poetry essay hope is a thing with feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers Summary & Analysis by Emily Dickinson

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

"Hope is the thing with feathers" (written around 1861) is a popular poem by the American poet Emily Dickinson. In the poem, "Hope" is metaphorically transformed into a strong-willed bird that lives within the human soul—and sings its song no matter what. Essentially, the poem seeks to remind readers of the power of hope and how little it requires of people. The speaker makes it clear that hope has been helpful in times of difficulty and has never asked for anything in return. "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" is one of a number of poems by Dickinson that breathes new life into an abstract concept by using surprising imagery and figurative language.

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The Full Text of “Hope is the thing with feathers”

1 “Hope” is the thing with feathers -

2 That perches in the soul -

3 And sings the tune without the words -

4 And never stops - at all -

5 And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

6 And sore must be the storm -

7 That could abash the little Bird

8 That kept so many warm -

9 I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

10 And on the strangest Sea -

11 Yet - never - in Extremity,

12 It asked a crumb - of me.

“Hope is the thing with feathers” Summary

“hope is the thing with feathers” themes.

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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Hope is the thing with feathers”

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea -

Lines 11-12

Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.

“Hope is the thing with feathers” Symbols

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“Hope is the thing with feathers” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

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Extended Metaphor

Pathetic fallacy, polysyndeton, alliteration, “hope is the thing with feathers” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Hope is the thing with feathers”

Rhyme scheme, “hope is the thing with feathers” speaker, “hope is the thing with feathers” setting, literary and historical context of “hope is the thing with feathers”, more “hope is the thing with feathers” resources, external resources.

Further Educational Resources — Resources for students about Emily Dickinson provided by the Dickinson museum (situated in her old house).

The Poem Out Loud — A reading of the poem by Mairin O'Hagan.

The Original Poem — An image of the poem in Dickinson's own handwriting.

Other Dickinson Poems — A link to numerous other Emily Dickinson poems.

More About the History of Hope — A BBC radio documentary in which experts discuss the concept of hope and its history.

LitCharts on Other Poems by Emily Dickinson

A Bird, came down the Walk

After great pain, a formal feeling comes –

A Light exists in Spring

A Murmur in the Trees—to note—

A narrow Fellow in the Grass

An awful Tempest mashed the air—

As imperceptibly as grief

A still—Volcano—Life—

Because I could not stop for Death —

Before I got my eye put out

Fame is a fickle food

I cannot live with You –

I cautious, scanned my little life

I could bring You Jewels—had I a mind to—

I did not reach Thee

I died for Beauty—but was scarce

I dreaded that first Robin, so

I dwell in Possibility –

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

If I can stop one heart from breaking

I had been hungry, all the Years

I have a Bird in spring

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -

I like a look of Agony

I like to see it lap the Miles

I measure every Grief I meet

I’m Nobody! Who are you?

I started Early — Took my Dog —

I taste a liquor never brewed

It was not Death, for I stood up

I—Years—had been—from Home—

Like Rain it sounded till it curved

Much Madness is divinest Sense -

My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun

Nature is what we see

One need not be a Chamber — to be Haunted

Publication — is the Auction

Safe in their Alabaster Chambers

Success is counted sweetest

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —

The Brain—is wider than the Sky—

The Bustle in a House

The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants

There came a Wind like a Bugle

There is no Frigate like a Book

There's a certain Slant of light

There's been a Death, in the Opposite House

The saddest noise, the sweetest noise

The Sky is low — the Clouds are mean

The Soul has bandaged moments

The Soul selects her own Society

The Wind – tapped like a tired Man –

They shut me up in Prose –

This is my letter to the world

This World is not Conclusion

'Twas the old—road—through pain—

We grow accustomed to the Dark

What mystery pervades a well!

Whose cheek is this?

Wild nights - Wild nights!

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Hope is the thing with feathers (254)

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Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.

This poem is in the public domain.

More by this poet

Dear march—come in—(1320).

Dear March—Come in— How glad I am— I hoped for you before— Put down your Hat— You must have walked— How out of Breath you are— Dear March, how are you, and the Rest— Did you leave Nature well— Oh March, Come right upstairs with me—

One Sister have I in our house (14)

To make a prairie (1755).

