Emily of New Moon · Chapter
Check for Miss Brownell explained
Emily and Ilse write poetry during arithmetic time, and Miss Brownell catches them.
What happens
Emily and Ilse write poetry during arithmetic time, and Miss Brownell catches them. She reads Emily's poem aloud, humiliating her. Emily is brought before Aunt Elizabeth and Miss Brownell for punishment, but Cousin Jimmy's intervention and Perry's antics shift the outcome. Emily is sentenced to bread and milk in the pantry but finds solace in composing an epic poem.
Themes in this chapter
Imagination and Creativity
Emily's poetry writing and her subsequent composition of an epic poem highlight the power of imagination as a refuge from humiliation and punishment.
Individuality vs. Conformity
Emily's defiance in writing poetry instead of doing sums, and her refusal to apologize fully, underscore her struggle against the conformist expectations of school and family.
Secrecy and Truth
Emily's secret poems are exposed by Miss Brownell, and the truth of her creative nature is used against her, while Cousin Jimmy reveals the truth of Miss Brownell's unfairness.
Characters to notice
- Emily Byrd Starr
Emily writes poetry instead of doing sums, is caught and humiliated by Miss Brownell, but later finds refuge in composing an epic poem.
- Ilse Burnley
Ilse sits with Emily on the side bench, writing poetry, and is complicit in the defiance.
- Miss Brownell
Miss Brownell catches Emily writing poetry, reads her poem aloud with mockery, and reports her to Aunt Elizabeth.
- Aunt Elizabeth Murray
Aunt Elizabeth initially sides with Miss Brownell and punishes Emily, but relents after Cousin Jimmy's intervention.
- Cousin Jimmy Murray
Cousin Jimmy defends Emily by pointing out that Miss Brownell's actions were not 'fair and square,' causing Aunt Elizabeth to change her stance.
- Perry Miller
Perry appears upside-down from the 'black hole' during the confrontation, providing comic relief and moral support.
Key passages
“Some sacred temple of her being had been desecrated and shamed.”
Emily felt that her innermost, private self had been violated and humiliated.
This captures Emily's deep emotional response to having her poetry read aloud without consent.
“She would not have been afraid of justice; but she knew at the bar of Aunt Elizabeth and Miss Brownell she would not have justice.”
Emily was not scared of a fair judgment, but she was certain that her aunt and teacher would not be fair to her.
This highlights Emily's awareness of the bias against her in the impending confrontation.
“It seared Emily's soul like a whiplash.”
The sneer in Miss Brownell's voice caused Emily intense emotional pain.
This metaphor emphasizes the cruelty of Miss Brownell's mockery.
“I'm composing an epic—it is to be called 'The White Lady,' and I've got twenty lines of it made already—and two of them are thrilling.”
Emily is happily creating a long poem titled 'The White Lady' and is excited about two particularly good lines.
This shows Emily's resilience and how creativity helps her cope with punishment.