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 -

some keep the sabbath in surplice -
i just wear my wings -
and instead of tolling the bell, for church,
our little sexton - sings.

god preaches, a noted clergyman -
and the sermon is never long,
so instead of getting to heaven, at last -

what is the central topic of the poem?
nature
spirituality
death
self

Explanation:

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

Step 1: Analyze the poem's imagery and contrasts

The poem (Emily Dickinson's "Some keep the Sabbath going to Church") contrasts traditional religious practices with the speaker's personal way of worshiping:

• Traditional church elements: "going to Church", "Chorister", "Dome", "Surplice", "tolling the Bell", "Clergyman", "Sermon".
• The speaker's natural alternatives: "staying at Home", "Bobolink" (a bird) as a chorister, "Orchard" as a dome, wearing "Wings" instead of a surplice, and "God" preaching directly through nature.

Step 2: Determine the central topic

While the speaker uses elements of nature (a bobolink, an orchard) to construct her church, the core subject of the poem is how she experiences her faith, worships God, and connects with the divine.

• nature: Used as a setting and metaphor, but not the ultimate focus.
• spirituality: The central theme of how one practices faith, connects with God, and experiences the sacred (the "Sabbath") outside of institutional religion.
• death: Not discussed in this poem.
• self: While personal pronouns are used, the poem is fundamentally about her spiritual relationship with God rather than an exploration of identity or selfhood alone.

Therefore, the central topic of the poem is spirituality.

Answer:

spirituality