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, One clover, and a bee. And revery. The revery alone will do, If bees are few.

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Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.

Born on the 10th of December 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, Emily Dickinson is one of the most admired early American poets. Her supposedly secluded life, absence of relationships and lack of publication during her lifetime has made her an easily re-imagined figure in the minds of readers. However, recent scholars have suggested Dickinson's life was fuller and more active than these original conceptions, and a few have explored the possibility she may have been in a relationship with another woman.

Hope is the thing with feathers

Emily dickinson.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me.

“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers

 “hope” is the thing with feathers.

by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm – I’ve heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet – never – in Extremity, It asked a crumb – of me.

Meanings of “Hope” is the thing with feathers

The poem “Hope is the thing with feathers” shows Dickinson’s strong commitment to positivity. She says that every soul, whether it is low or high, has hope in it. It stays alive and works when a person experiences low moments in life.

Meanings of Stanza -1

“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –

Emily Dickinson beautifully presents hope as a creature with wings. She states that it sits in the soul and sings positivity even without using words and only using the tune. The best thing about this nightingale type of creature is that it never stops singing, and obviously, this is a positive song. This extended metaphor contributes to the main theme of hope and its positive impacts, presenting it as a bird that never stops singing. She might have the poet in mind who never stops hoping against hope.

Meanings of Stanza -2

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm –

Emily Dickinson , in this stanza , states that this has been heard during the gale. It becomes the sweetest thing a person could hear. However, when the weather becomes stormy, it silences this tune. In fact, this little bird of hope has a limit. It can tolerate only a slight gale, but when it turns into a storm, the bird is vulnerable and becomes silent. The poet has extended this metaphor further, saying that the bird of hope is vulnerable to extremely windy conditions. This stanza contributes to the main idea of hope and its impacts through the extended metaphor of the little bird.

Meanings of Stanza -3

I’ve heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet – never – in Extremity, It asked a crumb – of me.

In this stanza, Emily Dickinson states that the bird of hope never asks for even a breadcrumb in return for its positivity. The poet has observed this bird existing and singing in the coldest places and the strangest waters. It can sign and be happy even in the most extreme circumstances, yet it does not lose heart and does not ask for remuneration or anything in return. In fact, the poem wants to show that hope is an extended metaphor for birds staying alive, and the same is the case of the poet. This stanza contributes to the meaning of this extended metaphor of hope that it stays alive even in the most extreme situations.

Summary of “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers

• Popularity: Written by Emily Dickinson, an American poet, “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” is a masterpiece of spiritual expressions about hope and its impacts on the mind. It was first published in 1891 and gained immense popularity due to its subject . Emily has presented hope as an ever-singing and selfless bird within the soul of a person. According to her, hope as a golden quality of human beings that shines even during adversity. Using it as a metaphor, she has highlighted the importance of being hopeful and optimistic. Dickenson also explains that only hope can help us to remain positive during extreme situations.
• Representation of “Hope” as a God-gifted Quality: The poet compares hope with a free and courageous bird that sings its wordless tune no matter what the situation is. This bird, as a silent companion, continues to preach to the soul to stay steadfast and hopeful regardless of obstacles. Its song helps devastated souls to regain their senses. By using the word “at all,” Dickenson shows that hope is everlasting, ever shining and undefeatable. She compares human struggle with the storm and illustrates that hope serves as a beacon of light in that storm. Towards the end, she represents her own miserable plight. She expresses that hope helped her survive the tests and trials of her life.
• Major Themes in “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers: Hope is the major theme that runs throughout the poem. Emily says that hope resides in the hearts for good. It liberates us from despair and gives us the strength to move on. It only empowers us and, in return, demands nothing. Briefly, as the sole theme of this poem, hope has been personified to show its importance to weak souls.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers

Writers and poets use literary devices to make their poetry comprehensible, beautiful and rich. Emily Dickenson also has used some literary devices to express her spiritual thoughts. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in the poem is given below.

