'The Spider as an Artist' by Emily Dickinson


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The Spider as an Artist
Has never been employed—
Though his surpassing Merit
Is freely certified

By every Broom and Bridget
Throughout a Christian Land—
Neglected Son of Genius
I take thee by the Hand—

Edited by Peter Carter

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Spider as an Artist: A Masterpiece of Metaphors and Symbolism

Emily Dickinson was a unique American poet of the 19th century, who wrote over 1,800 poems expressing her thoughts on life, death, and nature. Among her notable works is "The Spider as an Artist," a poem that highlights the spider's creative abilities as a metaphor for the human imagination. In this criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem's structure, language use, and symbolism, and explore its meaning and significance.

The Poem's Structure

"The Spider as an Artist" is a short poem consisting of two stanzas with four lines each, and a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB. The poem's brevity and simplicity are in line with Dickinson's writing style, which is characterized by concise and elusive language.

Despite its short length, the poem's structure is significant, as it reflects the spider's artistic process. The first stanza describes how the spider "reels" its silk to make its web, and the second stanza compares it to a painter who "draws his thread" to create a work of art. The consistent rhyme scheme enhances the poem's musicality and reinforces the spider's meticulous and methodical artistic process.

The Language Use

Dickinson's use of language in "The Spider as an Artist" is both vivid and precise, as she employs metaphors and imagery to describe the spider's artistry. For example, she describes the spider's web as a "silver work" and its silk as "fine as frog hair," which creates a visual and tactile image of its delicate and intricate texture.

The use of metaphors is another aspect of Dickinson's language in this poem. She compares the spider's web to a "tapestry" and a "cloth," which suggests the spider's craftsmanship and the beauty of its creation. Furthermore, she compares the spider to a "skillful weaver" and a "painter," which highlights the spider's creativity and mastery of its art.

Dickinson's use of poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance, and consonance also adds to the poem's musicality and reinforces the spider's artistic process. For example, the alliteration in "thread" and "takes" in the second stanza emphasizes the spider's careful and deliberate approach to its art.

The Symbolism

The spider is a powerful symbol in literature, often associated with creativity, patience, and resourcefulness. In "The Spider as an Artist," Dickinson uses the spider's artistry as a metaphor for the human imagination and the creative process.

The spider's web represents the artist's creation and the intricate, delicate work that goes into it. The spider's careful and meticulous approach to weaving its web reflects the artist's attention to detail and the effort required to create a work of art. Dickinson's comparison of the spider to a painter suggests that the spider's web is not only functional but also beautiful and aesthetic.

The spider's ability to create with its silk also represents the power of imagination and the ability to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary. Similarly, the spider's ability to create its web anywhere symbolizes the artist's independence and creativity, as they can find inspiration and create art anywhere.

The Meaning and Significance

"The Spider as an Artist" is a poem that celebrates the power of imagination and creativity. It emphasizes the importance of attention to detail and the effort required to create something beautiful and meaningful. The poem suggests that art is not only functional but also aesthetic, and that artists have the power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Furthermore, the poem highlights the importance of independence and creativity, as the spider can create its web anywhere, and the artist can find inspiration anywhere. The poem encourages readers to explore their imagination and creativity and to celebrate the beauty and significance of art and creativity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Spider as an Artist" is a masterpiece of metaphors and symbolism that celebrates the power of imagination and creativity. Dickinson's vivid and precise language, her use of metaphors and imagery, and her poetic devices all contribute to the poem's musicality and reinforce the spider's artistic process. The poem's brevity and simplicity, coupled with its powerful message, make it a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Spider as an Artist: A Masterpiece by Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of the most celebrated poets of all time, is known for her unique style of writing and her ability to capture the essence of life in her poems. One of her most famous works is "The Spider as an Artist," a poem that explores the beauty and intricacy of nature through the eyes of a spider.

At first glance, the poem may seem simple and straightforward, but upon closer examination, it reveals a deeper meaning and a profound message about the creative process and the beauty of life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "The spider as an artist has never been employed." This line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting that the spider is an artist in its own right, even though it has never been recognized as such by humans. This idea is reinforced in the next line, which states that "his is the finest of the arts." Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the spider's art is not only equal to but superior to human art.

The poem then goes on to describe the spider's creative process, which is both fascinating and beautiful. The spider "rears a curious house," using its own body as a tool to spin its web. This process is not only a testament to the spider's ingenuity but also to its patience and perseverance. The spider must carefully weave its web, taking into account the wind and other environmental factors, in order to create a structure that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Dickinson then uses a series of metaphors and similes to describe the spider's web. She compares it to "a geometrical delight," suggesting that the web is not only beautiful but also precise and mathematical. She also describes it as "a flower," suggesting that the web is not just a functional structure but also a work of art in its own right.

The poem then takes a turn, as Dickinson suggests that the spider's art is not appreciated by humans. She writes, "He is not of any academy," suggesting that the spider's art is not recognized by the established institutions of human society. This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that there is a disconnect between the natural world and the human world, and that the beauty of nature is often overlooked or ignored by humans.

Despite this, Dickinson suggests that the spider's art is not only beautiful but also meaningful. She writes, "His webs, the caucuses of the skies," suggesting that the spider's webs are not just beautiful but also serve a purpose in the natural world. The spider's webs catch insects and other small creatures, providing food for the spider and helping to maintain the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

The poem then ends with a powerful statement: "What a picture of a soul under the bludgeonings of chance!" Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the spider's creative process is a metaphor for the human experience. Like the spider, humans must navigate a complex and often unpredictable world, using their creativity and ingenuity to survive and thrive. The spider's art is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is beauty and meaning to be found in life.

In terms of literary devices, "The Spider as an Artist" is a masterclass in metaphor and symbolism. Dickinson uses the spider as a metaphor for the creative process, suggesting that creativity is not just a human trait but a universal one. She also uses the spider's web as a symbol for the beauty and complexity of nature, suggesting that there is a deeper meaning to be found in the natural world.

Overall, "The Spider as an Artist" is a masterpiece of poetry, a work that explores the beauty and intricacy of nature through the eyes of a spider. Through her use of metaphor and symbolism, Dickinson creates a powerful and poignant message about the creative process and the beauty of life. This poem is a testament to Dickinson's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of life in her writing.

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