Question

some keep the sabbath going to church -
i keep it, staying at home -
with a bobolink for a chorister -
and an orchard, for a dome -

consider the images in the excerpt. which of the five senses do the images appeal to? sight

the purpose of these images is to

• criticize those who go to church.
• compare nature to the sanctity of church.

Explanation:

⚡ Using what you learned: close reading methods for poetic texts

Step 1: Analyze the imagery in the poem

The speaker in Emily Dickinson's poem contrasts traditional church elements with elements of nature:

• A "Bobolink" (a songbird) replaces a "Chorister" (a choir singer).
• An "Orchard" replaces a "Dome" (the roof of a church building).

Step 2: Determine the purpose of the comparison

Rather than attacking or criticizing churchgoers, the speaker uses these natural images to show that nature itself serves as a sacred, beautiful place of worship. By pairing natural elements directly with church features, the speaker is drawing a direct parallel between the two.

Therefore, the purpose of these images is to compare nature to the sanctity of church.

Answer:

compare nature to the sanctity of church.