• Alliteration : It refers to the repetition of the same consonant sounds occurring close together in a row to create musical effects such as /h/ sound in “we have heard it in the chilliest land” where this sound has created a musical quality in the line.
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds, such as the sound of /th/ in “the tune without the words” and the sound of /t/ in “that could abet the little bird.”
• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of the vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land.”
• Metaphor : There is one extended metaphor in the poem. Dickenson has compared hope with “feathers”/ “bird” which shows how it sings and gives courage to the spirit of a person.
• Personification : When an inanimate object is given human characteristics or qualities, it is personified. In the first stanza, Dickenson considers hoping a preacher that keeps on preaching and never stops. It sings its silent song in the hearts of the men to fill them with spiritual power . In other words, she personified hope in this poem.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make the readers perceive things through the five senses. It helps them to create a mental picture of the objects described. The poet has used images for the sense of sight such as “bird”, “feathers”, “storm”, “land” and “sea.”
• Symbol : Emily has used many symbols to show the powerful impact of hope in our lives. “Chilliest Sea” and “storm” symbolize struggles during trying times when hope is still there.

The analysis of these literary devices shows that Dickenson has made wonderful use of these literary devices to convey her message effectively.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Poetic devices are part of literary devices, but some are used only in poetry. Their use brings rhythm , continuity, depth and musical effects in poetry. The analysis of the devices used in the poem is stated below.

• Stanza : A stanza is the poetic form of some lines. There are three stanzas in the poem, each having four lines.
• Rhyme Scheme : The poem is structured into a quatrain and a sequence of three rhyming lines. Lines five to eight are the quatrain whereas nine to twelve are three lines. The rhyme scheme is ABCB.
• Meter : The poet has used iambic trimeter and iambic tetrameter alternatively in different lines. For example, “ That per ch es in th e soul —” is in iambic trimeter, while “ And sings the tune wi th out th e words —” is in tetrameter.
• Quatrain : A quatrain is a four-lined stanza taken from Persian poetry. Here, each stanza is a quatrain, as well as each stanza, has four lines.

Quotes to be Used

• This stanza can be quoted when preaching religious lessons or sermons. These lines can also be used in a speech to highlight the importance of being positive and hopeful.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all.”

• This line could be used in a speech to pay tribute to a good singer.

“And sings the tune without the words.”

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“Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet – never – in Extremity, It asked a crumb – of me.

This poem was written in about 1861. Only two manuscripts were written, however, and one has been lost. The surviving manuscript can be found at the Emily Dickinson Archives . What is known of the lost manuscript is that it was sent to her cousins Louise and Francis Norcross around 1862.

The poem uses a bird as a metaphor for hope. She notes that hope is a feeling that “perches” on the soul and is always there. Hope is not something that must be voiced to have meaning. Even though hope is compared to something that has feathers, Dickinson doesn’t specifically say that it’s a bird. While she uses the words “little bird” this is a reference to a storm hurting a bird. However, she does use terms such as “feathers, perches, and sings,” which suggests that Dickinson is talking about a bird. Another interesting piece of the poem comes in the last stanza where Dickinson describes hope is there even in the worst conditions. She ends the poem by stating an “it” that doesn’t ask a thing of her. She doesn’t specify what this “it” means but, in the context of the poem it could be “hope.” The poem ends by saying that the “it” doesn’t ask anything of her.

A nineteenth-century article from the Tribune mentions that compared to other poems she has written, “Hope” shows the illusory nature of the spirit. It also mentioned that the vagueness and “music that marked the first efforts” (Duchac), are reminiscent of poems written before. In another text, it references how of how to teach the poem in school as well as works that offer cementation on different techniques in the poem.

The poem is memorable because of the metaphor for “hope” being something that can fly. It relates that it’s something inside the body and takes flight when it’s recognized. It takes the feeling and idea of hope and turns it into something more tangible. Using imagery, Dickinson captures the feelings that can be hard to describe and links them to attributes that are understood. Her poem tells of how strong hope is and how hard it is to break.

Bibliography and Further Reading  “‘Hope’ Is the Thing with Feathers,” The Poems of Emily Dickinson: an Annotated Guide to Commentary Published in English, 1890-1977 , by Joseph Duchac (1979); “Reviews and Notices,” Emily Dickinson’s Reception in the 1890s: a Documentary History , by Willis J. Buckingham (1989);“Hope Is the Thing with Feathers.” Emily Dickinson Archive

Credits Composed by Asia Hill, Fall 2018. 

