapted from “If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking,” in Poems by Emily Dickinson, Series One, by Emily Dickinson, Public domain.

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Questions
“Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again”

How do these lines develop the speaker’s perspective about what is important in life?


They share a personal example that highlights the speaker’s goal to work hard and succeed.


They list positive attributes of a person that reveal the speaker’s goal to be kind.


They give an example that illustrates the speaker’s goal to ease the pain of others.


They describe an event from nature that shows the speaker’s goal to fight to survive.

Answer 1

They give an example that illustrates the speaker’s goal to ease the pain of others.

The fainting robin is a specific image showing a small act of help; it supports the poem’s idea that relieving suffering—even in a small way—makes life meaningful.