Vesuvius at Home: The Power of Emily Dickinson

In the first paragraphs, Adrienne Rich narrates her drive along the Massachusetts Turnpike, describing the landscapes around her in great detail and how they have evolved over time. Why does Rich begin this critical essay by establishing and describing her setting? What effect does Rich’s account of her physical environment have on her argument?

What kinds of evidence does Rich present to deconstruct popular legends surrounding Emily Dickinson’s life? What rhetorical devices does Rich use to refute mainstream interpretations of Dickinson’s poetry?

Before the essay was published in print, Rich delivered “Vesuvius at Home” as a lecture at two universities. Examine Rich’s tone and the structure of the essay; in what ways does she engage readers in her argument the way that a professor would engage a class?