Question

what was emily dickinsons attitude toward sharing her poetry during her lifetime?

she was extremely secretive.
she eagerly shared her work.
she shared only with family.

Explanation:

Analyze Dickinson's publishing habits

Emily Dickinson lived a highly reclusive life in Amherst, Massachusetts. During her lifetime, she published fewer than a dozen of her nearly 1,800 poems, and those few were published anonymously and often heavily edited by publishers without her consent.

Evaluate her attitude toward sharing

Dickinson actively chose not to seek public fame or widespread publication, famously writing that "Publication - is the Auction / Of the Mind of Man." She kept her vast collection of poems bound in private hand-sewn booklets (fascicles) locked away, showing her extremely secretive attitude toward sharing her poetry with the public.

Compare the given options

• "She was extremely secretive": This aligns with her reclusive lifestyle, her choice to keep her fascicles private, and her refusal to publish her work.
• "She eagerly shared her work": This is incorrect, as she actively avoided publication and public recognition.
• "She shared only with family": While she did share some poems in letters to close friends and family members, she was overall extremely private and secretive about her massive body of work, making the first option the most accurate description of her general attitude toward sharing her poetry.

Answer:

• She was extremely secretive. (Correct answer)
• She eagerly shared her work.
• She shared only with family.