Line 1

Emily Dickinson's poem, “Much Madness Is Divinest Sense,” begins with a line that immediately captures the reader’s interest. She uses her ironic and paradoxical humor throughout the poem, starting with the contradiction in the first line. The initial words may lead readers to question what she means by “madness.” Is she talking about insanity or perhaps anger? Dickinson further intrigues readers by adding two unexpected words at the end of the line, contrasting initial impressions with a contradictory idea. Readers might ponder whether Dickinson is serious or mocking something or someone. Is she finding joy in her madness? Could she be using madness as a way to transcend a situation where she feels uneasy or confined? How can madness be sensible? And what does she mean by “divinest Sense?” Is she implying a godlike quality, or is she simply referring to something delightful?

Pay attention to the alliteration in this line. There is a repetition of the letter m in “much madness,” and the s sound appears at the end of “madness,” “is,” and “divinest.” Additionally, “Sense” starts and ends with an s. This opening line is not only engaging due to its contradictory or rebellious twist in meaning, but the alliteration adds a playful rhythm, making it enjoyable to read as the tongue dances over the s sounds.

Line 2

The term “discerning” in the second line can be interpreted in several ways. It might mean cautious or discriminating, or it could imply being wise, astute, or even shrewd. Depending on the reader’s personal experience with or perspective on madness, the poem pivots on the word “discerning.” It can be seen as sarcastic, critical, or playful. Like all great literature, Dickinson’s poem provides a space for readers to explore, allowing them to bring their own emotions to the work and appreciate it not just through the author’s lens, but on a personal level as well.

Line 3

In the third line, Dickinson almost reverses the order of the first line, swapping what was first with what was last. Once more, the line is rich with alliteration, featuring the letter s five times. Ambiguity arises again, this time with the word “starkest.” Does Dickinson mean bleak, severe, or desolate? Or is she hinting at completeness? She might also be suggesting something plain.

By rearranging the phrases between lines one and three, Dickinson might be reinforcing her initial statement. She could also be suggesting that a little madness is enough to make sense because even the starkest madness is comprehensible. However, she declares that excessive sense is the most severe form of madness.

This line raises another intriguing question. What does she mean by "Sense?" Is she talking about common sense? Could she be suggesting sanity or rationality? These queries about the meaning of "Sense" that she refers to are central to the entire poem. Isn't the poem built upon the definition of "Sense?" Doesn't the poet want the reader to ponder who determines what is considered sense?

Lines 4–5

Lines four and five offer a partial answer to these questions. It is "'Tis the majority" who define what sanity and sense are. This doesn't necessarily mean their definition is correct. Dickinson implies that since the majority holds power, their definition is the one that "prevails." This might lead readers to wonder: What if madness were the majority? The subsequent question could then be, What exactly is madness?

Line 6

The term "Assent" suggests compliance or, in stronger terms, submission. If the reader knows about Dickinson's life, including her controlling father and the societal pressure for Christian conversion she...