American Poetry and Poetics Copyright © 2017 by Mark C. Long is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson Essay

The claim: the poem as an excellent example of dickinson’s homiletic style., the interpretation of the poem after a surface-level reading., figurative language and prosody elements used in the poem., secondary sources necessary for the analysis of the poem and their significance..

On the example of the selected poem, the author’s style will be discussed through the lens of her perception of the world. It will be argued that the combination of the sacred texts heritage, her interpretation of those pieces of writing, and her meditation becomes the fundament of the poem. Besides, it will be proven that these intertwined elements form the basis of the ontological metaphor using which the author manages to create a strong effect on a reader.

Having looked through the text of the poem for the first time and postponing the deeper analysis, a reader can understand the topic of the poem and its plot. The speaker depicts hope as a bird singing tirelessly, and this song is beautiful. As the wind blows and the storm breaks, it sounds even better. Despite the harsh conditions, the bird never asks for a crumb from the speaker.

• Ontological Metaphor.

In the context of the figurative language and the elements of the prosody, several issues will be important. First and foremost, the meter in accentual-syllabic verse will be examined: in this particular case, the iambic trimester that expands and often includes the fourth stress at the end of the line will be seen as the instrument similar to what is used in classical sacred texts, especially in the Biblical poetry, to transfer the solemnity and spirituality. This idea will be supported by books and other academic sources. Further, the scheme of the poem will be considered. The effect of two ABCB and one ABAB stanzas will be scrutinized. It will be argued that this structure is similar to the structure of the narration: the first stanza may be associated with the exposition, the second one is close to the development of events, and the third one can be compared with the climax and denouement. In this respect, the ABCB structure gives the effect of conclusion and stability while the ABAB structure is to convey the idea of development and change. This structure will be regarded as the means of creating the effect of the homiletic poem: the author sees the bird as the role model because it humbly accepts difficulties and does not ask for anything. Finally, the ontological metaphor will be regarded as one of the instruments necessary to reach the expressiveness. The classification of metaphors and their characteristics described by G. Lakoff and M. Johnson will be applied.

To address the implications mentioned above, the corresponding sources will be essential. The books, journal articles, or reliable websites information that shed light on the personality of the author and her contribution to the world’s culture will be important to introduce the topic and provide the opportunity to know the overall tendencies. The sources concerning the sacred texts, their effect, and their structure will be helpful. Finally, the sources including the ideas developed by Lakoff and Johnson will be examined.

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IvyPanda. (2020, August 4). “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-by-emily-dickinson/

"“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson." IvyPanda , 4 Aug. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-by-emily-dickinson/.

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IvyPanda . 2020. "“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson." August 4, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-by-emily-dickinson/.

1. IvyPanda . "“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson." August 4, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-by-emily-dickinson/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson." August 4, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-by-emily-dickinson/.

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Hope is the Thing with Feathers

By emily dickinson, hope is the thing with feathers summary and analysis of stanza 3.

The third stanza moves away from the general "many" and refers explicitly to the speaker ("I've"). The speaker describe her long journeys to the far reaches of land and sea, stating that the bird's song has kept her company throughout. She then notes that this support has never come at any cost. The bird's efforts are wholly selfless.

In the third stanza, the perspective of the text becomes more personal. The speaker describes the instances in which she has has heard the bird's song. These are harrowing moments: "I’ve heard it in the chillest land - / And on the strangest Sea -" affixed with the same sort of frightening intensity as the gale-strength winds of the previous stanzas. These lines are shorthand referencing the unforgiving coldness of the tundra and the crashing waves of a rolling ocean. These moments demonstrate the range of situations in which the bird ("hope") has been able to provide solace to the speaker. This is an expansion upon the earlier image of it withstanding powerful winds. The closing lines of the stanza ("Yet - never - in Extremity, / It asked a crumb - of me.") adds one final new idea. After categorizing those previous adventures as "extremity," the speaker goes on to say that the bird's song was given without any caveats, never asking for even "a crumb." This adds another dimension to the bird's generosity. Not only is the bird's song durable and strong (always unceasing, even in the face of hardship) but it is given without any request. The bird does not seek repayment. It is a gift given selflessly. The specificity of the speaker's claim also makes it appear more tangible. This bird's song (the sonic representation of hope) is not an abstract idea, it is something the speaker has experienced for herself. In the same way the bird does not ask for a crumb, hope makes no demands of its beholder. It is not tethered to expectation or clear outcomes; instead, it serves simply to help the individual weather stormy moments.

