'As Children bid the Guest "Good Night"' by Emily Dickinson


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As Children bid the Guest "Good Night"
And then reluctant turn—
My flowers raise their pretty lips—
Then put their nightgowns on.

As children caper when they wake
Merry that it is Morn—
My flowers from a hundred cribs
Will peep, and prance again.

Editor 1 Interpretation

As Children bid the Guest "Good Night" by Emily Dickinson

Introduction

As Children bid the Guest "Good Night" is a classic poem by Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. The poem is known for its simplicity and the way it captures the innocence and purity of childhood. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices used by Emily Dickinson in this poem.

Analysis

Themes

The central theme of this poem is innocence and childhood. The poem captures the simplicity of children's emotions and their ability to express themselves with ease. The children in the poem represent the innocence of childhood, while the guest they bid "good night" to represents the world outside of childhood. The poem highlights the contrast between the simplicity of childhood and the complexity of the outside world.

Symbolism

The poem is rich in symbolism, with the children representing innocence and the guest representing the world outside of childhood. The word "guest" suggests that the outside world is something temporary and fleeting, just like a guest who comes to visit but eventually leaves. The act of bidding the guest "good night" symbolizes the children's acceptance of the fact that the outside world is not their permanent home, and they must eventually return to the safety and security of childhood.

Literary Devices

The poem is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABCB, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. This creates a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. The use of repetition is also prominent in the poem, with the phrase "good night" repeated in every stanza. This repetition creates a sense of finality and closure in the poem, emphasizing the children's acceptance of the fact that the outside world must eventually leave.

Interpretation

As Children bid the Guest "Good Night" is a poignant poem that captures the essence of childhood and the innocence that comes with it. The poem is a reflection of Emily Dickinson's own childhood, with the poet using her own experiences to create a universal message about the transience of life. The act of bidding the guest "good night" is a metaphor for the acceptance of death, and the poem can be seen as a meditation on mortality.

Emily Dickinson's use of symbolism and repetition in the poem creates a sense of nostalgia and melancholy, reminding us of the innocence and simplicity of childhood that we can never truly regain. The contrast between the simplicity of childhood and the complexity of the outside world is a powerful reminder of the beauty and purity that we often lose as we grow older.

The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of life itself. The guest represents the transience of life, with the children bidding the guest "good night" as a way of accepting the fact that life is fleeting and temporary. The poem is a reminder that we must cherish the moments we have in life because they will eventually come to an end.

Conclusion

As Children bid the Guest "Good Night" is a classic poem that captures the innocence and purity of childhood. The poem is a reflection of Emily Dickinson's own childhood experiences, with the poet using her own life to create a universal message about the transience of life. The use of symbolism, repetition, and rhyme creates a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem, emphasizing the finality and closure of the children bidding the guest "good night".

The poem is a reminder that life is fleeting and temporary, and we must cherish the moments we have while we can. The innocence and simplicity of childhood represented in the poem are qualities that we often lose as we grow older, making this poem a poignant meditation on the transience of life and the beauty of childhood.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

As Children bid the Guest "Good Night" - An Analysis of Emily Dickinson's Classic Poem

Emily Dickinson's poem "As Children bid the Guest "Good Night"" is a classic example of her unique style of writing. The poem is a short, four-line verse that captures the essence of childhood innocence and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to a loved one. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, literary devices, and historical context.

The poem begins with the line "As children bid the guest 'Good Night'," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the verse. The use of the word "children" suggests a sense of innocence and naivety, while the phrase "bid the guest 'Good Night'" implies a sense of farewell or departure. The poem is written in the past tense, which further emphasizes the idea of a memory or a moment that has passed.

The second line of the poem reads, "And then reluctant turn," which adds to the bittersweet feeling of the verse. The word "reluctant" suggests a sense of hesitation or reluctance, which is a common feeling when saying goodbye to someone you care about. The use of the word "turn" implies a physical action, which adds to the visual imagery of the poem.

The third line of the poem reads, "My flowers raise their pretty lips," which introduces a new element to the verse. The use of the word "flowers" suggests a sense of beauty and fragility, while the phrase "raise their pretty lips" adds to the visual imagery of the poem. The flowers are personified, which adds to the sense of innocence and naivety that is present throughout the verse.

The final line of the poem reads, "Then veil their faces for a sleep," which brings the verse to a close. The use of the word "veil" suggests a sense of secrecy or mystery, while the phrase "for a sleep" implies a sense of finality or closure. The flowers are once again personified, which adds to the overall theme of innocence and naivety.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of literary devices. Emily Dickinson was known for her unique style of writing, which often included unconventional punctuation, capitalization, and syntax. In this poem, she uses a variety of literary devices to create a sense of rhythm and flow.

For example, the poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs (a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable). This creates a sense of rhythm and flow that is pleasing to the ear.

In addition, Dickinson uses alliteration and assonance to add to the musicality of the poem. For example, the phrase "pretty lips" in the third line uses both alliteration (the repetition of the "p" sound) and assonance (the repetition of the "i" sound).

Another notable aspect of this poem is its historical context. Emily Dickinson lived during the mid-19th century, a time when women were expected to conform to strict social norms and expectations. Dickinson herself was known for her reclusive lifestyle and unconventional behavior, which often put her at odds with the society in which she lived.

This poem can be seen as a reflection of Dickinson's own experiences with saying goodbye to loved ones. As a woman who was often isolated from the outside world, she may have felt a sense of reluctance or hesitation when it came to saying goodbye to those she cared about. The use of the word "reluctant" in the second line of the poem suggests that this feeling was not uncommon.

Overall, "As Children bid the Guest 'Good Night'" is a classic example of Emily Dickinson's unique style of writing. The poem captures the essence of childhood innocence and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to a loved one. Through its use of literary devices and historical context, the poem offers a glimpse into the mind of one of America's greatest poets.

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