Poem Analysis - Split The Lark And You Ll Find The Music

An Exploration of Music's Essence

Emily Dickinson's "Split the Lark and You'll Find the Music" is a brief but potent exploration of the relationship between art and analysis. The poem starts with a somewhat violent proposition but quickly transitions into a celebration of the inherent value of art, even when dissected. The tone shifts from a challenging invitation to a confident assertion, concluding with a touch of playful triumph. The poem, in essence, defends the intangible magic of artistic expression against attempts to reduce it to its component parts.

The Futility of Reduction

One central theme is the futility of dissection in understanding art. The opening lines, "Split the Lark and you'll find the Music / Bulb after Bulb, in Silver rolled," suggest a literal and destructive attempt to locate the source of music. However, the idea that music exists as "Bulb after Bulb, in Silver rolled" is inherently absurd. This imagery underscores the idea that reducing art to its physical or mechanical components will ultimately fail to capture its essence. The attempt is not just useless, but inherently violent and misunderstanding of the art form.

The Intangible Nature of Art

The poem develops the theme of art's inherent value and its resistance to easy analysis. The "Summer Morning" and "Lutes" represent the natural and cultivated forms of music, respectively. The suggestion that music is "Scantilly dealt to the Summer Morning" implies that its true worth isn't immediately apparent or easily quantified. Furthermore, "Saved for your Ear when Lutes be old" hints at the enduring quality of true art, surpassing even the most sophisticated instruments. It suggests that the essence of music remains valuable, even after its traditional forms are gone.

Scarlet Experiment and Doubt

A key symbol within the poem is the "Scarlet Experiment!" This could represent a daring or controversial attempt to understand something profound. The phrase "Sceptic Thomas!" clearly alludes to the biblical figure who doubted Jesus' resurrection until he physically touched his wounds. This reference adds a layer of meaning, suggesting that some truths, especially those related to art and beauty, cannot be grasped through purely empirical or skeptical methods. The speaker's triumphant question, "Now, do you doubt that your Bird was true?" serves as a challenge to this skepticism, implying that even without understanding the mechanics, the inherent value of art remains undeniable.

A Testament to Unexplainable Beauty

In conclusion, "Split the Lark and You'll Find the Music" is a concise and powerful argument for the inherent value and irreducibility of art. Dickinson masterfully uses vivid imagery and symbolic language to demonstrate the futility of dissecting art to understand it. The poem serves as a testament to the power of unexplainable beauty and a gentle rebuke to those who demand empirical proof of its worth. The final question leaves the reader pondering whether true appreciation lies in understanding or simply experiencing the magic of art.