“He fumbles at your Soul: Plot”

The poem describes a deeply intimate, spiritual encounter.
Its protagonist could be interpreted as various figures: an intrusive God, a lover, or an inner psychological torment.
The speaker explains how this entity ‘fumbles’ at the soul, implying lack of control or skill.
The entity continues aggressively until the speaker’s defenses are worn down.
Finally, the entity succeeds in his conquest, leaving the speaker feeling ‘shoddy’ or deteriorated.

“He fumbles at your Soul: Structure & Language Techniques”

Use of the second person (‘your’) to increase the reader’s sense of personal engagement.
Hyperbolic language ‘He out of all in you’ to express a sense of all-encompassing invasion.
Internal rhyme (‘Cool’ and ‘Soul’) and alliteration (‘Sweeter’ and ‘Shoddy’) for a pleasurable rhythmic reading experience.
The irregular meter and occasional slant rhymes add to the sense of unrest and discomfort.
The dashes often used by Dickinson create suspense and a sense of interruption, reflecting the ‘fumbling’ of the title.

Themes of spiritual struggle and existential crisis are prevalent in Dickinson’s works; “I felt a Funeral in my Brain” and “It was not Death, for I stood up” explore similar ideas.
Torment through uninvited intrusion links this poem with “I felt a Funeral in my Brain”.
The theme of faith and its challenges can also be drawn parallel with “Because I could not stop for Death”.

“He fumbles at your Soul” - The title and repeating phrase itself is powerful and holds much of the poem’s meaning.
“He probes your firmest arms” - Illustrates the struggle and resistance of the speaker.
“The Gods could pry them open” - Reflects the terrifying power of the entity, referring to them as near divine.

Emily Dickinson lived much of her life in relative solitude; this isolation is reflected in the poem’s sentiments.
Dickinson’s background in Christian Puritan New England surfaces in the poem’s exploration of spiritual invasions.
Dickinson’s familiarity with pain, suffering, and death (she’d lost several close friends and family members) resonates through her work.
This poem was written during Dickinson’s “White Heat” period (1858-1865), where her poetic creativity was at its peak.