Questions and Answers
Where was Emily Dickinson born?
Amherst, Massachusetts
What was the preferred activity of Emily Dickinson as a child?
Baking and gardening
When did Emily Dickinson's most prolific writing period occur?
1855-1865
How many poems were in Fascicle 13?
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What themes did Emily Dickinson focus on in her poetry?
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What is the primary theme of Emily Dickinson's poem 'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers?
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How does Dickinson describe the endurance of hope in 'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers?
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What does the bird symbolize in Dickinson's poem 'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers?
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In which way does Dickinson use personification in her poem 'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers?
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What does the use of the metaphor of a bird represent in the poem 'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers?
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What does Emily Dickinson compare hope to in her poem 'Hope is the Thing with Feathers'?
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According to Emily Dickinson, where does hope reside?
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How does Emily Dickinson describe hope in the roughest of storms in her poem?
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What does Emily Dickinson state about the bird of hope in her poem regarding asking for anything?
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How does Dickinson engage readers at the start of her poem 'Hope is the Thing with Feathers'?
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Study Notes
Emily Dickinson's Biography
- Born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts
- Middle child of three, preferred quiet home life and domestic duties
- Received education from Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke Female Seminary
- Became socially active in teen years, but later lived in isolation due to emotional crisis
- Wrote prolifically from 1855-1865, focusing on nature, self-identity, and God
"Hope is the Thing with Feathers"
- Written in 1861, published in 1891 after Dickinson's death
- Part of Fascicle 13, a collection of 19 poems
- Poem number 254, later included in the Norton Anthology
Poem Analysis
- Dickinson describes hope as a bird that lives in the soul
- Hope sings without words, never stops, and is loudest in the gale
- Hope keeps the soul warm, even in the coldest lands and strangest seas
- The bird asks for nothing in return, simply existing to encourage and nurture the soul
Themes
- Hope: emphasized as a constant companion that lives in the soul
- Human Suffering: inevitable, but hope helps endure through the darkest times
- Endurance: the bird's song represents persistence and bravery in the face of adversity
Symbols
- The bird's song: resonates throughout the poem, symbolizing hope's constant presence
- Feathers: light yet strong, represent hope's ability to uplift and bind to the soul
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Description
'Hope' is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson quiz focusing on the background, themes, and analysis of the poem written in 1861. Test your knowledge on this famous lyric poem.