While the poem can be read as having an optimistic ending, what it is really about is the preservation of hope. Dickinson does not appear to be saying that individual lives always improve. Instead, she seems to be capturing the way that hope endures even in the bleakest of circumstances. By making the notion of hope into this singing bird, she has created a nuanced visualization of the way people are able to hold onto their perseverance. The bird will keep signing no matter how dark things seem to become. This is the true optimism of the poem. It makes no promises of how things will turn out, but shows how endlessly resilient hope can be.

Hope is the Thing with Feathers Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Hope is the Thing with Feathers is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What is an example of when connotation was used to develop the theme

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Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily dickinson

What does the writer want the reader to see, hear, taste, feel and smell?

I think the natural elements, oftemn extreme, are evocotave.

sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm I've heard it in the chillest land, And on the strangest...

Chillest in Dickinson's day actually meant cold. It soulds like she means laid back as in "chill" in Hawaii but it means cold like in the Yukon so she is saying, I've heard in the coldest land.

Study Guide for Hope is the Thing with Feathers

Hope is the Thing with Feathers study guide contains a biography of Emily Dickinson, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Hope is the Thing with Feathers
• Hope is the Thing with Feathers Summary
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Hope Is The Thing With Feathers Essay

Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Hope” is the Thing With Feathers, it includes a comparison of hope to a bird. Emily Dickinson uses symbolism throughout the poem to help convince the reader that hope can be found in laughter and birds. In “Hope” is the Thing With Feathers, she uses many of her techniques to make the poem more lively and fun to read. In this poem, Emily Dickinson uses an irregular rhyming scheme of “abcb. ” Emily Dickinson uses a metaphor where she compares hope to a bird, “It makes no nest, and lights no fires- But what of that? ” Emily Dickinson continues with her poem by saying that this bird does not sing or have feathers.

Emily Dickinson continues her metaphor as she says, “Hope” is the Thing With Feathers from Emily Dickinson’s perspective also means that this bird cannot be seen but can be heard throughout the woods. Emily Dickinson symbolizes hope as a bird because birds represent freedom and spirit to Emily Dickinson, therefore, making it seem like hope would make you feel free and let go of your troubles. Emily Dickinson concludes her poem by talking about how the reader should fearlessly follow their dreams because if they fear they will never reach their destination.

Emily Dickinson pushes the reader to never give up on themselves and always have hope in times they feel as if they cannot go on anymore. Emily Dickinson uses symbolism throughout the poem to help convince the reader that hope can be found in laughter and birds. She also capitalizes keywords in the middle of sentences that are main symbols or have a big effect on the poem. Emily Dickinson’s tone throughout the poem is thoughtful and persuasive, Emily Dickinson wants the reader to think about what they just read and Emily Dickinson wants them to be determined.

Emily Dickinson uses mood as a technique because Emily Dickinson wants their mood to represent hope as lighthearted and fun which can help ease the stress of everyday life. Emily Dickinson’s “Hope” is the Thing With Feathers, reflects on hope as a bird who can make dreams come true if you let it do so. Emily Dickinson continues her poem by talking about how the reader should fearlessly follow their dreams because if they fear they will never reach their destination.

Emily Dickinson pushes the reader to never give up on themselves always have hope in times they feel as they cannot go on anymore. Emily Dickinson uses symbolism throughout the poem to help convince the reader that hope can be found in laughter and birds. Emily Dickinson wants readers of this poem to think about what they just read, Emily Dickinson wants them to be determined, Emily Dickinson also wants mood to represent hope as lighthearted and fun which can help ease the stress of everyday life.

Emily Dickinson links optimism with “hope” when she says, “It makes no nest, (…) And lights no fires – But what of that? ” This metaphor continues when Emily Dickison compares hope to an “elusive bird” which does not sing or have feathers but whose arrival through the “woodland bare” is always heard. The poet thus draws up a paradoxical analogy that shows hope as a gentle, light, and silent being that nevertheless makes its impact on the world through the birdsongs which Emily Dickinson likens to laughter.

