International Journal of Language and Literary Studies 242 Weena Mae G. Ampo Bohol Island State University, College of Teacher Education weenamaeampo@gmail.com DOI: http://doi.org/ 10.36892/ijlls.v4i2.877 APA Citation: Ampo, W. M. G. (2022). Mimesis in Emily Dickinson’s Select Poems: A Mirror Through Realities. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies. 4(2).242- 253. http://doi.org/ 10.36892/ijlls.v4i2.877 1. INTRODUCTION Literature is a reflection of man’s significant experiences in life. Particularly, through literature, the reader can relive memories through words which inspires a person to share one’s experiences by unraveling realities depicted in a literary work. In its very essence, a person learns lessons in life from the perspectives and experiences of the writer; it could either be a mistake or a win in life. Therefore, literature depicts life as a natural cycle of defeat and victory, and what makes it significant is how experiences are shared to inspire others. In this manner, literature becomes an avenue that helps a person to understand better the realities of life. According to Asriyati (2008), poetry is a way of expression, whether it is verbal or non- verbal. It is the objectification of the poet’s hidden emotions and passions. Moreover, it also serves as an avenue for communication since one can strikingly express one’s thoughts, ideas, sentiments, and creativity. For this reason, poetry is considered the supreme form of expression. Rozakis (1990) explains that the use of figurative language in poetry allows the reader’s imagination to come into play within the communication process in reading poetry. This strong mental activity by the reader enables to develop a high level of literary appreciation since figures of speech makes the language significant, moving, and fascinating. Emily Dickinson is known as one of the most acclaimed artists in American literature; receives a decent measure of her uniqueness in writing. According to Shackford (2019), Dickinson likes to use different forms of poetic devices, symbolism succors the author to dilate on a concept by using a limited number of words. Miller (1954) states that Emily’s fierce desire to write and her evident lack of socio-cultural power motivated her to create such rhetorical Abstract This paper aims to reveal the acceptance of life’s realities as expressed by the poet in her select poems through the lens of the mimetic theory of Rene Girard. Specifically, the mimetic significations are analyzed through each poem’s poetic vision. The literary study is a qualitative descriptive, it employs closed reading and content analysis methods to determine the poetic visions of the select poems: “Hope” is the thing with feathers,” “Because I could not stop for Death,” “If I can stop one heart from breaking,” and “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” The analysis of poetic visions reveals that hope remains despite life’s struggles and difficulties; the acceptance of death is an eternity of living; compassion is a language of love, and fame brings complexity to life. Received: 08/03/2022 Accepted: 05/05/2022 Keywords: Emily Dickinson, Mimesis, Poems International Journal of Language and Literary Studies Volume 4, Issue 2, 2022 Homepage : http://ijlls.org/index.php/ijlls Mimesis in Emily Dickinson’s Select Poems: A Mirror Through Realities