Some keep the Sabbath
going to Church
By: Emily Dickinson
Presentation by: Ms. Riley
English 11, 1st hour
February 11, 2016
Some keep the Sabbath going to
church
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,
I ’m going all along!
Paraphrase stanza 1
Some keep the Sabbath
going to church;
Some people go to
church on Sundays
I keep it staying at
home
I honor the God at home
With a bobolink for a
chorister,
With a bird for the choir
And an orchard for a
dome.
And trees for a roof
Paraphrase stanza 2
Some keep the
Sabbath in
surplice;
Some honor God in
traditional clothing
I just wear my
wings,
I come as I am
And instead of tolling
the bell for church,
Not called by the
bells to service
Our little sexton
sings.
Instead, a small bird
sings
Paraphrase stanza 3
God preaches, a
noted clergyman,
And the sermon is
never long;
So instead of getting
to heaven at last,
I ’m going all along!
God speaks to be, a
important Christian
figure
And he never speaks
too long
So instead of going
to heaven when I die
I have been going
everyday
Rhyme Scheme
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,
I ’m going all along!
A
B
C
B
Vocabulary
Some keep the Sabbath going to church;
I keep it staying at home,
With a bobolink for a chorister, (songbird) (Choir Member)
And an orchard for a dome.
Some keep the Sabbath in surplice
I just wear my wings,
(White Vestment worn over robes)
And instead of tolling the bell for church, (ringing)
Our little sexton sings. (An employee or officer of a church)
God preaches, a noted clergyman,
And the sermon is never long;
So instead of getting to heaven at last,
I ’m going all along!
Imagery
Some keep the Sabbath going to church;
I keep it staying at home,
(Nature)
With a bobolink for a chorister, (Songbird for a choir)
And an orchard for a dome.
(Garden church)
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,
I ’m going all along!
Literary Element -Tone
Definition: The attitude a writer takes
toward the subject of a work, the
characters init, or the audience.
Tone: Lighthearted with serious matter
Example:
God preaches, a noted clergyman,
And the sermon is never long;
So instead of getting to heaven at last,
I ’m going all along!
Literary Element - Metaphor
Definition: A figure of speech in which
a word or phrase that ordinarily
designates one thing is used to
designate another, thus making an
implicit comparison
Examples:
a bobolink for a chorister – Bird choir
an orchard for a dome – Garden church
Photos
Theme
 The
journey to heaven has become a
part of her, it fills her entire world. It
is not relegated to the future, after
death or at some end time, but a
continuously unfolding in the
present.
Work Cited Page

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Because I Could Not
Stop for Death Themes." Shmoop.com. Shmoop
University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 08 Feb. 2016.