Question

Emily Dickinson

Now considered one of the most popular and inspirational poets in American literature, Emily Dickinson only achieved recognition after death. In her lifetime, especially in childhood, Dickinson had a troubled relationship with her family. Struggling against family members who did not understand her ways, Emily kept to herself and wrote her poetry in isolation. As she rarely shared her writing with anyone, not many knew of her gifts until it was too late. Her decision not to share her work may have been her Achilles' heel as it ruined any chance of her being published when she was alive. After her demise, it was her sister, Lavinia Dickinson, who finally discovered Emily's true talents. Lavinia found hundreds of poems that Emily had written, and in 1890, the first volume of her poetry was published. However, Dickinson was not recognized as a literary genius until the 1950s when critics began to appreciate her unusual style of poetry. Thus, like a phoenix, Emily Dickinson's poetry was reborn.
1
Why does the author say that Emily Dickinson's poetry was reborn like a phoenix?
A.
to show that Emily Dickinson became a beacon of hope and inspiration for other female writers in the world
B.
to show that Emily Dickinson's poetry is alive and well in the literary world and in her reader's minds
C.
to show that Emily Dickinson overcame the obstacles in her life by transforming herself into a new person
D.
to show that Emily Dickinson stood out as a flaming bird among the other writers and poets of her generation

Answer 1

B

The phoenix simile refers to her work being "reborn" after her death—discovered, published, and later recognized—so her poetry came back to life in the literary world and readers' minds.