Question

how did emily dickinsons family handle her poetry after her death?

they followed her wish to burn it.
they published her work widely.
they permanently hid her poems.

Explanation:

Analyze Emily Dickinson's posthumous history

After Emily Dickinson died in 1886, her sister Lavinia discovered hundreds of unpublished poems in her bedroom. Although Emily had requested that her correspondence be burned, she left no instructions regarding her poetry. Lavinia and other family members worked to edit and publish her extensive collection of poems.

Evaluate the options

• "They followed her wish to burn it": Incorrect. Her sister Lavinia did burn her letters as requested, but decided to preserve and publish her poetry.
• "They published her work widely": Correct. Lavinia, along with Mabel Loomis Todd and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, actively worked to publish her poems, leading to several posthumous volumes.
• "They permanently hid her poems": Incorrect. The family sought to share her work with the world rather than keeping it hidden.

Answer:

• They followed her wish to burn it.
• They published her work widely. (Correct answer)
• They permanently hid her poems.