Emily Dickinson's "Hope" is the thing with feathers' Poem Analysis

Poem Analysis: "Hope" is the thing with feathers

Themes and Ideas

• The poem explores the power of hope to sustain us in troubled times
• Hope is a universal concept that unites people

Style

• The poem uses a conceit, comparing hope to a little bird
• Anaphora is employed through the repetition of "that" and "and" throughout the stanzas
• Dickinson randomly capitalises certain words to add importance, such as "Hope", "Gale", "Bird", "Sea", and "Extremity"
• The poem follows an iambic trimeter rhythm, creating a steady and confident pace

Imagery and Symbolism

• The bird represents hope, singing a tune without words that is understood by everyone
• The gale symbolises the harsh external realities of life that necessitate hope
• The sea represents the extreme conditions in which hope is still present

Analysis of Key Quotes

• "Hope is the thing with feathers" - introduces the conceit of comparing hope to a bird
• "That perches in the soul - / And sings the tune without the words" - hope is a unifying force that resonates with everyone
• "And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard" - hope is most valuable in times of struggle
• "I've heard it in the chillest land - / And on the strangest Sea" - hope is present even in the most desperate situations
• "Yet, never, in Extremity, / It asked a crumb - of me" - hope never requires payment or thanks, it is selfless

Poem Analysis: "Hope" is the thing with feathers

Themes and Ideas

• The power of hope to sustain us in troubled times
• The universal nature of hope

Style

• Dickinson uses a conceit, comparing a little bird to the abstract idea of 'hope'
• Anaphora, repeating "that" and "and" throughout the stanzas, builds on the comparison
• Random capitalisation of words to add importance: "Hope", "Gale", "Bird", "Sea", "Extremity"
• Heavy use of iambic trimeter, creating a steady, confident rhythm

Key Quotes

• "Hope is the thing with feathers" - introducing the abstract concept of hope
• "That perches in the soul -" - hope is a unifying force
• "And sings the tune without the words -" - hope is understood by everyone, not limited by language
• "And never stops - at all -" - hope is constant and unwavering

Second Stanza

• Hope is "sweetest" when it is needed most, in times of struggle ("Gale")
• The use of "sweetest" conveys the highest form of praise for hope
• The metaphor of the "Gale" represents the harsh external realities of life
• Sibilance in the second stanza adds to the musical appeal, contrasting soft and harsh sounds

Third Stanza

• Dickinson claims to have "heard" hope "in the chilliest land - and on the strangest Sea -"
• Hope has never asked for payment or thanks, even in moments of despair
• "It asked a crumb - of me" - emphasising the selflessness of hope
• Dickinson highly values hope, especially when she needs it most