Emily’s earliest friend Ben Newton was the one who guided her to explore the intellectual and spiritual world of Transcendentalism.

In The Letters of Emily, she wrote, “Mr. Newton was with my Father two years, before going to Worcester, in pursuing his studies, and was much in our family. I was then but a child, yet, I was old enough to admire the strength and grace, of an intellect far surpassing my own, and it taught me many lessons, for which I thank it humbly, now that it is gone. Mr. Newton became to me a gentle, yet grave Preceptor, teaching me what to read, what authors to admire, what was most grand or beautiful in nature, and that sublime lesson, a faith in things unseen, and in a life again, nobler and much more blessed. Of all these things he spoke-he taught me of them all, earnestly, tenderly; and when he went from us, it was as an elder brother, loved indeed very much, and mourned and remembered…..”

Ben Newton played an important role in the shaping of her poetic thought. Newton not only exposed Dickinson’s intellectual thoughts but also inspired her to be a devotee of nature. In her memory of Newton, Emily acknowledged her great debt to him. The most significance influence of Newton upon Dickinson lay in putting her in touch with the advanced thinking of that time, and in particular the writing of Emerson. Emerson also was a major influence upon Dickinson with his poems and essays. Dickinson was familiar with Emerson’s Transcendentalism. The appeal that Transcendentalism holds for Dickinson lies in the mystical harmonies of man and nature, the organic and ongoing processes of human life as well as nature.

Emily Dickinson's father, Edward Dickinson is stress on the education. He even sets up the library for his children, so they can self-educated. Moreover, he also builds a garden for Emily. The garden gives Emily more privacy and also keeps her in touch with nature. She cultivates her interest in nature in her secret place in her garden. Dickinson's inspiration of poems from her observation of creatures like bees and the view of landscape.

Household chore also inspire her to write poetry. She sometimes write at the back of the shopping list or recipes.

Emily Dickinson prefers to stay home and have an isolated life. New England means a lot to her, and the small living space that she has makes her more interest in searching for the meaning of nature.

Emily Dickinson has a special way of living. She associated with nature, and living animals. The landscape of New England, the changing of weather, flowers and birds are all the topics that she portrays in her nature poems. She has a great passion toward nature. She loves to embrace nature because it can mollify her soul and obtain peace. The love that she gives human and the society is all move to nature.

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"Nature" is what we see—

The Hill—the Afternoon—

Squirrel—Eclipse—the Bumble bee—

Nay—Nature is Heaven—

Nature is what we hear—

The Bobolink—the Sea—

Thunder—the Cricket—

Nay—Nature is Harmony—

Nature is what we know—

Yet have no art to say—

So impotent Our Wisdom is

To her Simplicity.

From this poem, we can see she gives positive way to nature.

I found that Emily Dickinosn especially like spring from four of the seasons.

I'll continue to do the research that why she loves spring so much.

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