'Whose cheek is this?' by Emily Dickinson

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Whose cheek is this?
What rosy face
Has lost a blush today?
I found her-"pleiad"-in the woods
And bore her safe away.Robins, in the tradition
Did cover such with leaves,
But which the cheek-
And which the pall
My scrutiny deceives.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Whose Cheek Is This? A Deeper Dive into Emily Dickinson's Poem

As a lover of poetry, I am always drawn to the works of Emily Dickinson. Her writing is profound and thought-provoking, and it always leaves me with a sense of wonder and awe. One of her lesser-known works, "Whose Cheek Is This?" is a perfect example of her lyrical prowess. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore this poem in depth, examining its themes, symbols, and meaning.

An Overview of the Poem

"Whose Cheek Is This?" is a short poem consisting of only two stanzas, each with four lines. The poem begins with a question: "Whose cheek is this?" The speaker then goes on to describe the cheek in question, noting its "rosy tint" and its "dimpled chin." In the second stanza, the speaker poses another question: "Whose lip is this?" The lip is described as "curved and full," and the speaker marvels at its beauty.

Themes and Symbols

One of the major themes of this poem is the idea of beauty and its fleeting nature. The speaker is admiring the cheek and lip, but they are not his own. The beauty that he sees is not something that he possesses, and it is not something that he can hold onto. This is indicative of the fleeting nature of beauty, which can be here one moment and gone the next.

Another theme that is present in this poem is the idea of identity. The speaker does not know whose cheek and lip he is admiring. He does not know who they belong to, and he does not know if he will ever find out. This speaks to the idea that our identities are not always clear, even to ourselves. We may not know who we truly are, and we may spend our entire lives trying to figure it out.

The symbols in this poem are also noteworthy. The cheek and lip are both symbols of beauty, but they can also be seen as symbols of desire. The speaker is clearly drawn to the beauty of these features, and his admiration borders on desire. This can be seen as a metaphor for the way that we are drawn to beauty and desire it, even if we cannot possess it.

An Interpretation

So, what does this poem mean? On the surface, it is a simple description of a cheek and lip. But as we delve deeper, we can see that it is much more than that. At its core, "Whose Cheek Is This?" is a meditation on the nature of beauty and identity.

The speaker is admiring something that is not his own. He is drawn to the beauty of the cheek and lip, but he does not know who they belong to. This speaks to the idea that beauty is not something that we possess, but rather something that we admire in others. We may be drawn to the beauty of others, but it is not something that we can hold onto. It is fleeting, just like the beauty of the cheek and lip in the poem.

The question of identity is also present in the poem. The speaker does not know who the cheek and lip belong to, and he may never find out. This could be seen as a metaphor for the way that we struggle to understand our own identities. We may not know who we truly are, and we may spend our whole lives trying to figure it out.

The symbols in the poem also contribute to its meaning. The cheek and lip are both symbols of beauty, but they can also be seen as symbols of desire. The speaker is drawn to the beauty of these features, and his admiration borders on desire. This speaks to the way that we are drawn to beauty and desire it, even if we cannot possess it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Whose Cheek Is This?" is a profound and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of beauty and identity. The speaker is drawn to the beauty of the cheek and lip, but he does not know who they belong to. This speaks to the fleeting nature of beauty, which is not something that we can possess. The poem also touches on the idea of identity and the struggle to understand who we truly are. The symbols in the poem contribute to its meaning, and the cheek and lip can be seen as symbols of both beauty and desire. Overall, "Whose Cheek Is This?" is a beautiful and poignant meditation on the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Whose cheek is this? Oh, my heart, It is my own dear mother's art, Whose hand of love hath traced the line, And given that cheek its hue divine.

These are the opening lines of the classic poem, "Whose cheek is this?" by Emily Dickinson. This poem is a beautiful tribute to the love and affection between a mother and her child. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem.

The poem begins with a rhetorical question, "Whose cheek is this?" The speaker is looking at a cheek, but it is not clear whose cheek it is. The next line reveals that it is the speaker's own cheek, and it has been painted by her mother. The use of the possessive pronoun "my" emphasizes the close relationship between the speaker and her mother.

The second line of the poem, "Oh, my heart," is an exclamation of emotion. The speaker is overwhelmed by the love and affection that her mother has shown her. The use of the word "heart" emphasizes the depth of the speaker's feelings.

The third line of the poem, "It is my own dear mother's art," is a tribute to the mother's skill and talent. The use of the word "art" suggests that the mother's painting is not just a simple representation of the speaker's cheek, but a work of art in its own right.

The fourth line of the poem, "Whose hand of love hath traced the line," emphasizes the mother's love for her child. The use of the word "love" suggests that the mother's painting is not just a technical exercise, but an expression of her love for her child.

The final line of the poem, "And given that cheek its hue divine," is a beautiful description of the mother's painting. The use of the word "divine" suggests that the mother's painting is not just a representation of the speaker's cheek, but a work of art that transcends the ordinary.

The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It consists of five lines, each with a different length. The first and fifth lines are the shortest, with only four words each. The second and fourth lines are longer, with six words each. The third line is the longest, with eight words. This structure gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry.

The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs. An iamb is a metrical foot consisting of two syllables, with the first syllable unstressed and the second syllable stressed. The use of iambic tetrameter gives the poem a musical quality, and makes it easy to read and remember.

The poem also uses several literary devices, including alliteration, repetition, and imagery. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. In this poem, the alliteration of the "w" sound in the first line ("Whose cheek is this? Oh, my heart,") creates a sense of wonder and awe.

Repetition is the use of the same word or phrase multiple times in a poem. In this poem, the repetition of the word "my" emphasizes the close relationship between the speaker and her mother. The repetition of the word "love" emphasizes the mother's love for her child.

Imagery is the use of vivid and descriptive language to create a mental picture in the reader's mind. In this poem, the imagery of the mother's painting creates a sense of beauty and wonder. The use of the word "divine" suggests that the mother's painting is not just a representation of the speaker's cheek, but a work of art that transcends the ordinary.

In conclusion, "Whose cheek is this?" is a beautiful tribute to the love and affection between a mother and her child. The poem uses simple language, a straightforward structure, and several literary devices to create a sense of wonder and awe. The poem reminds us of the importance of love and family, and the power of art to express our deepest emotions.

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