Thus Emily Dickison sees hope as “the thing with feathers” (line 3) Emily Dickinson is very determined in this poem because Emily Dickinson wants their mood to represent hope as lighthearted and fun which can help ease the stress of everyday life. Emily Dickison links optimism with “hope” when she says, “It makes no nest, (…) And lights no fires – But what of that? ” This metaphor continues when Emily Dickison compares hope to an “elusive bird” which does not sing or have feathers but whose arrival through the “woodland bare” is always heard.

Emily Dickinson’s tone throughout the poem is thoughtful and persuasive, Emily Dickinson wants the reader to think about what they just read and Emily Dickinson wants them to be determined. Emily Dickison uses mood as a technique because Emily Dickinson wants mood to represent hope as lighthearted and fun which can help ease the stress of everyday life. Hope is the thing with feathers -” Emily Dickinson From Emily Dickinson’s perspective also means that this bird cannot be seen but can be heard throughout the woods.

Emily Dickison continues her metaphor as she says, “/ Hope” is the Thing With Feathers from Emily Dickinson’s perspective also means that this bird cannot be seen but can be heard throughout the woods. Emily Dickinson is persuasive because Emily Dickison wants her readers to think about what they just read and Emily Dickinson wants them to be determined. Emily Dickison’s tone throughout the poem is thoughtful and persuasive, Emily Dickinson wants that mood should represent hope as “lighthearted and fun” which can help ease the stress of everyday life.

Emily Dickinson also ties in humor into the poem when she says, “It makes no nest – it surely flies-” This statement causes readers to want to know what this bird does even though it cannot be seen or heard by anyone other than Emily Dickinson herself. Emily Dickinson uses “Hope” as a symbol for all kinds of things but mainly it is used to show how important reaching dreams are. Emily Dickinson wants her reader to understand that hope can be found in laughter and birds, Emily Dickinson believes everyone needs a little bit of each every day.

Emily Dickinson’s tone throughout the poem is thoughtful and persuasive, Emily Dickinson wants the mood to represent hope as “lighthearted and fun” which can help ease the stress of everyday life. Emily Dickinson ties into both sound and symbolism when she says “And then it is as gone as June-” Emily Dickison uses symbolism by comparing hope to June because this is the month where people are more cheerful than ever before which represents Emily Dickison’s point about how important it is for everyone to have hope all year round not only during certain times like Christmas or summer time.

Emily Dickinson says, “And then it is as gone as June-” Emily Dickinson’s tone throughout the poem is thoughtful and persuasive, Emily Dickison wants mood to represent hope as “lighthearted and fun” which can help ease that stress of everyday life. Emily Dickinson also ties in symbolism when Emily Dickison says, “But ah for some bright day in-store -/ Some honey’d spell – some mystic air-That I may wing to her again! / And make her mine! ” Emily Dickison uses symbols by calling hope an “elusive bird” that does not sing or have feathers but whose arrival through the “woodland bare” is always heard.

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‘Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers Poem Summary & Line by Line Explanation

Back to: Maharashtra Board Class 9th English Guide & Notes

Table of Contents

Introduction

Emily Dickinson metaphorically speaks of Hope as a bird with feathers. She inspires the readers to have hope. As the Dutch proverb says, “As long as there’s life, there’s hope”. The poem is divided into three stanzas. The rhyme scheme for the 

• First stanza-  abcd
• Second stanza- abab
• Third stanza- abbb

First Stanza

The poet speaks of hope as a thing with feathers . She implies that it settles in a person’s soul . It sings a tune but without any words , this is a rather remarkable implication that although hope is cardinal, it is the actions that make a story successful. The tune is hope and the words are the actions. Hope is forever. To be hopeful is to be alive.

Second Stanza

Hope is always singing, but it sounds the sweetest when the wind gets rougher. The storm rages and the song sweetens. When life gets tough, it is hoped that serves as a ray of light in the storm of darkness. When everything turns somber, hope is all one holds onto. It is what keeps one moving forward. Hope provides a safe haven for many people. It would take a lot for a storm to weaken hope. 

Third Stanza

Here the poet says that she has witnessed hope in the most adverse events, and yet it has never asked for even a tiny part of a person’s self. Everything in life comes with a price, except hope. It comes from within. Hope strengthens one against all extremities of life and acts as an unsung hero.