Ms. Neff’s American Literature class has been reading short stories and poetry from
the Romantic Era that focus on the natural world, nostalgia, individuality, spirituality, and
the supernatural. To introduce Emily Dickinson’s poetry, Ms. Neff pulled in alternative texts
for comparison by Dickinson’s distant cousin, Taylor Swift. This exercise allowed students
to explore the ideals of Romanticism through a modern poet and begin to draw connections
between 19th century poetry and today’s popular songs reminding them that we are not so
different from our sisters in the past.