This week, an Emily Dickinson scholar made a headline-grabbing proclamation: “I’ve written a book about Emily Dickinson, and I’m going to say something controversial that Taylor Swift is in the same league as Emily Dickinson,” said Abigail George.
Swift is set to release her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, next Friday (April 19) with a title that feels ripe for literary analysis. With this in mind, I thought it’d be fun to test George’s statement with a little side-by-side comparison.
Due to copyright restrictions, I cannot post full works here because most of Emily Dickinson’s work is owned by Harvard and Taylor Swift’s work is, obviously, her property, but teachers are allowed under Fair Use law to copy these works at the linked sites below to use in their classrooms. Let’s go!
4 Poetry Pairings – Emily Dickinson poems + Taylor Swift songs
• Topic: Sorrow of lovers who cannot be together
Dickinson: I cannot live with You (Poem 640) / Swift: Ivy
• Topic: The aftermath of a bad break-up
Dickinson: After great pain, a formal feeling comes – (Poem 372) / Swift: My Tears Ricochet
• Topic: Storms/shipwreck used as an analogy for intense feelings
Dickinson: Wild Nights – Wild Nights! (Poem 249) / Swift: evermore
• Topic: Criticism of fame
Dickinson: I’m Nobody. Who are you? (Poem 260) / Swift: The Lucky One
• Bonus! While we’re here, let’s throw in some Edgar Allan Poe because why not? Here’s a strong match-up of first-person narrators processing grief after the death of a loved one (wife/grandmother).
Poe: Annabel Lee / Swift: marjorie
What should students do with these pairings? A few discussion starters:
1. Identify and discuss the theme: At first, don’t tell students what these two works have in common. Instead, ask them to determine the theme/unifying elements. How do these works address the theme? Identify specific lines/lyrics that highlight how each work approaches this theme. Any notable similarities? Differences? Are students able to pull out themes other than the one I provided?
2. Analyze language and imagery: What types of figurative language and/or imagery do these writers use to convey their message to the audience? How do these elements affect students’ understanding or emotional response to the works?
3. Consider context and influence: How is the historical or cultural context of the poem/song revealed? Consider when and where each work was created, and discuss how these contexts might have shaped the messages or perspectives they offer.
4. Explore the impact of form/structure: How do the structures of the poem (rhyme scheme, meter, or physical arrangement) and the song (verse-chorus structure, rhythm, or melody) contribute to their overall impact and the way the theme is communicated? Does the structure reinforce or distract from the theme?
5. Reflect on personal connection: Ask students how the poem/song resonate with them personally? Do these works evoke certain emotions or thoughts about the theme that connect to their own experiences or worldview? Which ones do they prefer? Why?
Now, it’s your turn. Are there other poetry/pop music match-ups your fellow English teachers should know about? Leave them in the reply box below and share what’s worked for you.
The days leading up to Swift’s new album release would be a fun time to bring these pairings to your classroom, but they’ll also tuck into any poetry unit at anytime that works for you. Want to help students learn more about Dickinson and other famous “tortured” poets? Check out this activity that features 13 (*wink) poets: https://laurarandazzo.com/tortured-poets-a-lesson-plan/
I also just added a Taylor Swift version of the author research biography grid to my shop: https://laurarandazzo.com/product/taylor-swift-songwriter-biography-activity-research-grid-pdf-google-drive/
Weird side note: Did you know that Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson are distant cousins? “Swift and Dickinson both descend from a 17th century English immigrant (Swift’s 9th great-grandfather and Dickinson’s 6th great-grandfather who was an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut),” according to Ancestry.com. That makes them sixth cousins, three times removed.
Thanks to the many Instagram and TikTok commenters who offered Taylor Swift songs for me to investigate and to my favorite Swiftie/co-worker Faith, who got the ball rolling with the idea for this post:
@randazzled Poetry rumble? Cast your vote and/or share your own lyrics and stanzas to help teachers build compare/contrast lesson materials. Swifties, English teachers need your help to bring the Tortured Poets Department to the classroom. Where should we look? (Shout-out to my favorite Swiftie/co-worker, Faith. Couldn’t have done this without you. 🥰) #Swifties #TaylorSwift #TorturedPoetsDepartment #teach #teachers #teachertiktok #teachersoftiktok #teachertok #teachertalk #English #Englishteacher #ela #secondary #teaching #middleschool #highschool #homeschool #studentteacher #firstyearteacher
Teach on, everyone!
Photo credits
Swift: iHeartRadioCA, WikiMedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 DEED
Dickinson: Daguerrotype of Emily Dickinson, c. early 1847, Amherst College Archives & Special Collections, WikiMedia Commons, Public domain
